Driving a car comes with a lot of responsibility and maintenance. Not only do you need to consider regular oil changes and engine flushes, but you also need to be aware of the habits that can wear down your brakes and tires more quickly, and lower the lifespan of your car battery. One of the things that the average car owner doesn’t realize is that they can improve the longevity of the car battery. There are certain habits that drain a battery more quickly and others that cause it to last longer. You can improve your car battery life with these tips.
Don’t Let Your Car Sit Unused for Too Long
Batteries naturally lose their charge over time. It’s why the small batteries you find in stores don’t last forever. Even when they aren’t used, if they aren’t being recharged, they will lose the ability to recharge. If you plan to be away from your vehicle for more than a week, you can do a couple of things. Ask a friend to drive it around for 30 minutes to an hour. This will recharge the battery, which can extend its life. A 10000 watt generator can be used to recharge the battery or try hooking the car up to a simple trickle battery.
Clean the Posts
The battery posts can get corroded with time. It’s important to use the right tools and techniques to keep not only the posts clean but the rest of the battery free of dirt and debris. Doing this will ensure that nothing hinders the battery from getting a full charge and that it can have as long of a life as possible. It’s important to clean the posts when needed.
Drive Longer Stretches When Possible
Every time you turn on your engine, the alternator recharges your battery. This allows for all the electrical components to work in your vehicle. When your car first warms up, it’s best to give it more time to fully charge. If you constantly take short trips, you reduce the time the battery can charge. This leaves the battery prone to not taking as much energy each time it charges in the future. Fully charging the battery every single time you drive will extend the life of the battery and you can do this by taking longer trips.
Don’t Run Electricity When Car is Turned Off
Some people like to sit in their car and listen to music even if the car is turned off. Others will leave their smartphone or mobile devices in the car to charge overnight. This may seem harmless, but when you do it with your car turned off you are discharging the battery even more. It’s important in these instances to be sure to run the car long enough to fully charge the battery if these are some of your habits. Better yet, turn off all the accessories and devices in your car when you aren’t running the engine. This may even mean removing charging ports because they can draw a charge even if nothing is hooked up to them.
Be Proactive With Battery Checks
Most people never check their car battery voltage unless the car won’t start or they are having electrical issues. By checking the battery once a month, you can catch any voltage issues before they become a major problem. You’ll be more likely to notice the signs of when your battery is dying so that you don’t get caught in a tricky situation. You can easily by a tool to check the voltage from the convenience of home. Some auto parts stores will even do a free battery check for you.
Connect Your Battery Tightly Sometimes it seems like a loose fit will be easier to disconnect in the future. But the truth is that when your battery isn’t fitted snugly in its spot and to the car connections, it will lose battery life over time. The jostling and movements that happen when the car is running can lead to internal damage to the electrical components. This damage can cause the battery to short circuit. If you drive on especially bumpy roads like dirt roads regularly, this tip is even more important. You can have a mechanic check your battery for any connection issues that could reduce its lifespan.