Debunking the Most Common Myths About Batteries
When it comes to your car’s battery, like most other parts, you’re probably doing whatever you can to make sure it lasts as long as possible before you need to pay for a replacement. While that’s not a problem if it means you’re regularly checking and maintaining your battery, it may become an issue if you’re listening to common battery care myths. This article aims to quickly debunk common myths surrounding vehicle batteries and their care so you can avoid potentially costly damages to your battery, your car, and even yourself.
The first, and unfortunately one of the most common, myths associated with car batteries is that “maintenance-free” bathrooms are actually maintenance-free. Although you won’t need to regularly maintain and refill fluids or electrolytes, things can still go wrong. If you frequently hit potholes or drive on bumpy roads, your terminal connections could come loose and reduce or stop the electricity transfer from your battery to your car. You should also make sure the terminal connections are clean and consider using battery pads and lube to maintain the best possible connection.
The screws or bolts on the system holding your battery in place can also come loose from bumpy roads and potholes, and having your battery move around leaves it more susceptible to physical damage, such as a cracked case. Keep in mind, these things can also go wrong in a standard battery as well, so you should be checking your connections no matter what type of battery is in your vehicle.
Another common myth surrounding batteries is that idling your car for a few minutes or simply driving around the block will completely recharge your battery. In reality, you should avoid infrequent and short trips, because it takes a fairly significant amount of driving to fully charge a battery. Since keeping your battery below a full charge could reduce its overall lifespan, it’s best you invest in a maintenance charger to keep the battery stored at full charge if you make a lot of short trips.
When it comes to battery compatibility, some drivers claim that batteries with higher CCA ratings are better or provide more power. The truth is, in fact, that your vehicle regulates the amount of power drawn from the battery, so just because the battery is capable of putting out more power, you most likely aren’t actually going to see any difference in your vehicle.
On a final note about compatibility, all vehicle batteries are not created equal. That means not only should you be using the correct battery size and power level recommended for your vehicle, but you can’t interchange batteries in different types of vehicles. You should only use a car battery on cars, boat battery on boats, etc.
Hopefully with these battery myths debunked, you can avoid making costly “maintenance” mistakes that end up damaging your vehicle or battery. The best way to prolong your battery’s lifespan is to regularly check that it’s clean, secure, and has good connections on the terminals. If you’re noticing that your car is slow to start, electronics are acting up, or your battery is damaged or old, Holbrook Auto Parts offers the best prices on new and used auto batteries around Detroit. Stop in and experience the Holbrook Difference – they won’t stop at anything to keep you On the Move!
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