Tips to keep your car’s battery healthy for a prolonged period 27^th March 2023

An often overlooked component in cars is their battery. It impacts the vehicle's longevity and hence should be taken care of. Intense temperature fluctuations have a significant adverse effect on its functionality. Besides this, several other factors lead to minimising battery efficiency.

Please remember that your motor insurance is also an important feature that helps with vehicle protection. With various subtypes, insurance providers offer solutions that protect your vehicle from the risk of obsolescence, depreciation, accidents, etc., as per the case. Motor insurance is one such safeguard for your cars against the financial costs of accidents. Motor insurance may provide a safety net against mishaps but cannot be considered a substitute for proper maintenance.

So, stated below are some tips to help you preserve battery life for long periods:

1. Don't leave your car unused for long periods
Long periods of idle time result in rapid charge loss. You may find the battery drained faster if you are an infrequent driver. For relatively short periods, your battery may give trouble while turning on, but after a prolonged period, it may drain entirely. In such cases, you must jump-start your vehicle or request a local mechanic to charge your battery.

In the long run, excessive idle time increases the risk of breakdowns. While the roadside assistance add-on to your motor insurance may help, it is best to maintain your battery health and avoid such situations altogether.

2. Minimise battery wastage when not in use
In stark contrast to the above point, you must also use your battery sparingly to reduce battery drain. This refers to when your engine is powered off, but other ancillary controls, like the music system, lights, air conditioning, heating, charging functions, etc., are in use. Turn off all supporting functions and accessories before you exit your vehicle.

3. Prioritise battery cleanliness
The battery is located under the bonnet for most models, while some recent designs may have specially allocated locations. Irrespective of its location, the battery usually allows room for accumulating flying dirt and debris. This stimulates corrosion and contamination, impacting the battery's functionality. Since an additional battery cover will affect the car's primary design, it is best not to tamper with it. Instead, regularly check under your bonnet and keep the battery and surroundings clean. Take your car for periodic servicing to ensure professional inspection and maintenance.

4. Factor in temperature changes
India being a tropical country, your car battery experiences extreme weather changes. Excessive heat results in rapid fluid evaporation, leading to lowered battery life. While you cannot eliminate evaporation, you can minimise it by limiting heat exposure and parking under shade whenever possible. During rains, parking in a protected space, regular inspection to identify signs of corrosion, and frequent servicing are ideal practices.

5. Don't overlook replacing schedules
A car is a complex mechanism. Since non-specialists do not know the minute details of its working, one must follow the manufacturer's instructions. Irrespective of how well you maintain your battery, you cannot extend its life beyond a point. Ideally, your battery may last up to 6 years in temperate environments. Usually, batteries in India last up to 3 years, while most battery manufacturers claim a product life of 4 years. Pay attention to signs of deterioration and replace your battery as suggested.

Apart from the above tips, maintaining fluid levels is a good practice to optimise battery life. Also, look out for the dashboard warning sign your car shows to reflect some issue with the battery. These measures help you keep your car's battery in the best shape. Additionally, purchasing motor insurance with a small repair add-on can help when battery replacement is needed.

Click HERE to buy a reliable motor insurance policy.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.