Summer is fast approaching, and with it, the scorching Australian heat. It’s the perfect time to have a dip in the pool, go for a swim at the beach and try to stay cool in any way you can. For car owners, getting around and staying comfortable means being extra aware of your car’s needs, as the heat can make for a tricky time. Cars are complex machines, and heatwaves can have an adverse effect on your car’s motor and battery. In this article, we’ll focus on how you can maintain your car battery health throughout summer heatwaves so you don’t get stuck without a way to the beach.
How to Maintain Your Car Battery Health
Invest in a Digital Multimeter
You can buy a digital multimeter (DMM) to help monitor your car battery health. A DMM is a useful electronic device used to measure certain electrical properties, including current, voltage, and resistance. This device displays the battery measurements on a digital screen, making it easy to read and understand the results accurately. Digital multimeters have replaced traditional analogue meters due to their higher accuracy, reliability, and better handling of impedance.
To check your car battery, first ensure that your car is turned off and that the headlights are off, too. Set the digital multimeter to DC voltage and a range of 15-20 volts. Then, connect the red probe to the positive terminal and the black probe to the negative terminal. You’ll want to check the voltage reading. If the car is off, a reading of between 12.2-12.6 volts indicates the battery is fully charged and in excellent condition. Next, have a friend or family member start the car and give it a rev. If the voltage drops below 10, the battery is in poor condition and needs replacement.
Park in the Shade
Avoid prolonged exposure to the blazing Australian sun whenever possible in order to reduce the battery temperature. As such, you’re best to park in the shade or an undercover area during the summer months. This is a simple step you can take to help maximise the longevity of your battery and avoid an annoying breakdown during the peak of summer.
Avoid Short Trips
Your regular driving habits can also contribute to battery failure during a heatwave. Driving short distances with frequent stops, such as inner-city trips, does not give the alternator enough time to effectively replace the energy drawn from the battery to repeatedly start the engine.
If you take many short trips, it is ideal to drive your vehicle for 20-30 minutes or longer every couple of weeks so the alternator can recharge the battery. Another alternative is to purchase a multistage charger that will charge and maintain your battery instead. You can also take public transport for those shorter, inner-city trips to preserve the health of your car battery.
Check for Corrosion
This is one of the easiest steps to apply for battery maintenance and is especially important during a summer heatwave. Your car battery’s terminals should stay clean in most cases; however, sometimes a battery post may develop corrosion, which is a white powdery deposit around the terminal.
This can lead to poor contact between the post and the terminal. However, there is an easy fix. The corrosion can be removed by cleaning it with a small brush and a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup of warm water. If the corrosion returns after this treatment, you should probably consider having the battery checked or replaced.
Summer Heat and Car Batteries
Summer heatwaves are harder on car batteries than an icy winter is. It may seem strange, but higher outside temperatures have a bigger impact on the power-creating chemistry that occurs within a car battery. It’s not all about the air temperature either. Hot summer temperatures will increase the heat under the bonnet and accelerate the onset of battery failure. Many people find themselves breaking down during the peak of summer due to a failing battery.
How Long Does a Car Battery Last?
Car batteries will usually last between three to five years. Still, those in hotter parts of the country may find that their car battery lasts on the lower end of this range. As such, battery inspections using the multimeter, as we’ve described above, should be a part of your car’s routine maintenance and servicing schedule.
How Often Should I Check My Car Battery?
For those living in warmer parts of Australia that are prone to heatwaves, you should check your battery every six months or every year for those in a colder part of the country. This is especially important if you’ve had a series of heatwaves that may cause damage to your battery.
Habits for a Healthy Car Battery
In this article, we’ve explained how to maintain car battery health during the peak of summer and the ensuing heatwaves in Australia. If you’ve got a car-enthusiast friend, ask them to help you with the first round of checks. Investing in a digital multimeter is a quick and accurate way to detect how your battery is operating. Other tips include parking in the shade to avoid excessive heat, trying not to take short car trips and checking for corrosion that could reduce the contact between terminals and posts. Make this part of your summer routine, and your car battery should stay healthy throughout the hotter Aussie months.