How To Winter-Proof Your Car Battery

Imagine being late for work on a cold winter morning only to find that your car won’t start. It’s more than a bit frustrating right?

A car battery dying in the cold weather is a common problem. It has something to do about the low generation of electric current caused by the slower chemical reaction in a battery. The effect in the chemical reaction is caused by a lower temperature. While there is nothing you can do about the weather, there is something that you can do about the battery of your car.

Here are some tips to help keep your battery in top condition in the winter:

• Have a plug-in engine warmer that you can use overnight to avoid the morning start up problems.
• Purchase a battery heater to lessen the loss of power during the cold season.
• Have the battery tested by a professional before the cold season starts. A fully charged battery will eliminate or minimize problems with starting your car.
• Remove the battery from the car and keep it inside the house if it will not be used for a long time.
• Check the age of your car’s battery. It may be old and ready for replacement. A typical car battery will last 5 to 10 years. It is best if you have your battery replaced before the cold season kicks in.
• Check for corrosion. Apart from being worn-out, you may want to check your battery for corrosion as it can also lead to battery failure. If there is corrosion, you have to clean off the residue. This can affect the overall performance of the battery.
• Disconnect the battery. If you have no plans of using your car in the winter and you will park it in the garage, you may want to disconnect it. This will keep the battery from being drained by the clock, alarm systems, etc.
• Fill up the fuel tank. The condensation in the walls of a gas tank is minimized when it is filled with fuel. This condensation forms and sinks to the bottom to clog the fuel lines. This can also be a factor in your car refusing to start in the winter.

On a last note, turn off all car accessories when starting the car. That will save the starting power that is needed by your car’s engine. It also helps to drive your car at least half an hour a day to let your battery charge fully. This will help your battery last longer in wintertime. The manual of your car should have specific instructions about the use of your car during the cold weather. You may want to take a look at this to help winter-proof your car’s battery.

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Battery and temperature