How to Maintain a Car Battery in the Heat

From Hot Rod Network

The health of a car battery is important to monitor with extra care in extreme heat to help prolong their life. The folks at OPTIMA Batteries have a couple of tips that, with little effort, can go a long way to keeping a battery in good working order. They recommend that battery voltage be properly maintained while not being used and to keep them stored in a cool and dry place. Taking these simple precautions will ensure the proper function of all batteries intended for vehicular use.

You can maintain a battery's charge by using a charger like the Digital 1200 from OPTIMA or any other charger that is microprocessor controlled. The Digital 1200's battery maintaining function is perfect for long-term storage. If you don't have access to that type of charger, make sure the battery is fully charged and disconnected before storage and check the voltage every 3-6 months. Charge it if the voltage falls below 12.4V. OPTIMA doesn't recommend that you occasionally start the stored vehicle periodically because the output required to run the vehicle for a short time may exceed the charging rate.

For some, the heat is an everyday reality and its one that drains batteries a lot faster. In extreme cases such as those who live in Phoenix, depending on the brand, batteries typically won't last longer than 2 years because of the heat. The same cannot be said for a battery in Southern California where the climate is more forgiving. It's not uncommon for a battery's life to last up to 5 years (OPTIMA units can last up to 8).

If a battery has become deeply discharged below 12.4 volts, its lifespan can shorten significantly. However, there is a chance it can be recovered for continued use. Click on this link here to find out what you can do to recover a discharged battery. In some cases, a battery may be too far gone to save. You can find this out by taking it to a battery specialist who will load test for little to no cost.

No matter how good a care you take of your car, it won't go anywhere with a dead, or discharged battery. Being as how it's the summer, it's the perfect time to take the hot rod out for some good cruising or racing. Keep your vehicle' battery healthy and go enjoy your ride!