Car Battery Maintenance Tips
As cars become more high-tech, car batteries are being pushed to work harder than ever.
During your car’s regular service, your battery should be checked over by a mechanic. However, you should also regularly keep an eye on your car’s battery every time you open the bonnet, for example, when you’re topping up your screen wash.
By following a few simple steps, you can enhance performance and increase the lifespan of your battery:
- Do a visual battery check
- Clean your car battery
- Check your car battery’s acid level
- Check your car battery’s water level
- Consider long-term battery storage
- Get the right battery charger
Carry out a visual check
Without removing the battery from your car, have a look round and check that it isn’t damaged and that it’s looking clean.
If it has an open vent or pipe, make sure this is free from blockages. Also, make sure the terminals and hold down clamp are tight.
Clean your car battery
Overtime, dirt and debris can collect on your battery and corrode metal elements such as the battery terminals. Therefore, you need to clean your car battery every few months to avoid long-term damage.
You can either create your cleaning solution by mixing baking soda and water or use our Electrical Contact Cleaner with a wire brush to remove any crust and corrosion left on the battery. Remember to wipe off any cleaning fluid residue on the battery so it doesn’t go through the battery ports and cause damage.
Check your car battery’s acid level
A car battery that is constantly undercharged or dwells at a charge below 80% (known as acid stratification) can pose a huge risk to your battery health. If acid stratification occurs then the battery electrolytes will concentrate at the bottom and leave the upper half starved.
Make sure to check your battery’s acid levels every six months and ensure all the cells are filled equally.
Check your car battery’s water level
Another simple tip that can help you maintain your battery for longer is to check the battery’s water levels. If the battery plates are fully covered, it means that your water level is where it should be. We recommend using the Halfords Battery Top-Up Water 5L for quality and reliability.
However, when the battery plates are exposed, it means that the battery fluid level is low. You should immediately fill the battery with distilled water until the plates are fully covered again. It’s important to use distilled water rather than tap water, as the latter contains dissolved minerals that can affect battery performance.
It is recommended to check the battery fluid level every time your car needs an oil change or after every six months.
Consider long-term battery storage
If you know that your car isn’t going to be used for an extended period (over a month) then you should consider removing the battery from the vehicle to prevent excessive draining.
When the battery is removed, you should fully charge it every three months and store it somewhere safe and dry. This will ensure optimum performance when you use it again. Feel free to check out our guide on how long car batteries normally last.
Get the right battery charger
To keep your battery charged you’ll need a battery charger. Just make sure that you find one that’s compatible with your vehicle’s battery.
We’d recommend a smart charger; these devices can repair and protect your battery while it charges, to keep it healthy for longer. Using an advanced, multi-step system, smart chargers refill your battery in stages to stop any excess current. Not only does this prevent damage, but it also makes for more efficient charging.
You can check out our full range of batteries online and find out more about our car battery fitting service, which is available at your local Halfords store.
Halfords Free Battery Health Check
If you have any concerns about your battery before your regular service, we offer a free battery check, where we’ll check the current state of your battery and let you know if a change or replacement is needed. We’ll even recycle your old one for free.
Just pop down to your local Halfords store or garage and speak to one of our helpful experts for more information.
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It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
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