Get a New Battery Every Four Years

To ensure that your vehicle runs properly, you need to replace it after four years. Scheduling a car battery replacement service with your local mechanic is a good way to ensure you do not forget this. It’s very frustrating when you get stuck mid-journey, therefore, don’t prolong the usage of your vehicle’s battery than recommended.

Do You Regularly Check Your Acid Levels?

It’s important that you check your acid levels every six months, a rule of thumb is to have your mechanic check your acid levels every time you perform an oil change service. During this inspection service, your mechanic will check for acid stratification, which normally happens when your batteries dwell on the charge that is below 80 percent. You mustn’t have a full charge or shallow discharges. In case your vehicle’s battery is stratified, the electrolytes will concentrate at the bottom, leaving the top-level starved.

Add Battery Water With Caution

The first sign of low-level electrolytes is when the plates are visible. The moment you notice this, top them up with distilled water. If you are not sure how to do this, have your mechanic perform this service for you. It’s important that you only fill the cells to cover the plates. It’s also advisable to use a funnel or a sports bottle when adding water since they allow for control of flow.

Battery Load Test

You should conduct a battery load test once every month. Visit your local auto care service center and have your mechanic conduct this test. This test is to ensure that the device can charge properly even when the conditions are freezing.

Clean Your Battery

Dirt and debris are bad news both inside and outside your car. It’s worse when it gets into the cells of your car’s battery. It can also cause corrosion on nearby metal. Therefore, it’s important to regularly clean around your battery terminals every time you detail your vehicle. You can use ammonia-based window cleaners or a combination of water and baking soda. Baking soda and water mixture is ideal when it comes to cleaning out corrosion. After cleaning the battery, make sure you wipe off any baking soda residue to avoid corrosion. Also, make sure you wipe the battery dry after cleaning.

Tighten The Cables

Routinely check your battery cable to ensure they are tight and are not moving. Driving on rough terrain over time could loosen up the terminals cutting your supply of power. Tightening will help keep everything secure.

Avoid Leaving Your Vehicle Parked Out Too Long

Leaving your vehicle locked in your garage for an extended period will drain down your battery. It’s recommended that you use your vehicle every three days. Also, cold weather is bad for your battery; keeping your vehicle warm is a wise idea during the winter months.

Avoid Overcharging Your Car Battery

In case you charge your battery manually, make sure you do not overcharge it in the process. Overcharging will lead to battery damage, cutting its life span short. When manually charging your battery, check on it every half an hour to monitor its progress.