12 Steps on How to Care For Your Car Battery During Summer

Batteries should be check and maintained not only during winter months but also during summer days. Actually, summer heat is more detrimental to your battery than cold temperatures. Unfortunately, only a few people know about this fact.

The truth is, the strength of the batteries lessens when the mercury rises. With 95˚ F temperature plus under the hood temperature will definitely cause corrosion to your batteries. Bear in mind that heat causes evaporation, thus depleting fluid out of your battery resulting to the breakdown of battery grids.

Batteries are very important for your vehicle to start that is why it is necessary (for car owners especially) to learn about the proper steps on how to take care of your battery especially during summer.

What is an automotive battery?

An automotive battery is also known as an automotive SLI battery (starting, lighting, ignition ). These batteries are rechargeable types of batteries. They are needed to start your engine, give power to the lightings and the ignitions of your car. Battery maintenance is vital to assure that there will be no problems caused by battery related issues.

The Importance of Proper Battery Maintenance

Proper battery maintenance is very significant especially when you are traveling a lot. Make sure that your batteries are in good condition before you decide to bring it for a long drive. Check the poles and terminals , the loose connections and the electrolyte level.

Steps On How To Properly Care For Your Battery

1.    Know the type of battery you have to be knowledgeable of the proper care it needs to keep it in good condition. It is not advisable to play around with your battery. Remember that proper maintenance helps prolong the life of the battery, and knowing how to safely clean them is a big help. There are indicator lights inside your vehicle that tells you of its status. You must be able to understand what the indicators mean to know what it is trying to tell you to avoid getting damage.

2.    To prevent batteries from being discharged especially when not in use or stored for quite some time, it is highly recommended that you should disconnect it from any connections and remove the battery in your car. Put it on top of a wooden table or on anything wooden. Don’t leave it on the ground or floor as it could also cause the discharged. You might be surprise that your car would not start even if it was working fine before you stored your car in the garage. We recommend a trickle charger that can be picked up for a nominal fee at any automotive parts store.  This will assure  a start for you when you hook up your battery again.

3.    Batteries should be kept away from direct contact or exposure to heat. If your batteries are exposed to too much heat, this can cause your batteries to explode or get damaged. If you read the precaution notice on the battery, you will know which to avoid.

4.    In recharging your batteries, see to it that the charger is compatible with the configuration of your batteries to avoid certain problems that might occur. There are many battery chargers that you can choose from and purchase. To be certain, ask the opinions from experts on this field in your area. Skilled auto electricians can help you with this.

5.    Heat can hasten the presence of internal battery corrosion. Therefore it is vital to clean your battery and get rid of any possible formation of corrosion, lead oxidation and rust by using  a brass brush or scouring pad. Make sure that these chemicals are taken off before it causes damage to your battery.

6.    For batteries with filler caps, make sure to perform regular checking of the water levels and refill each cell with water when needed.

7.    To prevent sulfation and reduction of internal battery explosion possibility, make sure that battery plates are filled with the correct level of fluid.

8.    Do not use tap water to as a replacement to distilled water when the level is low.

9.    Do not overfill the plates as well especially during hot weather. Keep in mind that heat can cause the solution to expand and will surely result to an overflow of liquid which can also cause damage to your battery.

10. Make sure to inspect your battery from time to time for any cracking or leaking or bulging of the case. Once you see signs of the following, be aware that battery replacement is already needed.

11. Cold and warm weather have opposite effects on batteries so you have to be observant. It affects the discharge and charging of your batteries. Though you may not notice it if you are not going to check it out. Try to prevent adding excessive amount of electrolytes during a warm weather because the heat can cause it to overflow.

12. It is very much recommended to have your batteries tested or checked every three to six months and especially when you are planning to take a long trip. Bring it to a trusted auto repair shop and have an auto electrician look at it for you to be aware of how much longer your car battery can go. It is very important to know your battery life to avoid problems later on.   In severe hot climates, even a “lifetime battery “ may only have 35 months of charge.

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