Car Battery Maintenance: Tips & Tricks
ow long your car battery actually lasts is affected by a number of factors.
For instance, lots of short drives will probably shorten a batteryβs life expectancy, while long motorway journeys should help it to last longer. The way you drive can also affect your battery, with aggressive driving and excessive speeds also likely to place a strain on it.
If you want to get the maximum life out of your car battery, there are things you should be doing and looking for, and in this article, the UK Tyres team will be giving some of our top tips and advice to help you.
Battery Maintenance Tips
These are our top tips for ensuring you get the best possible value out of your car battery:
- Make regular visual checks
Each time you open the bonnet, itβs worth taking a quick look at your battery to make sure everything is as it should be, that there are no obvious signs of damage and that itβs reasonably clean. You should particularly look out for signs of corrosion around the contacts. - Keep your battery free of oil, dirt and grime
Even if you donβt notice any major buildup of dirt when making your general visual check, itβs worth giving your battery a quick clean every few months. A homemade solution of baking soda and water is good for removing signs of corrosion, but make sure you fully wipe off any residue afterwards. - Check water levels
As long as the batteryβs plates are covered, youβre okay. However, if the plates are exposed, you need to top up with distilled water β tap water contains minerals that could damage the battery. - Check acid levels
This is worth doing every six months, and you need to make sure that all cells are filled equally. When the charge gets below 80%, the battery can suffer from βacid stratificationβ, which can result in significant long-term damage. - Check your battery is secure
If your battery isnβt being held securely in place, it could start to rattle around and get shaken by the action of the engine, which could lead to damage best avoided. If the strapping holding the battery feels loose, tighten it up β but not too much, because otherwise you could crack the casing. - Make regular drives
Just 30 minutesβ driving each week should be enough to keep your battery topped up and in good condition. Some people might suggest that leaving it to idle is just as effective, but that really isnβt the case. All youβll do is use up fuel unnecessarily! - Store your battery if your car isnβt being used for long periods
If youβre not going to be using your car for several weeks, it might be worth removing it from your car to stop it from draining too much. This might be the case if youβre going for a long holiday or you have a rare car you only get out occasionally. Recharge the battery fully every three months, so that itβs working at its best when the time comes to put it back into the engine. - Get a smart charger
Traditional chargers can overcharge a battery if you forget to turn them off, another way that damage can be caused. Smart chargers, on the other hand, not only turn off automatically once the battery is fully charged, but charge in stages in such a way that they can actually extend the lifespan of a battery.
Of course, the best way to ensure your car battery is in top condition is to let the experts at UK Tyres check it over. We can run a number of tests to assess its condition, and then if youβre in need of a replacement, provide a fast and cost-effective solution.
Call us now for more information and advice on car batteries or to book an appointment for a battery check at our North London depot.
