Car Battery Maintenance Tips
The most common mistake automobile owners make is the lack of due diligence on car battery maintenance before losing its charge and changing it before its expected life. A few battery maintenance tips that will help maximize battery life have been listed below to give you more time for replacement and to avoid mishaps. Car batteries are consumable items that will run out and need replacing.
But there are many things you can do to increase the life of your battery.
With care, your battery can last beyond the guarantee. All you need is some essential tools, about ten minutes of free time every couple of months, and the determination to make your battery last.
Here are some car battery maintenance tips to extend your battery’s life. Check out the top 7 maintenance tips list:
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Safety Tips First
We are all aware that the battery needs maintenance. While doing routine maintenance on your battery, it is highly recommended that one should take precautionary measures so to prevent accidents and harm.
Avoid smoking while maintaining the battery due to flammable gas fumes.
>> Caution should be adopted while changing and checking batteries, especially with metallic tools.
>> The other most dangerous material the battery contains is battery acid; one should not get the battery acid on himself. The burn of battery acid can be neutralized only by cleaning and washing the area with a lot of water,
The battery must be within reach of the children and kept away from them.
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Avoid short trips.
Using your car for a short distance won’t give the alternator enough time to generate the battery used to start a car. If your vehicle is inactive for days, the battery won’t have adequate time to recharge.
Your car battery should recharge regularly, so take a 30-minute drive at least once a week to warm up the engine and circulate your car’s fluids.
If it is unused for over two weeks, your car battery will die.
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Regularly check the Electrolyte Level.
All lead-acid batteries require the correct amount of electrolyte to function correctly. Consisting of a mixture of distilled water and sulphuric acid, some is inevitably lost through evaporation and complex chemical reactions. The battery should be full of electrolytes, and the SG should be 1.265 when fully charged and at room temperature.
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Keep the terminals clean.
There are many causes for acid and copper-sulfate accumulations on battery terminals, which, if not removed, will eventually reduce the contact area between the airport and the lead battery post. When this happens, the battery will either not be fully charged (which could damage the alternator) or be unable to supply enough current through the reduced contact area. Keeping your car battery terminals clean from corrosive buildup is vital to increase the battery’s lifespan.
A tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water is a simple cleaning solution to clean the top of the battery and any corrosion on the terminal’s top using a non-metallic brush. Disconnecting the cables and thoroughly cleaning the airport pollution is highly recommended. Changing the battery is advised if the rust has reached a level where it cannot be cleaned.
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Electrolyte cables
The Middle Eastern region is a highly heat-affected area. Therefore, the battery water level drops faster in this part of the world. You must check water levels at least once a week or after regular intervals and refill if the group has fallen. Here, we must mention that new batteries do not need that immediate attention, and mostly these days, maintenance-free dry cell batteries are available in the markets. While refilling the cells, never overfill the cells and only use clean distilled water for topping off the water levels. Always look for the mark on the side when you remove the battery cell covers. That’s the top-off point where you should stop and not exceed that level. It is highly recommended to change the battery immediately if any cracks might have developed in the storm.
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Off-season care
The battery is such a device that needs a regular charge. Ideally, a battery should be charged every six months to keep it healthy. Sometimes it happens with people who own multiple cars that, due to non-usage of a particular vehicle, can be the reason that its battery loses a charge; therefore, to avoid such a situation, keep the engine start for at least a few minutes in a day or a week. Another solution is that a Battery Maintainer is always available in the market. It is designed to be left ON for the entire time, keeping your battery under normal healthy conditions and avoiding shortening the battery lifespan.
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Use the Correct Battery
All cars require batteries with specific ratings and capacities to supply sufficient power and prevent damage to critical systems. It is, therefore, essential to use a battery that the manufacturer recommends. Saving a few dollars by fitting a smaller battery can run you the risk of destroying both the battery and the car’s sensitive electrical system. If the battery cannot supply the current, demand for the electrical system needs to function correctly.
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Tightly fastened battery.
Ensure the battery is tightly fastened in its brackets. If you drive on bumpy roads you should check it regularly to save it from vibration-induced damage.
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Turn off the lights when you leave the car.
if you accidentally leave any headlights or interior lights on, it will drain your battery.
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Test your battery often:
Use a car battery tester to check the voltage level and decide if it’s time for a new battery. Any expert mechanic can check, or you can use a digital voltmeter to check the battery voltage.
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Don’t use electronics with the engine off:
Avoid using electronic devices when the engine is not running. When the alternator is shut off battery is not generating electricity So keeping electric devices will drain the battery. Before leaving the car make sure everything is shut down.
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Avoid parking outside without shade.
To enhance battery life, it is crucial to park your car in the shade, especially in the harsh summer of the UAE. In the heat, the acid will slowly evaporate, and the battery will not be able to charge.
If you follow the above fundamental battery maintenance tips and measures, you won’t have to face a battery breakdown situation. It would be best to remember that a battery’s expected life is 60-84 months and may vary on its different models, and it must be changed after that period.