High summer temperatures can be detrimental to certain elements of the vehicle such as the battery, one of the most important since it is responsible for supplying energy to all vehicle systems. Heat has a great influence on its health and performance, as it can cause self-discharge and cause electromagnetic parts to age faster, shortening their lifespan.
The car battery is designed to work correctly at 25º, so any deviation that occurs above or below this temperature affects its performance and shortens its useful life. In fact, 30% of electrical faults (50% of breakdowns in general) on the road affect car batteries, according to a RACE study, and in intense heat this is one of the elements that suffers the most. .
Technically speaking, intense heat accelerates battery wear as the sulfur molecules inside break down faster, increasing plaque buildup. This accelerates its discharge, since gravity is progressively lost in the electrolytes. There is no exact mathematical formula to know how long a battery lasts because it depends on many factors, however, it usually has an approximate useful life of 4 years.
For this reason, the Oscaro team of professionals share the 5 key tips to ensure that our car battery works without problem during the summer holidays.
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Be consistent with reviews: Better safe than sorry. Although the battery lasts between three and five years, the company’s experts recommend that it be checked at least once a year. In this way, we will have control of the factors that can cause it to start to fail and we will be able to identify them in time, thus preventing greater evils. Depending on the type of vehicle, it may have a greater or lesser number of components that consume battery, even when idle. For this reason, it is also important to check the battery after spending some time without using the car and observe its consumption.
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Supervises the main elements: The lighting, the windshield wipers, the central locking or the GPS are some elements or systems of the vehicle that depend on the battery. For this reason, it is important not to leave these systems on when leaving the vehicle, since, if they remain in operation for a long time, they can consume the entire battery.
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Monitor driving: Believe it or not, the way you drive also affects your vehicle’s battery. To prevent wear and tear, a gentle and cautious style is recommended, avoiding sudden accelerations. Also, and as far as possible, try not to leave the car in the sun when you park it. Continuous and long-term exposure to high summer temperatures affects the life of the battery, even reducing it by up to half.
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Change or recharge: The battery of the vehicle can be similar to that of a computer or a mobile phone. If you identify problems starting the car, or it does not start at all, it is a sign that the battery has been discharged, so you will have to recharge it. However, if it is more than four years old, it is recommended that you change it since it can stop working at any time.
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Attention to maintenance: For the battery to function correctly, it is important that the motor is clean of grease and other elements, in this way you will prevent the accumulation of dirt that absorbs energy. To clean it, you will first have to turn off the vehicle’s engine and disconnect the negative cable from the battery and then the positive. Then mix baking soda and water and apply it on the battery terminals, leaving it to act for a few minutes. After that time, rub it with a metal bristle brush and pour water to rinse it. To avoid sulfation, apply a little Vaseline to the battery terminals.
Despite the fact that the battery is stored in optimal conditions, it is continuously subjected to a self-discharge process by which, when temperatures are high, such as in summer, they cause a greater self-discharge of the battery.
Thus, to combat the effects of temperatures, many manufacturers of this component carry out important work in R&D&i aimed at improving its autonomy and load acceptance above 30 percent, which reduces the risk of failure. or battery discharge, improving its performance even in extreme weather conditions.