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7 Simple Tips to Keep Your Car’s Battery Healthy

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Published on February 25, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

A breakdown during a drive or a road trip is easy to manage if you have car insurance with a roadside assistance add-on. But what if you are stuck with a dead battery? Such a situation can only be avoided with regular maintenance of your car’s battery. A car battery has a lifespan of 3 to 5 years, but factors like driving habits, weather conditions, and maintenance decide how long it will last.

Why is it essential to maintain the health of your car battery?

The battery is the pulse your car needs to keep running. It converts chemical energy into electrical energy and stores it to power all the electrical components of a car. It is not only the central power source of your car but also maintains the voltage to keep the car running. Three main reasons it is essential to maintain the health of your car battery are:

1. A weak battery puts additional stress on other components, which start drawing excess voltage due to a lack of stored electricity. This can cause a malfunction or reduce the efficiency of other components.

2. Driving short distances, weather conditions, or poor maintenance can drain out your car battery, causing your car to completely shut down. In such a situation, you will need to pay a professional to recharge the dead battery from an external source.

3. It is important to keep your car battery active and healthy for a longer lifespan because your car insurance does not cover battery replacement or any breakdowns due to usage-based wear and tear. To keep using your battery for long and prevent breakdowns, maintain it well.

7 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Car Battery

1. Check Your Battery Regularly

It is recommended to check your battery twice a year to reduce any chances of failure. Check the acid levels every six months. If it is lower than the optimum level, your battery won’t charge fully. A battery’s life is sometimes reduced due to weather or driving conditions as well. Check for warning signs like warning lights, dim lights, clicking sounds, corrosion, or a frequently discharged battery.

Tip - Replace your battery every 3-4 years or earlier in case it is showing warning signs.

2. Check Battery’s Voltage Once a Month

Checking your battery’s voltage every month ensures that it is fully charged. A charged battery should have a minimum charge of 12.7 volts or above. A voltage lower than this means that the battery is not fully charged and needs charging. At 12.0 volts, the battery gets completely discharged.

Tip - Keep checking the voltage of your car battery regularly to avoid any instance of a dead battery.

3. Avoid Using Power when Engine is Off

Avoid using your car lights, music system, or an accessory that uses power when the engine is off. It can drain out the battery when you next start the car.

Tip - Always switch off all the accessories before leaving the car.

4. Keep Your Battery Insulated

Engine heat can result in a shorter life of your car battery. Keeping your battery insulated, protects it from excess engine heat and also slows down heat loss during winters.

Tip - Use an insulation wrap to maintain your car battery at optimum temperature and increase its lifespan.

5. Check Distilled water Levels Regularly

If you have an unsealed battery, make sure that you check the distilled water level in your battery regularly. During summers, evaporation is faster, and overheating can damage the battery.

Tip - Always carry distilled water with you while driving during hot weather so that you can refill the battery whenever required.

6. Drive Your Car Regularly

Cars are meant to be driven. If you leave your vehicle sitting idle for long, the battery will lose its power. A battery needs an optimum driving distance to fully recharge. If you don't drive often or drive for only short distances, your battery won't get charged sufficiently and will drain out faster.

Tips - Take your car for a long drive once a week if you don't drive regularly. Save on premium by choosing usage based car insurance, if you don’t use your car often.

7. Keep The Battery Clean

Over time and with usage, the dust gets accumulated over the battery, eroding terminals and causing electrolyte drainage. If you see a layer of fuzz forming over the terminals, remove it immediately or it can damage your battery or other electrical parts.

Tip - Clean the corrosion using a mixture of water and baking soda with a brush and wipe it clean and dry with a clean cloth. Always wear protective gloves while cleaning.

Conclusion

Maintaining your car battery is important to keep your car running smoothly. It also saves money by preventing frequent breakdowns. However, if your battery is old enough and giving warning signs, it is time to replace it. Don't try to extend its life longer than it should be. In case of any damage or breakdown due to an accident, you need not worry as your car insurance will cover it for you.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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