If you are looking for maintenance tips to keep your car battery running like new, then you have come to the right place. Of all of the parts of your car, the battery is the one thing that probably gets the least attention. You replace it if it ever dies and you worry about it only when you go to crank up the car and you hear that angry clicking noise. The simple fact is that there are lots of things you can do to make sure your battery runs like new all throughout the year. This can help to conserve battery life and it can save you money and time over the long run.
Filling your battery with the right water, if it requires that
Some of the newer batteries today do not require owners to top off with water, but there are still many people out there who use batteries that need this sort of service. You have to put more water in them so that they can function correctly. You can’t just use any old water source, though. Tap water is a poor choice, because it can sometimes contain lots of minerals that can be dangerous for the battery’s systems. If you want to enhance battery life and keep it running like new, then you will use distilled water or even bottled water. This will make sure that it runs more smoothly and avoids corrosion too quickly.
Avoid putting your battery in difficult positions
Though the battery can certainly handle jumping people off and things of this nature, you do not want to make a habit of putting undue stress on the battery. One jump off of a friend is not going to do any lasting damage to your battery, but if you do this repeatedly, it could cause some serious problems. Because of the shock charges that occur in your battery when it’s used to jump another car, there are certain risks that go along with the process. A good rule of thumb is to only do this with your new battery when it is absolutely necessary.
Another thing that will be tough on your battery is allowing it to run down repeatedly. Some people make the mistake of leaving their car going when the engine is off. Over the short run, your battery can power the lights or the radio, but you don’t want to drain it repeatedly. If you get to the point where your battery is the one that needs to be jumped off, then you are putting undue stress on it and that can have a lasting, negative impact on battery life.
Cleaning the battery terminals
One thing that you will want to stay on top of is possible corrosion. There is nothing that will wreck a battery’s performance and move it closer to death than steady corrosion. Corrosion can be caused when harmful products start to build up around the battery terminals. These are made of lead, so they are subject to damage if you don’t keep an eye on them. When you service your vehicle, you will want to clean these terminals and keep them free.
Using a wire brush and a baking soda solution is a good way to go about cleaning the battery terminals. When you do this, they will be allowed to perform at the highest level. In addition to that, there will be much less chance of the battery developing cracks that can drain it of its ability to function long term. This should only take a few minutes to pull off, but it’s something that can add years to your battery’s life and it can save you a lot of money, too.
For the most part, your battery is a relatively low maintenance part of the car. To keep your car battery running like new, you just have to remember to do a few small things that really should not inconvenience you too much. They are important, though, so it’s absolutely imperative that you keep them in the front of your mind.