10 Tips for Extending the Life of Your Car Battery

Car owners can be rough on their vehicles. Day after day of pounding the roads commuting to work, school and other activities causes a good deal of wear and tear on a vehicle, and its component parts. Many car owners take for granted one of the most basic car components … their car battery. It’s typically only when the car won’t start that vehicle owners even acknowledge existence of their car battery, which is actually a vital part of the proper function of their car.

Here then are some tips that should help you extend the life of your car’s battery so you don’t get stranded anytime soon.

1.    Inspect the battery for damage every time you check under the hood.
Early signs of battery wear include cracks or missing parts in the plastic casing of the battery or the battery connections. If your battery looks rough, it’s probably a good time to have it serviced or replaced.

2.    Remove any corrosion from the battery terminals once a month.
Over time, battery acid builds up on the terminals (those pins that stick up on the top of the battery itself) and this corrosion can build up, loosening the connection between the battery and the car engine. Once a month, be sure to clean off the terminals easily with an old toothbrush dipped into some flat coca-cola. Corrosion has been the culprit behind many  stranded motorists and boaters.

3.    Check battery cells for water level once a month.
The battery cell should have a little clear window indicator that will tell you if the water levels are low. Many people don’t realize that this is important, especially in extremely hot weather. Use a special tool made of rubber or plastic to refill the water level. Don’t use metal!

4.    Make sure the tie down straps are tight.
This is important as vibration of the car engine can cause a battery to become lose and connections to break, thus you may experience loss of power.

5.    Keep the battery clean.
Batteries need to be cleaned once in a while as dirt and debris from the roads can build up and get caught up in cables and the battery. Clean the battery off by brushing it off with a dust brush (not water).

6.    Disconnect the battery for extended periods of disuse.
If you have decided to take an extended time off from the use of your car, be sure to disconnect the battery from the car by unhooking the terminals. If left with the battery connected, a vehicle will drain the battery completely over time.

7.    Use the proper battery for your vehicle.
Consult with your user manual or dealership to make sure you are using the right size and type of battery for your vehicle. If the battery is too small, your car will drain it faster.

8.    Lubricate the posts.
A small dab of petroleum jelly will keep your battery’s posts clean longer between cleanings, which it help it last longer.

9.   Clean the battery cables.
Cleaning battery cables helps the battery respond more effectively to daily demands, so be sure to keep the ends of the cables clean by dusting them off with a wire brush once in a while.

10.     Never jump start a very cold battery.
If your car has died and you need a jump start, be sure to never jump start it completely cold. Allow the sun to shine on the battery to warm it up for about thirty minutes before attempting to jump start your car from another battery. This can prevent damage to your car battery and engine.

By employing some of these tips, and paying closer attention to your vehicle’s battery, you should be able to extend the life of your car battery, and reduce the likelihood of being stranded.

Leave a Reply