Top 5 Tips to Extend Car Battery Life by YEARS!

 Here are five ways to make your car battery last longer.

1. DRIVE FREQUENTLY.

Drive your car at least once a week for 15 minutes or longer. 

2. SMART CHARGING.

Using a decent smart charger to three times a year will optimize the chemistry inside the battery. 

3. CLEAN TERMINALS.

Clean terminals creates less resistance, making it easier for electrical current to flow. 

4.AVOID ACCESSORIES.

Avoid using the radio, cell phone chargers, or any accessories while the engine isn't running to prevent discharge.

5. LOCKED CAR WHEN PARK.

And a locked car will put all the systems in low power mode, minimizing battery drain. 

Like all parts of your car, the car batteries have a lifespan. I'm going to share practical tips and best practices you can use from today to help you maximize the life of your car battery. l

Let's get you started.

1.DRIVE FREQUENTLY

 We see the best battery lifespan on cars that are driven frequently. This sounds a bit counterintuitive but a car battery's primary function is to start the engine. 

As soon as the engine is idling, the alternator supplies the power to the electrical systems like the Engine Control Unit (ECU), lights, dashboard, radio, etcs. And at the same time, charges the battery for the next start cycle. When the car is not in use, some electrical systems still consume power discharging the battery. In short, a lead acid battery consists of lead  ( Pb) with a mixture of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water to produce electrical current. 

If left unused for long period of time as in weeks or months, the sulfur attaches to the lead plates and sulfate crystals start to develop, reducing the battery's efficiency and lifespan.

In essence, a lead acid car battery or starter battery does not like to be discharged fully before it needs a charge again.

So by driving the car more frequently and doing longer trips , the alternator tops up the energy that was used to start the engine, minimizing sulfation and prolonging the battery's life. So what if you don't drive frequently or only do short trips?

 This brings us to the next point which is to invest in a charger.

But why not just use the car's alternator as a charger? While this works fine for a battery that is in regular use. A fully discharged battery can put tremendous strain on the alternator, generating excessive heat and can cause the alternator to fail.

2. EXTERNAL CHARGER

When charging a battery you're essentially moving molecules around which means it is an incredibly slow process. Think of it as trying to fill a swimming pool with a fire hose through a drinking straw. The battery can only accept a charge as quick as the chemistry allows. So the rest will not only be wasted but most likely lead to an undercharged battery. 

Using an external battery charger or more specifically a smart charger for lead acid batteries will charge the battery in the correct sequence of stages. These chargers also come in handy when a vehicle is not used often to provide a top-up charge as needed. 

 Smart charger can also be connected without removing the battery from the vehicle. But before you do, make sure to also clean the battery's terminals. 

3. CLEAN  BATTERY TERMINALS

Have you ever noticed a powdery substance on or next to the battery