Your car battery is an essential part of your vehicle since it is the part responsible for starting the engine. A well-maintained automotive power cell is reflected the vehicle’s performance.
When the car battery is in good condition, the car will not have any issues when it comes to starting, and all the electronic components of the vehicle will properly function.
However, car batteries fade over time, and at some point, they have to be replaced because its normal for them to lose their capacity as time goes by.
In this brief overview about car batteries, you will learn most of the basic information about automotive power cells. This guide will provide information and details like how often do i need to replace my auto battery, the average life of car batteries and the factors that affect their lifespan.
To enable you to expand your awareness regarding these issues and help you make sure optimum car performance and avoid battery issues that may lead to a lot of troubles.
To begin, we start by understanding the average lifespan of a car battery!
When Does My Automotive Battery Need To Change?
However, it will still depend on how the battery is performing. If the battery is failing, but it seldom happens, reconditioning the power cell can even improve its performance. But if the battery is struggling and failing most of the time, then that’s the time to replace it.
As mentioned earlier, properly maintained batteries can last longer. So the best thing to do is to observe your battery’s overall performance, and from there, you can decide.
But in case the battery is struggling to start your engine on a weekly or day to day basis, then you have to replace it at the soonest time possible. But how do we know if it’s time to install a replacement of our automotive battery?
The Average Life Expectancy Of Car Batteries
Typically car batteries can last between to four to six years, depending on several factors. Set of facets that directly affects the life the automotive battery and ultimately determine how long a battery can last.
Some of these significant factors include temperature, driving habits, battery maintenance, usage and more. Normally, the first two years of the battery will provide excellent performance, and then after that, it will show some sign of deterioration.
But on the other hand, there are some cases that a well-maintained battery can have a couple of years life extension. (Click here to learn more).
Essential Factors That Affect A Car Battery’s Lifespan
To help you understand the aspects that determine how a car battery will last. You first have to look at the vital factors that affect the life of car batteries.
To give you a better picture of what are the main and common aspects that directly affect an automotive battery’s life, you can refer to the list below:
● Weather Conditions – Temperature is one factor that has a great effect on the life a car battery. If you notice, automotive power cells come with various climate specifications. These specific details are associated with the minimum temperature the power cell can start an engine with less work. In places with lower temperatures, a car battery will have to work harder to provide enough amount of energy to start an engine. This is why you need batteries with higher cold cranking amps if you are in cold locations. Otherwise, your battery will be forced to work hard every time you start your car which will lead to high deterioration rate.
● Battery Usage – An overused car battery will surely have a shorter life. Leaving all electronic components of the vehicle ON while the engine is OFF will drain your battery faster because all them will rely on the battery for power. This lead will lead to a discharged battery that will take its toll on the power cell in the long run. Short drives will also force the battery to work hard since starting the engine is one of the hardest tasks of the battery.
● Charge and Discharge Cycle – The cycle of charging and discharging the car battery also affects the lifespan of a power cell. Keep in mind that every time the power cell discharges, there’s a loss in its metal plates. If the battery is often discharged and then charged the metal plates will quickly deteriorate that will shorten its life. Leaving the battery discharged for a long time will also risk the battery to suffer from “sulfation” which is one of the major causes of the demise of a car battery.
● Upkeep and Maintenance – Battery maintenance or upkeep is another aspect that directly affects the battery’s life. Poorly maintained power cells would obviously have shorter life compared to well-maintained batteries. Regular battery maintenance helps to prevent or fight sulfation and corrosion that are considered to be the common factors that lead to the death of batteries. Properly maintaining your car battery will greatly improve its life and protect it from the conditions that will slowly reduce its capacity.
If you are wondering how often you should replace your car battery. The typical answer is after three years. However, if you will try to observe the behavior and performance of your power cell. You can base your decision on your experience and observation.
From their, you can decide whether replacing it is a smart decision or not. If your battery is frequently failing and causing a lot of troubles, then replacing it is the best. But if the battery can still perform and seldom fails after three years, then continuing the use of the battery may be a smarter decision.