Make Your Car Battery Last Longer With Proper Care
Without your car’s battery, you won’t be able to start your vehicle, not just that, but also all electrical system of your car relies on it. We are sure you never want to get stuck in the middle of the road just because of your faulty power unit. By that, we are here to help you maintain and make sure that your power unit is in good condition.
If you need to replace your battery and decide to purchase it at Walmart, of course, it would be better to educate yourself about the Walmart battery warranty first—and the same is true for other brands.
Here are the following ways that you can do for you to reach the maximum life span of your RV.
Avoid driving short distances
Every time you start your car’s engine, the battery is used to power your vehicle, and during your trip, your engine starts recharging it again. That’s why we advise you not to use your car frequently for a short trip because it will be impossible for your power unit to regain the amount of voltage lost. If this were done frequently, the power voltage would slowly be affected until you won’t be able to start the engine or your vehicle.
We highly suggest that you have to maintain a long and frequent drive whenever you decide to use your car. Another tip is when you don’t use your vehicle often, you should purchase a charger to help you maintain the standard voltage of your power unit.
Fasten your power unit tightly
It’s important to make sure your car’s battery is properly fastened in its place, so it won’t move or bounce during your trip. Also, vibration can affect the life span of the power unit; that’s why you must use an approved clamp to ensure that it’s completely safe from vibration. Finally, if you let your battery loose or not fastened, there’s a greater chance that the battery’s internal components will be damaged.
However, we suggest that you be careful when attaching your clamp and never put too much force on it because over-tightening might also affect or damage your power unit. Whenever you feel the resistance start while tightening the nuts, that’s the signal only to add half turn.
Don’t leave the key ON
Make sure that before you leave your car, all accessories like headlights or interior lights are turned off. The best time for your car cell is when you keep them at full charge, so make sure to turn off all possible buttons that can absorb the energy of your power unit.
Clean your battery
Always make sure that the top of your battery is clean; since it produces all the energy to your car’s electrical system, it’s essential always to keep it dry. The dirt and grime can cause a short circuit that will eventually make your power unit flatten.
Corrosion will start at your battery terminals, so make sure also to keep them clean. For example, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water, then get your old toothbrush and dip it into the mixture and slowly scrub the terminals of your power unit. Then rinse the mixture from your battery by spraying cold water, then use a cloth to dry the terminals.
Batteries hate high temperatures
If you think that your faulty power unit is caused by the winter, that isn’t true. Sometimes car owners have a hard time starting their vehicle in the winter because of the damage caused and possibly sustained by your power unit during the extreme heat of the summer.
Suppose your car was frequently exposed to the sun’s direct heat during the hot weather, the water evaporation from the cell increases. Then when the winter comes, the cold weather will show how weak your battery is already because it will absorb the few remaining crank power of your power unit.
So how can you avoid this? You can simply do all the things that won’t let your car be exposed to the sunlight. For example, you can park in a location where there is a shade, and it could be from a tree or building. By simply doing these things, you can help your power unit stay in good condition.
Measure the voltage at least once a month
The voltage is considered the life of your battery, so when you keep on leaving your power unit partially or fully discharged, its life will undoubtedly be affected. Therefore, checking the voltage once a month using a voltmeter is a perfect way to know the health level of your car cell. Always make sure that your power unit has a voltage of around 12.8 volts or above.
However, when it drops below 12.4 volts, we highly suggest recharging your power unit as soon as you can. Always remember that when it reaches 12.4 volts, it’s already half-charged, and it will be discharged entirely at 12.0 volts. So, it will be best to avoid discharging your power unit completely before recharging it.
Use your car regularly
A lead-acid battery must be kept fully charged all the time to prevent any damage; however, you should know that this kind of power unit self-discharges even when not used. When you’re in a high-temperature location, it discharges 0.75%-1% daily, and in cold temperature places, it loses 0.25% per day.
We advise you to connect a trickle charger to make sure it will not be left discharged if you’ll be away for more than a week. By that, you can make sure your battery is in a good situation.
Last Words
Just like any other battery, it will lose its efficiency over time. That’s why you have to make sure to follow the steps given above so that you can maximize the life span of your power unit. It can be extended based on how you take care of your car, so be a responsible car owner.