Regardless of the conditions your car is exposed to, here are 7 tips to get the most out of your battery.
1.
Avoid frequent short trips
Your battery will be trained each time you start your car, but it will be charged by the engine during the ride. So if you only drive a short distance, the battery can not recover the lost energy. If you repeat the process daily, the battery voltage will steadily decrease until the car can not be started. Get the battery power of your car by driving it frequently and for a longer period of time. If you do not use your car very often, you should invest in a battery charger to maintain the correct voltage.
2.
Keep your battery tightly closed
Vibrations can shorten the life of your car battery. Always use an approved battery terminal to ensure that the battery is properly held at all times. If the battery is not securely fastened, excessive vibration can damage the internal components of the battery. This can cause short circuits and shorten the life of the battery. But do not make the mistake of over tightening the battery clamp nuts as this could damage the battery. Instead, simply tighten the nuts until you feel the resistance begin, then continue half a turn.
3.
Minimize power consumption with the engine off
Car batteries are happiest when they are almost 100% charged. So, if you leave the headlights or interior lights on while the engine is not running, this is not a problem. Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that all accessories are off and check that the lights are off when you leave.
4.
Keep your battery clean
Make sure the top of your battery is clean, dry, and free from dirt and debris. A dirty battery may discharge into the dirt on the top of the case causing a slight short circuit that eventually flattens the battery. The battery poles also corrode with time. Keeping them clean can extend the life of your car battery. Scrub the terminals with an old toothbrush that has been dipped in a mixture of baking soda and water. Then rinse the mixture with a spray bottle of cold water and then dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.
5.
Try to keep the heat load as low as possible
Extreme heat puts a heavy strain on the batteries as it increases the evaporation rate of the water from the cells - even with sealed upper batteries. The cold then reveals the deficiencies of the weaker battery as lower temperatures consume the remaining starting power when attempting to start cold engines with thick oil.
So, what can you do? Basically everything you can imagine to lower the temperature that the battery is exposed to. Parking your vehicle in the shade wherever possible, and parking the vehicle in the garage when not in use are great ideas. You can also look for ways to protect the battery from the heat generated in the engine compartment.
6.
Check the battery voltage once a month
The life of a lead-acid battery shortens dramatically the longer it remains partially or fully discharged. Therefore, it is a good way to check the voltage once a month with a voltmeter to keep an eye on the health of your battery. A healthy, fully charged lead-acid battery should have a voltage of 12.7 volts or more.
7.
Do not leave the car unused for a long time
As you may have noticed in some of the above points, it is important that the lead-acid car batteries are fully charged at all times to avoid damage. Regardless of the brand, all lead-acid batteries naturally lose their charge over time. This is called "self-discharge".
If your vehicle is not used for more than a week, it is advisable to connect a trickle charger to keep the battery in it's best condition.
Source: http://www.eliancars.com/2019/09/7-ways-to-elongate-life-of-your-car.html
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