Taking Care of Your Car's Battery

Posted on November 6, 2022 by

Benny Werkhoven

Before discussing battery maintenance, please make certain that your battery is, actually, the sealed type. If it is not, then your "free of maintenance" label certainly will not apply and you may have to add water regularly. Unsealed batteries are an easy task to spot because they have small vent caps along with the battery which may be twisted open. You will have to periodically add distilled water to keep water levels; way more in the summertime months as water will evaporate quicker. Don't let your battery run low or go out of water because the battery's cells could be ruined.

If your battery is of the sealed variety, then your "free of maintenance" label continues to be only partially true because the term only reaches you not having to add water to the cells as you'll having an unsealed battery.

With any kind of car battery - sealed or unsealed - you should do the following to keep it working properly:

Clean the cables. Disconnect the cables from the battery and clean them with a wire brush that is doused in a house made mixture [the mixture combines one tablespoon of baking soda with one glass of water]. Utilize this same mixture to completely clean off the very best of the battery; work with a small and clean paint brush to use the answer where needed.

Lubricate the posts. A little dab of vaseline on each post can help keep your cables clean and free from corrosion longer. Furthermore, the jelly can make it easier so that you can slip the cables back onto the battery.

Check connections. Aside from the connection between your cable and the posts, ensure that the battery hold down bar is securely set up. Not absolutely all cars have or require a battery hold down bar, but if yours has come so equipped, you will have to put it back its proper place.

That's it! Car battery maintenance can be an easy task and something that needs to be performed on an annual basis. In the event that you keep your battery properly maintained, you'll extend its life and help reduce the chance your battery will fail you at an inopportune time. Yes, the "free of maintenance" label is incorrect, so do not be lulled into forgetting to accomplish something that shouldn't be overlooked.

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