How to Prevent Car Battery Drain in Cold Weather
A battery, without a doubt, is one of the most critical components of your car. Without a battery, you can't even think of a quick and safe travel experience. It performs differently in different atmospheric conditions.
Reasonably hot (not extreme) weather is more suitable for batteries to function properly. In contrast, extreme cold weather is dangerous for car batteries, as it slows down the chemical reactions and freezes the fluid inside them. As a result, the battery cells can be damaged.
As you know, freezing temperatures can negatively affect batteries. You should know how to prevent car battery drain in cold weather. To read more details on can cold weather kill a car battery, read this guide in detail.
4 causes of car battery drain in cold weather
Does cold weather affect a car battery? Yes, it does. There are different reasons for battery drains in cold weather. Let's explore a few of the common ones.
1. Thick engine oil
The engine oil should flow smoothly to ensure seamless operation and a safe drive. But when you drive in cold weather, it thickens your car's engine oil and makes it more viscous. Thicker engine oil puts added strain on your car battery and makes it difficult for the battery and the starter motor to start the engine. Therefore, the thick engine oil causes more battery drain than normal.
2. Increased power demands
The car battery is not only responsible for starting the engine, but it also delivers power to other electronic components, especially in winter, such as defroster, headlights, heaters, seat warmers, and more. These extra accessories consume a significant amount of battery power. As a result, the recharge rate of the battery becomes longer. These added electrical demands may strain your car battery which is already struggling in the cold.
3. Reduced recharge rate
Though the car battery starts the engine and runs electronics, it hands over this responsibility to the alternator once the engine is turned on. Then, the alternator provides the desired amount of power to run accessories and recharge the battery for later use. Cold climates or freezing temperatures slow down the car battery's recharge rate. Therefore, the alternator takes more time to recharge the car battery.
4. Reduced battery capacity
When it comes to activating the starter motor and cranking the engine, a car battery needs to generate a certain amount of power. Cold temperatures slow down the reaction rate in batteries; therefore, a starter motor needs ha igher capacity to start the engine successfully.
Simply put, winter makes the car battery work harder. If your battery is already weak, it won't be able to crank the engine in cold. In that case, using a battery with high Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) would be an ideal choice.
Another key reason for a car battery drain is a parasitic drain. However, it is not specific to cold weather only. In case you don't know, parasitic drain refers to the situation when the car's electronic components continue to draw battery power, even if the vehicle is off. This drain discharges the battery faster in cold weather.
How to prevent your car battery from dying in cold weather?
Are you searching for ways to prevent your car battery from dying in freezing temperatures or cold weather? If so, we have listed some valuable tips below to protect your car batteries in the cold. Let's look at them one by one.
1. Buy a better battery
If your car battery has reached its average life span, it is time to buy a new and better one. Batteries offered by reputed brands like Renogy come with longer lifespans, better efficiency, and advanced functionalities.
A good-quality battery will survive better in the cold than a traditional one. The battery's higher cold-cranking amps allow it to deliver more power in cold weather. If you want to buy reliable and long-lasting batteries at competitive prices, don't forget to explore this battery collection.
2. Avoid short trips
You will always want to do your routine tasks as quickly as possible in winter. But the problem is that short trips won't let your car battery charge fully and efficiently. Since the engine needs more power to start in cold weather, frequent short trips discharge the battery more quickly than usual. As a result, your battery may get dead.
3. Drive regularly
As you know, the recharge rate of the car battery slows down in winter. The alternator needs more time to charge the battery while driving fully. This is why driving the car regularly and for longer distances gives the alternator enough time to charge the battery fully. This habit can keep your car battery away from dying in the cold.
4. Test the battery regularly
Usually, the car battery lasts for around 2-5 years. However, it depends on certain factors like climate. Testing the battery regularly is important because it lets you know whether or not it can perform well in a cold environment. Regular checkups let you understand if the battery needs replacement. If you are unsure whether your car battery is healthy, consult a professional or simply check the charge using a digital multimeter.
5. Turn off/unplug accessories
If your car isn't starting in winter, it may be due to its unnecessary electrical load. In such cases, turn off electronic components that are not essential, such as radio, seat warmers, music players, and more. Doing this will reduce the battery load and allow it to crank the engine successfully. Unplug the phone charger or any other part that can cause a parasitic drain. It will also reduce the load on the battery and prevent it from dying.
6. Keep the terminals clean
Corroded battery terminals look unappealing. At the same time, they badly affect the battery's performance, health, and life. Corrosion on battery terminals increases the electrical resistance between its connections. As a result, the battery works hard to deliver the desired power.
7. Use a battery charger
If you want to prevent your car batteries from deep discharges, battery chargers will be a great option to keep them recharged. These chargers are an effective tool, especially when you plan to store batteries for an extended period.
How to revive a dead car battery in cold weather?
If your car battery is dead in cold weather, you need to jump-start it to turn the engine on. To jump-start the battery, you need someone with a running vehicle (if he or she wants to give you a jump) and a set of jumper cables. Alternatively, you can activate your car's engine with a jump starter.
Using a modern jump pack is an easy option that remains accessible all the time. This lightweight and compact pack can easily be carried in a backpack or glove box. However, if you live in a colder environment, you need to be careful when choosing a jump starter.
A jump starter with a pre-heat function is an ideal choice for those who live in cold climates. It helps the battery return to normal temperature before starting it. Moreover, choose the one that can deliver the desired amount of power to the starter motor.
Advanced jump packs available on the market are easy to use. Though operating steps vary from tool to tool, you will usually have to follow the three steps, as given below.
- Connect the clamps
- Press the button
- Start your car
If you have access to a person with a running car and you plan to use jumper cables, select the ones with a low AWG number. These cables conduct electricity more efficiently in cold weather. The steps included in this process are as follows.
- Bring two vehicles close to each other to connect batteries.
- Turn the ignition and all accessories off in both cars.
- Apply emergency brakes on both vehicles.
- Raise the hood and find the terminals. If they are corroded, clean them with a wire brush.
- Review the owner's manual to connect the clamps. Red with the positive and black with negative terminals of both vehicles.
- Start the donor car's engine. Then, start the second car's engine.
- Once the engine starts, disconnect the clamps and drive the car you have just started for about 20 minutes. It will help you recharge the battery.
Conclusion
If you are concerned about how to prevent car battery drain in cold weather, keep it charged, drive regularly, avoid short trips, park the car indoors, use a battery charger, turn off non-essentials, keep the terminals clean, and test the battery regularly.
If a car battery dies in cold, will it recharge? Is this what you have in mind? Yes, you can use a compatible charger to recharge the battery.
