Aren’t you tired of being warned not to leave your smartphone plugged in overnight because it may overcharge and reduce your battery’s lifespan? While everyone seems to be preoccupied with the smartphone battery issue, we don’t hear a lot about how to prevent your car battery from running down too soon.
One thing is for sure: your car battery won’t last forever. Its lifespan is not even close to the life cycle of your vehicle. On average, a car battery is supposed to last four years. If you’re lucky and take good care of it, it can serve you well for 5-6 years. But in most cases, though, car batteries don’t even make it to four years.
So what can you do to extend your car battery lifespan?
Maintenance and regular check-ups
As you may have guessed already, maintenance is key; not only for car batteries but for practically anything you own. It’s simple: if you take good care of something, the chances are it will last longer. Car batteries, for example, depend a lot on how well you maintain them. Inspecting the water level and keeping your car battery away from corrosion will definitively help you extend its life expectancy.
Avoid short trips
I get it, many of you rely on your car not only to get you to and from work but also to run errands, which are just a few short miles per day. Well, in this case, you just have to face the fact that your car battery won’t last long and if it has been working for four years already, you should expect it to start asking for replacement anytime soon.
If you can avoid some of the short trips you make to run errands, your wallet will thank you, your car battery will thank you, and most importantly, your body will thank you – you will feel much better after walking and getting some fresh air.
Engine off – electronics unplugged
Leaving your electronic devices plugged in even after your car is not running may seem harmless at first, but it can be a ‘silent killer’ to your car battery. Moreover, be aware how many electronics you plug in at the same time. It is advisable to limit the number of gadgets you plug-in to your car while it is still running, and remember to unplug all of them and not use car accessories when the engine is off.
Insulate your car battery
Outside factors such as extreme weather also shorten the life of your car battery. While it is not up to you to control the weather, you can protect your car battery by insulating it. Car battery insulation kits usually come with new cars, but in case you do not have one or you need to replace it, they are not hard to find.
As you can see, the lifespan of your car battery depends on various factors. You can extend its life expectancy as long as you maintain it properly, do regular check-ups, avoid short trips whenever possible, unplug all your electronics from your car when the engine is off, and insulate the battery. Keep a battery charger in your car in case your battery suddenly dies.
