Tips for Avoiding a Dead Car Battery in Winter
Winter is just around the corner, and just like us, our car batteries also feel sluggish and sleepy. In simpler words, when it is freezing cold outside, it can become difficult for your car to start. Because the battery is down, and it does not supply enough energy to the engine to start. Now, a lot of people out there do not understand why this happens in the first place and why chilly weather wreaks havoc on their car batteries, especially in winters.
Well, if you have the same question then stick with us till the end. Today, not only will PitStopArabia explain why this happens in winters; in fact, we will also tell you about useful tips and tricks to avoid a dead battery in the wintry weather. Do take notes of what we are about to say to you as this article can really come in handy to you and the people around you.
Please keep in mind that these tips and tricks are tried and trusted. They work for the majority of the drivers. If they are not helpful for you, please leave a comment, and we will try to resolve your problem.
Winter and your Car’s Battery
Whether it is extremely hot outside or freezing, in both conditions, your battery gets affected. Especially in winters, your battery becomes all dull and sluggish because cold temperatures slow down the chemical reactions that are happening inside the battery. In case you have a high-quality battery, the weather outside will degrade its quality.
It is an entirely natural process, and you do not need to vent out your frustration at the shop from which you bought the battery. A little Google search will show that extreme temperatures do affect chemical reactions. Moreover, in case you have a subpar battery, cold temperature can make it completely unusable.
Tips to Avoid a Dead Car Battery in Winters
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to avoid a dead battery in winters. It is precisely what PitStopArabia is going to talk about right now. Do make notes!
Assessing the Age of your Battery
Just like all the other things in the world, even car batteries come with a lifespan, and most of these batteries last for 5 to 10 years. Now, what you need to do is that you have to assess the age of your battery. And in case it is old, the wiser thing to do would be to replace it. Especially if you are running on the car’s original battery and if your car is quite old now then it would be better to buy a new battery before winter arrives.
If you are not sure about the age of the battery, take it to a professional car mechanic. A professional car mechanic will determine the age of the battery in a glance. Based on his recommendation, you may need to change the battery. If the expert is of the opinion that the battery is not too old, ask him to clean the battery. However, you can do this yourself as well.
Cleaning the Battery
It is not only a tip to avoid a dead battery in winters; in fact, this tip can increase the battery's lifespan. People usually make this mistake of cleaning the interior and exterior of their cars to keep them in tip-top condition, but they never bother to look under the hood. Now, if you really do not want to end up with a dead battery in the middle of a road then turn off your car, open the hood (bonnet) and check if there is any corrosion around the terminals.
If you do find some, then take a brush, some water and mix some baking soda in it. Dip the brush in the mixture and then brush off the corrosion. Believe it or not, this tip can do wonders for your battery's life, and it can also help in adequately seating the car's battery.
Do Not Use Accessories that Strain the Battery
The battery of your car is already very weak in winters. Therefore, if you do not want more of its power to be strained, then avoid using the unnecessary accessories that use battery power. For example, do not turn on the radio, the heater or the lights of your car right when you hop on it.
First, wait for a while and let the alternator charge your battery. After 5 to 10 minutes, you can turn on the heater or whatever accessory you want to use. It allows the battery enough time to recharge and does not unnecessarily strain the battery.
Opt for a Battery Blanket
Before you get any funny ideas and decide to place a warm blanket on your battery, continue reading. A battery blanket is an insulated wrap for a car battery, designed to keep it warm in winter months. The blanket will prevent battery fluid from freezing. However, there are potential side effects to using a car battery blanket.
One issue is that a battery blanket prevents the battery from cooling down after a long trip. As it is designed to keep it warm, failure to cool it down can be devastating. PitStopArabia would not recommend people residing in the UAE to use a battery blanket frequently. The reason is that the UAE does not experience freezing temperatures as many countries in Europe or around the world do.
Disconnect the Battery
If you do plan on using the car for a couple of days or so, it is better to disconnect the battery and store it inside in a warm place. It will prevent the battery fluid from freezing. When you do need to use the car, simply reconnect the battery again. It is not a tedious task and does not require a lot of time.
Conclusion
These are a few useful tips and tricks that can help you avoid a dead battery in winter. So, use these tips and most importantly, make sure that there is no corrosion on the terminals of the battery. Also, get your battery check on and off to ensure that it is a perfect condition and that it can work for you for a long time.