Looking After Your Car Battery

Colder temperatures can increase the thickness of the engine oil, making your engine harder to turn over, thus causing the battery to have to work harder. That said, high heat can be just as damaging to your battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the battery’s internal structure. For this reason it’s always wise to check your battery this time of year, as the season changes from hotter to cooler.

Another thing that can shorten the life of your battery is overcharging it. That is, a malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, can allow too high a charging rate, leading to slow death for a battery.

When charging your battery, be sure the electrical system is at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging. If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly. Add distilled water when necessary.

Have your battery checked if you notice your car’s headlights and interior lights dim, any accessories that fail to operate, or if the “check engine” light on your dashboard is illuminated.

Always keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Safe driving from Britannia!