Did you recently replace your car battery with a new one, and now your new one is dead? If so, you are probably puzzled as much as you are frustrated. After all, car batteries cost money, your hard-earned money; plus, they are required if you want your car to get you to where you need to be, like work or school. So, why did your car battery die so soon?
Continue below to learn how long car batteries are designed to last, plus which factors can drain a car battery faster.
Average Car Battery Lifespan
There are several different types of car and truck batteries on the market. However, the average automotive battery is designed to last between three and five years. If your new car battery recently died after replacing it, this bit of information might frustrate you even more. But there could be good reason why your car battery died prematurely.
Things That Drain a Car Battery Faster:
Driving Patterns
Your driving patterns and habits can have a significant impact on the lifespan of your car battery. For instance, if you frequently take short trips, you could be further draining your car battery. Each time you start your car, you expend more battery power, and short trips on a more frequent basis does not allow your car battery to fully recharge between trips.
If you would leave your car parked for extended periods of time, it can also drain a car battery pretty fast. Car batteries naturally self-discharge after a long period of in-operation, which is why it is recommended to remove car battery before storing a vehicle for an extended period of time.
Weather and Climate
Nature can also play a role in a quickly draining car battery. Extreme temperatures is one of the most common reasons why car batteries drain prematurely. One way to avoid this is covering your car engine with a thermal blanket during the colder seasons. This will keep your car battery and internal components warm, allowing it to work more efficiently.
In extremely hot conditions, car batteries can drain quickly due to heat-induced deterioration. For this reason, it is important to park in the shade or within a structure during the warmer seasons of the year.
Car Maintenance
There is a very good reason why automakers put together a factory scheduled maintenance plan for your make and model vehicle. Proper car maintenance is vital to the safety, longevity, and performance of your vehicle. If you do not take good care of your car battery, it will die prematurely. It is important to have your car battery cleaned on a routine basis to prevent battery corrosion.
If you notice a white or greenish buildup around your battery cells, use an old toothbrush and a baking soda water mixture to gently clean them off. In addition to cleaning your car battery, you want to regularly check that it’s properly mounted and that all cables are fastened. If the car battery gets knocked out of place, even slightly, it can immediately begin overworking, and thus, drain of power faster.
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