Many different factors, including extreme temperatures, parasitic drains, and driving habits, will influence the lifespan of your car battery. A typical car battery will last between 3 -5 years, after which it may no longer function due to age and wear of its lead-acid construction.
Fortunately, there are many ways to increase the longevity of your car battery. The following tips will enable you to extract the maximum amount of energy from your car battery before having to replace it.
The Average Car Battery Life
Car batteries typically have a lifespan of 3-5 years, with one of the biggest variables being the temperature. When the engine is operating, the area under the hood is already subjected to extreme temperatures and high levels of heat.
Extreme heat causes even more drain on car batteries, resulting in more dead batteries unless you take proper summer driving precautions.
Warm conditions cause the liquid within batteries to evaporate, causing damage to the internal components of the battery. Therefore, average car battery life in warmer areas is significantly shorter than in cooler climates.
To determine how long you can expect your car battery to last, keep in mind the climate in which you will be driving most often.
Regardless of the climate in which you operate your vehicle, regularly maintaining your car battery will ensure continued operation long into the future. To learn more about how to prolong the life of your car battery, read through the 7 tips provided below:
#1. Limit Short Rides.
As you drive your car, the battery provides energy to start the engine, and then it recharges during the trips. If you only drive your vehicle short distances, it won’t regain enough energy to keep the battery at full capacity over many hauls.
Therefore, driving your car more often for longer periods helps to keep your auto battery charged and healthy. If you don’t drive your car very often, consider purchasing a battery charger to keep the voltage where it belongs.
#2. Keep Your Battery Tightly Fastened.
Vibrating batteries may shorten their lifespan. Therefore, using an approved battery clamp and securing the battery at all times is critical. Otherwise, excessive vibration can result in physical damage to the battery’s internal components, which can lead to short circuits and a shorter battery lifespan.
Do NOT overtighten the battery clamp nuts past your strength. You could cause damage. Instead, tighten the nuts until you feel resistance and then turn an additional half turn only.
#3. Turn Off All the Lights When You Exit.
If you leave your headlights or car door lights on for an extended period of time, you risk damaging the battery in your car.
To prevent yourself from forgetting to turn these off, put a sticky note on the dashboard of your car, attach a sticker to your car remote to remind you, or park your car so that you have to walk past the headlights to get wherever you are going.
#4. Control the Corrosion.
Cleaning your car battery terminals will prevent their corrosion and extend the life of your vehicle’s electrical system.
You can clean the battery terminals easily using a toothbrush moistened with a baking soda and vinegar solution, then rinsed clean with cold water from a spray bottle. Finally, dry the battery terminals with a clean cloth.
#5. Test Your Battery Often.
To get the most out of your car battery, it’s important to know your car battery’s condition as well as test it using a car battery tester, so you know what kind of condition you’re keeping up with that battery and when it will need to be replaced.
#6. Do Not Use Electronics When Your Car is Idle.
If you have an idling vehicle, turn off items such as the radio, air conditioner, and heater to reduce the drain on the battery. The longer you allow your vehicle to idle while using these accessories, the faster it will drain your battery.
#7. Care for Your Whole Car.
Your car has several components working together to keep you safe on the road. By doing regular maintenance and taking care of your car’s storage space properly, you can help your battery live its best life.
Your car battery is only one part of keeping your vehicle running well, which means it’s important to maintain the rest of your car as well. Properly caring for your entire vehicle will ensure it lasts longer, as well as extend the life of your battery.
Regardless of how well you take care of your car’s battery, it’s impossible to predict when your battery will die.