SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As temperatures get colder, every day's necessities are affected and can throw off your daily routine. Cold temperatures don’t just affect how we feel; it also impacts something we use every day—our cars.
Freezing temperatures put stress on car batteries, draining it by 30-60 percent. The biggest challenge, however, can be getting started.
Chemical reactions inside the battery slow down, weakening the battery’s overall power. The car's oil also becomes thicker in colder temperatures, slowing down the engine. In turn, the battery must work harder.
Also, the increased use of draining features like defrosters, heat, and electronics when the engine is off, drains batteries. Oftentimes, too much strain on the battery can prevent cars from starting–something that everyone dreads in the dead of winter.
Here are a few strategies to protect vehicles and combat battery draining:
- Try parking cars in a garage overnight if possible. This will help keep the car and battery at a moderate temperature.
- Limit battery usage. This could look like turning off headlights when the engine is not on, or unplugging devices power-hungry devices.
- Give the battery time to recharge. To do this, warm up your vehicle for a few minutes before driving. Also taking longer drives every so often will allow the alternator to recharge the battery. Short drives don’t give the battery enough support to recharge–increasing strain.
- Keep a portal jump starter in the car. In case the battery gets low or dies, guarantee a quick way to bring the car back to life.
Do these things now, before the bitter cold temperatures strike.