You can never be too cautious when it comes to maintaining the health of your car battery. In case you are not aware, your battery is the heart and soul of your ride. From getting your car started to powering your phones on the go, it is the car battery that keeps your car rolling on the road.
- If you don’t take the necessary steps to maintain your car battery, an unforeseen malfunction can render your battery useless. A battery running low on power won’t only cause issues in giving ignition to your car, but it may also lead to an engine misfire after a certain period. In contrast, a healthy car battery can work wonders for your vehicle by strengthening its overall performance.
To avoid any adversities on the road, it is always better to maintain the battery’s health.
Top Maintenance Tips to Help You in Keeping Your Battery in a Top-notch Condition -
1. Change the Battery in Every Four Years at the Very Least
On average, a car’s battery has the potential to last anywhere between three to five years. However, this figure depends upon extrinsic factors, such as the climatic conditions where the vehicle is being driven and the driving style of the driver. Hence, it is always recommended to change your battery after every four years at the very least.
It is because, after three years, there are high chances that corrosion can occur in and around the battery that can cause battery malfunction. Since there’s nothing worse than losing power mid-journey, make sure to change your car battery after every four years.
2. Check the Acid Level Every Six Months
The ideal way to maintain your car battery in good condition is by checking its acid level after every six months. The reason behind this periodical inspection is to ensure acid stratification doesn’t take place within the battery. It is crucial to look out for this phenomenon because, in a stratified battery, the electrolytes of the battery accumulate at the bottom of the battery case, leaving the top portion starved.
If a vehicle with a stratified battery gets driven persistently, the life of the battery would get reduced significantly.
3. Add Water Carefully
When you take a look at your battery, make sure that you also observe the electrolyte levels of the battery. In case the level is low, you can top it off with distilled water.
You’ll know whether the electrolyte level is low or not by looking at the plates- if they are exposed, it means it is low. However, be cautious while doing this and only top up the cells to cover the plates (you could do it through a funnel or bottle).
Once you complete the procedure, get a battery charger to rejuvenate the battery.
4. Conduct a Battery Load Test Every Month
Another way to maintain your car’s battery health is by conducting its battery load test every month. While you could try to do it on your own, it is recommended that you get it done by a mechanic. The primary objective of getting this done is to make sure that the plates inside the battery are in good condition.
5. Clean the Battery
If dirt and debris of the road enter the cells of the battery, it could cause corrosion on its metal. Hence, it is vital to regularly clean the top of the battery along with its terminals. While ammonia-based window cleaners are mostly recommended to clean a battery, you could also use the combination of baking soda and water. Using them would help you to get rid of the rust that has accumulated on the surface. However, ensure that no fluids enter the battery ports.
6. Keep the Cables Tied
The cables of the battery need to remain in a static position to make sure that it functions at its optimal capacity. Moreover, if the battery’s cables are secure, it would ensure that the battery would work properly.
7. Do not Leave the Car on for Too Long if You are Not Driving
The chief reason behind most of the car battery’s failures in the middle of the road is drivers leaving their vehicles idle for far too long. Thus, avoid leaving your vehicle on for long durations as it can lead to the draining of the battery.
8. Keep the Battery Warm
Winters often give way to an increase in the cases of battery failures. Hence, if you drive in a place where the temperature can plummet quickly, you must keep your battery warm. By doing so, it would become easier to start the battery. Plus, it would also help in consuming minimal power.
9. Do not Overcharge the Battery if You do it Manually
In case you carry out the process of charging your battery manually, it is crucial to keep in mind to not overcharge it. Overcharging can lead to severe damage, even causing the battery to burst in extreme cases. If you manually charge your battery, it is recommended that you check on the battery every half an hour.
To Conclude:
By following these tips, you would be able to maintain your car’s battery in top-notch condition. However, all of these tips call for consistent efforts from your end. Be it keeping the battery warm during the winters or carrying out a battery load test every month, cleaning the battery periodically, or checking its acid levels every six months if you follow all these tips religiously, your battery would go on to function for its entire lifespan!
Also, car insurance policy is a mandatory policy that covers the cost of damage caused to your car due to unforeseen events such as theft, collision, etc. in future.
