Replacing your battery is something you’re going to have to do from time to time as part of caring for your car. You can save some money by extending the life of your battery as long as possible so it will have to be replaced less often. This will also decrease the number of batteries that are in landfills and help the environment. There are a few easy things you can do that can significantly increase the life of your car’s battery. Here are some of our recommended tips, below!
Keep Your Battery Warm. Cold weather will reduce the charge in your battery and cause it to lose power more quickly. Parking in an insulated garage is one way to keep your battery warm. If you don’t have a garage, you can insulate your battery for around $25.
Clean Your Battery. Grease, dirt, and oxidation that build up on your battery can weaken the charge. This can easily be cleaned away with a battery cleaning kit or by pouring a mixture of water and baking soda over the dirty areas. For very dirty areas, you can use an old toothbrush to rub away the grime.
Use Solar Power. Maintaining the optimum charge level in your battery will help it to last longer. Using a solar charger and monitor for your battery will help keep the charge up. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
Stabilize Your Battery. If your battery is loose, it could tip and spill acid into the engine compartment or bash against the other parts of your car. Keep the battery tray clean and make sure the battery is correctly in place. This helps keep your battery going for longer, and also helps keep the rest of your engine safe from potential damage.
Add Water to Your Battery. Maintenance-free batteries do not require water to be added, but other types of batteries do. Distilled water can be added to the battery cells when the car is not running. Clean off the top of your battery and remove the vent caps. Add the water to just under the top of the cells. Do not overfill and do not use water that is not distilled. Replace the vent caps. (Most modern batteries are maintenance-free and you should not add water to these.)
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