Through the blizzard like conditions I could see my car at the far end of the parking lot. The biting wind was burning my skin, but I had my mind on one thing, would she start? As I climbed inside and hit the starter I was thankful for the extra care I had taken of my aging car battery. Preventative maintenance is worth every penny!
What does it take to get your battery to provide years of trouble free service? Surprisingly caring for automotive batteries is easier than you may think. By keeping your battery well charged, topped off, and corrosion free you can expect many years of faithful service.
All automotive batteries are rechargeable type batteries. Maintaining as full of a charge as possible will prolong battery life. A car battery may be discharged 5%-10% and recharged thousands of times, but the same battery might only survive one or two discharges of 80%-90%. By the same token, if you ever let your battery reach a completely dead state, it will never be able to hold a complete, full, charge again.
If your vehicle is going to sit for long periods of time or makes frequent short trips, then hooking a battery charger to your battery is a good idea. Maintaining a full state of charge will help your battery to last considerably longer and will ensure your car will start the next time you need it. Many of the newer, pulse-type chargers can be left hooked to your battery indefinitely as they are specifically programmed not to over-charge your batter.
There are three common types of 12-volt automotive batteries. Gel cell, sealed liquid cell, and traditional, user maintained liquid cell. Gel cell or "Optima" batteries are not offered as original equipment from the automotive manufacturer. These batteries are strictly aftermarket replacement batteries. They get their name from the gel solution inside that transfers electrical current between plates. These batteries are not only maintenance free, but can be mounted at any angle and resist vibration very well.
Sealed liquid cell and user maintained are essentially the same type of battery construction, multiple lead plates are housed in a solution of 36% sulfuric acid and 64% water. This mixture facilitates electron flow and thus releases stored electrical energy. Sealed batteries do not have removable cell caps as their acid levels are set for the life of the battery. If your battery has removable cell caps then you will need to periodically remove the caps to check the level of electrolyte in each cell.
Before you perform any maintenance on your battery it is a good idea to don protective eye goggles and rubber gloves to avoid acid contact with your eyes or skin. Carefully pry each of the cell caps off the top of the battery and look inside. The electrolyte level should be filled to within about a half inch of the top of the cell. If a cell is low or certainly if the top of a plate is exposed, then you will want to add distilled water to bring the level back up. Do not worry if you need to add a little water, it is normal for some of the electrolyte solution to evaporate over time. Now that all the cells are topped off, simply replace the caps and the battery will be ready for service.
If you have removable cell caps, it is a good idea to test the electrolyte solution about once a year with a hydrometer. These battery testers are available from most auto parts stores. Hydrometers are made up of a squeeze bulb, clear body with an indicator needle, and a hose. Simply dip the hose into each cell and test a sample of the electrolyte solution. The hygrometer will be clearly marked to indicate the acidity of each cell. In general, a good battery with a full charge will read 1.265 or more. If you have a particular cell that is more than .05 you will need to replace your battery.
The last step to maintaining a healthy battery is ensuring the battery and its terminals are corrosion free. Corrosion can be seen in white flakey discharges around the battery box and on the connection terminals. To neutralize this corrosion, mix about 2-3 cups of water with 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda. Brush this solution onto the battery and electrical terminals using an old paint or tooth brush. This should feel almost like basting a marinade on a piece of meat. The baking soda and water solution is "basic" with a high pH value while the sulfuric acid corrosion is "acidic" with a low pH value. Mixing the two will produce a small chemical reaction that results in a salt and water solution left over. Carefully rinse the battery once finished.
To get to battery terminals and electrical wires completely corrosion free, you may need to invest in a terminal cleaner. This is a male and female wire brush assembly available at auto parts stores for about $5. Disconnect the terminals and use the male brush to clean all of the corrosion off of the wire and its spade, the female brush should fit down over the battery terminal to help clean it up. When replacing the wire, a small amount of petroleum jelly rubbed on the terminal will help prevent future corrosion.
Automotive batteries can be expensive. Spending just a little time maintaining your battery can add up to big savings. Not to mention the peace of mind when your car is waiting to provide you safe haven from a blizzard!