Top 7 Ways to Protect Your Car Battery from the Summer Heat
Summer heat can damage different components of your car, particularly the battery. As the mercury rises, the strain it places on your car’s engine and battery can be immense. Hence, if your car’s battery isn’t in top shape, there is a risk that you might face a breakdown at some point. With the summer temperatures rising year on year, you need to be extra-cautious to keep your car battery safe from the summer heat.
Of course, it would help if you park your car in the shade, put it under a cover when not using it, and getting a dashboard cover. However, you need to go beyond these simple tips to ensure your car’s battery keeps running optimally throughout the summer, regardless of the temperature outside. Here are the top 7 ways you can protect your car battery from the summer heat:
1. Battery Test
Before the summer rolls around in earnest, you should have your battery checked and tested by a professional mechanic. The last thing you want is for your car to break down before you even realize that you need to check your car battery.
You can perform simple diagnostics on your own, such as ensuring that the brackets are securing the battery properly and the cables are fully tightened. You can also glance over the other components of your car battery. If you notice any rust or corrosion, replace the parts immediately.
As a rule of thumb, you should have your car’s battery checked at least once a year. However, if you have been using the same battery for over three years, you should consider replacing it, especially during the summer.
2. Top Up the Coolant
As you would know, you need to check the coolant level of your battery from time to time. You cannot afford to let the coolant run out, regardless of the summer. That said, the risk is greater when the weather is hot. Your cooling system can malfunction due to lack of coolant, and cause your engine to overheat.
3. Inspect the Fan Belt
Your car’s battery will not charge if the fan belt isn’t working properly. You have to make sure the fan belt is sturdy and in working condition, as well as adjusting the tension to guarantee optimal performance. In case you notice any damage to the fan belt, replace it before the summer heat reaches its peak.
4. Upgrade the Battery
This tip is for car owners whose cars feature the older type of battery, which have removable filler caps. The best option for you in this regard is to upgrade the battery to a newer model. The main issue with the older batteries is that the fluid can evaporate quickly and thus increase the risk of overheating. Again, this is a step you should take before summer comes along to ensure your car battery remains safe.
5. Maintain Your Car
You need to follow your car’s regular maintenance schedule. You cannot afford to ignore battery tests, inspections, and oil changes. Not only does regular maintenance ensure that your car runs perfectly, but also protects the battery from undue damage because of the heat. Have all regular maintenance tasks done before the summer.
6. Keep an Eye on the Water Levels
Modern car batteries do away with the need for you to check the water levels from time to time. However, if your battery needs water, make sure you keep an eye on the level and have it topped up whenever necessary. Failure to do so can reduce the useful life of your car battery.
7. General Precautions
Last, but not the least, you should think of ways to keep your car cool during the summer and naturally, your battery will remain safe from the heat as well. The ideal option is to find a shaded area to park your car. You should also keep the engine off if you are on idle mode, as even slight overheating can damage the battery.
Also, consider investing in covers for your windows and dashboard so that the interior of your car remains cool as well. As mentioned, you should buy a cover for your car so that you can block the heat when not driving it.
So, these are the 7 most effective ways in which you can protect your car battery from the summer heat. Remember that you don’t have to go out of the way to keep your car’s battery from running in top condition, regardless of the temperature. However, since the temperature can rise to extreme levels on some days in Singapore, you should be cautious and take the necessary steps to keep your car battery safe from the heat. You don’t want your car battery to die unexpectedly.
