The health of an automobile can be severely dependent on the health of its battery. The better the car battery, the better the journey, and it also plays a good role in the longevity of the automobile as well. This makes it very important to consider and understand the average battery life of your car and make sure not to push it beyond its timespan.
Average Car Battery Life
The average lifespan of a car battery is anywhere from 15 months to 30 months. There are some factors that might cause this stipulated time to change. One of those factors will be the weather or climate of your place. Hot weather can drain the battery in a much more effective way than in other climates, the reason being the combination of the heat produced by the engine and the scorching weather outside. It will be ideal to take some precautions if you are going on a long ride under the sun, because it can exhaust the battery fluid in no time. If your region has strong summers, then the average life of the battery can be much shorter than the average.
Taking the right steps and precautions can take care of your battery health, irrespective of the weather you are in. Let us further look into six such ways that can help you extend your car battery life.
- Limit Short Rides
Now, this is one of the best hacks that can help you save money by not changing your car’s battery every now and then. Taking your car out for a negligible distance can affect the battery life. When you start taking your car even for the shortest amount of distance at frequent intervals, it will never let the vehicle revive up to its full charging capacity. This will have tumultuous effects on the car’s battery life. So, make sure to avoid short distances with the car and always make sure that the car is taken out for extended periods of time.
- Keep the battery tightly fastened
A loosely placed battery can cause internal damage and result in shorter effective battery life. The battery, when not tightly fastened with a good clamp, will vibrate profusely when the car is on the run and can cause implicit damage. It can also lead to short circuits. So, it is a prerequisite to take the car and the battery in for regular maintenance and see to it that the batteries are in place and are properly working.
It is also important to make sure that the nuts on the battery are not fastened to their limits because this can also cause severe damage to the battery.
- Turn off the lights when you exit
It is a very common scenario to leave the car’s headlights on when you are out of it, and this is an extremely bad practice that can affect the life of your car’s battery. Turning on the headlights and leaving them on for an extended period of time can drain the battery fluid and shorten the battery’s average life. So, make sure that the headlights and the door lights are off when you exit the car.
- Control the Corrosion
The car battery should be put through regular maintenance schedules. This routine check can positively affect the longevity of your automobile’s battery life. Ensure that the top of the battery is clean and free of any kind of dirt. If it is not kept clean, it can cause short circuits and flatten the battery out completely. The car battery is easily corroded, with the battery terminals corroding over time. These buildups have to be cleared on time to get good battery life.
- Do not use electronics while idling
Avoiding the use of car accessories while the vehicle is idle is an effective way to help extend battery life. The main utility of the vehicle’s battery is to start the engine. Accessories like air conditioners, music systems, interior lights, etc. can damage the reliability of the car’s battery. Always make sure that the accessories are turned off.
- Care for the whole
Your car has to be taken care of as a whole system. Being a car owner, it is fitting to take the car in for routine battery maintenance checks. This will help keep it running smoothly for years to come. When regular tune-ups are considered, they can ensure that the battery is effectively running and functioning at its best.
Keeping track of the health of the battery is an ideal step to make sure that it doesn’t run out on you in difficult circumstances. Batteries are expensive, and not taking care of them can be an added expense to the household. So, make sure to keep up with the routine maintenance checks for the battery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the battery of a car plays a crucial role in the health and longevity of the vehicle. Understanding the average lifespan of a car battery and taking the necessary steps to extend its life can save car owners from the expense of frequent battery replacements. Factors such as climate, short rides, loose fastening, and corrosion can all affect the lifespan of a car battery. By limiting short rides, ensuring the battery is tightly fastened, turning off lights when exiting, controlling corrosion, avoiding electronics while idling, and taking care of the car as a whole, car owners can effectively extend the lifespan of their car battery. Regular maintenance checks are also recommended to ensure the battery is functioning effectively. By implementing these tips, car owners will benefit from an extended car battery life and can ensure their vehicle runs smoothly for years to come, saving them from the added expense of frequent battery replacements.
