At lower temperatures, the engine fuel becomes thick and needs more time and a stronger electric charge for a successful ignition. Moreover, the chemical reactions inside the battery slow down, and its efficiency reduces. Thus, the battery is unable to generate a strong electrical current as required. Therefore, maintaining your car battery during the winter is very important because the last thing you want on a chilling day is to see your car break down due to a dead battery.
Winters in Canada can be harsh, and your battery’s performance can drop with the temperature as it goes below the freezing point. With the following tips, you can keep your car’s battery from dying this winter and rely on it even on the coldest and snowiest days.
In this article:
1. Steps To Keep Your Car Battery Charged During Winters
- Get Your Car Battery Checked And Tested
- Keep The Battery Clean
- Turn Off Your Car Accessories Before Leaving
- Use A Battery Blanket
- Park Your Vehicle In The Garage Where Possible
- Lookout For The Warning Signs
- Don’t Just Idle
- Get A Battery Charger
1 Steps To Keep Your Car Battery Charged During Winters
Winter and cold weather can adversely affect your car’s battery. Most vehicles feature a 12-volt battery, which gets charged by the alternator when the engine is running. This charge is required to start your vehicle next time. However, this charge can deplete when the temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C) and even more rapidly if the temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C). Here are some hacks to keep your car battery safe during the winter.
Get Your Car Battery Checked And Tested
The battery in your car tends to weaken in the cold. During this time, the distilled water inside the battery thickens and prevents the current from flowing. The cells suffer irreversible and permanent damage as a result. Thus, it is important to test and check your battery before the winter season. A voltage test with a multimeter is the simplest way to check the health of your vehicle’s battery. The multimeter has two probes, red and black, and they are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery. The reading on the multimeter should be 12.2 to 12.6 volts when the probes are in contact with the terminals while the car is off and the battery is at rest. This voltage range indicates that the battery is suitable for starting the car. If the measured value is less than 12.2 volts, the battery’s resting voltage is weak, and the battery needs charging or replacement.
Keep The Battery Clean
Battery life increases when it is clean and free of corrosion. It’s common for dirt and debris to build up on car batteries. Always inspect the battery and charging system because batteries are vulnerable to corrosion.
Battery connections should be corrosion-free, clean, and tight. Wear safety gear and unplug the cords before cleaning a car battery. Scrub the batteries and cables using a battery brush, baking soda, and water solution. After wiping the battery with a moist cloth, connect the wires. If you are hesitant to do it yourself, hire a professional to complete it. Battery corrosion can also be avoided by using anti-corrosion spray or battery terminal cleaners. Refer to our comprehensive battery maintenance guide to ensure proper battery life.
Turn Off Your Car Accessories Before Leaving
One of the most frequent causes of dead batteries in cars during the winter is forgetting to turn off the headlights or cabin lights. Even small things like using the heater or listening to music while the engine is off too long in an idle car can drain your battery. The reason is that even when the gadgets that connect to the car’s electrical system are off, the system will still drain power from the battery. As a result, the battery may run out of power.
Use A Battery Blanket
If you observe that your car struggles to start in the mornings during the winter or when it’s cold, consider buying a car battery blanket. A battery blanket or warmer keeps your vehicle’s battery insulated and warm during the winter. This makes it easier for you to start your car in the morning and prevents the battery fluid from freezing. The car battery blanket wraps around the car battery and plugs into any regular charging socket.
Park Your Vehicle In The Garage Where Possible
To protect the batteries in your vehicle, it is best to park it in the garage, especially at night. To safeguard its starting power, you can also get an electric battery blanket. If you don’t have a garage or a limited parking space, make sure to park your car with the front facing away from the main flow of the wind.
Lookout For The Warning Signs
If your battery is old, it is crucial to keep an eye out for the warning signals of a weak battery. The delayed cranking of the engine when you start the car is one of the most typical symptoms of a poor battery. If the car battery is not strong enough to supply the starter with enough voltage, the engine will not crank over and generate a distinct clicking sound. This means the battery might not charge or no longer be functional. It is advisable to get your battery checked by a specialist.
Remember not to force a weak battery by turning the engine on and off. This may cause damage to your starter motor, forcing an expensive repair.
Don’t Just Idle
When you drive your car, the alternator charges the battery and replenishes the power that was drawn to start the car. To ensure your car battery has enough charge to start your engine in cold weather, drive your car for 10 kilometers or more. If you are only starting your engine daily and keeping it idle in your garage, it will never fully recharge the battery. For example, starting your car’s engine can draw up to 100 amps from the battery, and idling the engine for 15 minutes will only recharge the battery with 3 to 4 amps approximately.
Get A Battery Charger
If you are working from home or, for some reason, cannot take your car out this winter for short trips, you can use a battery charger. Like an engine block heater, battery chargers can be installed under the hood of the vehicle and plugged into a standard electrical outlet to charge your battery and prevent it from draining.
1. Tender Battery Charger Or Battery Maintainers
A battery maintainer can be attached to the car’s battery, just like jumper cables. Then the battery maintainer is connected to an electrical outlet so it can convert the AC power from the wall to DC so the battery can be charged. These tender chargers are also known as smart chargers because they monitor the amount of current required and flowing into the battery. When the battery falls below a specific charge, the battery maintainer starts to charge it, and if it reaches a certain upper limit, the battery charger shuts off, automatically preventing the battery from overcharging.
2. Trickle Battery Charger
Similar to a battery maintainer, a trickle charger can be hooked up to the battery and to an electrical outlet at your home. However, it is not smart and continuously supplies a small charge to the battery until it is fully charged. This charge is supplied at a steady and slower rate compared to tender battery chargers. Trickle chargers take longer to get your battery charged and are a good option if you want to leave them plugged in overnight to prevent your battery from draining in cold.
Even if your car’s battery is fine, it’s a good idea to keep jump starters or jumper cables that will help you get your vehicle started if your car battery dies. Finally, if you are replacing your car’s battery, it is necessary to choose one with a higher Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). Cold cranking amps is a measure of how much electric current (amps) a battery can deliver in 30 seconds at 0°F. Replacing your old battery with a higher CCA battery can help with better cold starts.
Today, car electrical systems have become very reliable. We rarely give them a second thought, but they’re the heart of our vehicles. Modern diagnostic equipment can check your battery’s condition and charging system in only a few seconds. So, ask your mechanic next time you take your car in for service, and remember that keeping your car battery charged is essential.
