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Protect Your Battery in Winter

2024 Ford Expedition parked in snowy area

How to Protect Your Battery in the Winter

Car batteries aren’t cheap, so you may be looking for ways to protect your investment. The winter cold usually causes batteries to wear away at an accelerated rate, but there are a few ways that you can avoid this. If you do need to replace your battery, you can always visit us at Stanley Ford Gilmer. We can even tell you how long your battery has left with the use of a voltmeter.

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What Does the Cold Do?

You might have been told once or twice that the cold is bad for batteries, but if no one’s taken the time to explain why, then this might not make much sense. After all, it’s just a change in temperature, right? When the temperature drops, your battery deals with:

  • Slower Chemical Reactions: Your battery uses chemical reactions to produce electricity, but the cold can slow this down.
  • Expansion: When your battery fluid freezes, it’s going to expand. This can damage your battery cells in the same way frozen water would damage a pipe.
  • Turning Your Engine Over: Your engine needs a quick jolt of electricity to start, but when it’s cold outside, it might need more than usual. This can put even more strain on your battery.

When these three effects combine, it can cause rapid wear as your battery is going to have to work harder than ever before.

Preventative Maintenance

Winter can be rough on your car, but if you follow the steps below, your battery is going to have a greater chance of surviving the cold.

  • Park in Your Garage: If you leave your car in a warm place, then there’s a greater chance that your battery fluid never freezes. This can help you avoid a lot of the issues that are listed above.
  • Keeping Your Battery Charged: Your battery can die if you happen to leave lights, accessories, or systems on when you turn your car off. You’ll want to double-check that your doors are closed and that your headlights are off when you exit.
  • Keep Driving: If you leave your car unattended for weeks at a time, your battery is going to suffer. You’ll want to drive your vehicle at least 30 minutes a week so that your battery gets a quick recharge from your alternator.

The Next Steps

If your battery is still giving you issues and you’re near Marshall, Gilmer, or Tyler, then we can help you resolve the issue at Stanley Ford Gilmer.

  • Testing: When you test your battery, you’re seeing how well it can hold a charge. You might have done this before if your car happened to die, but it’s as easy as heading to the dealership and asking for a quick test. Our mechanics at Stanley Ford Gilmer will be happy to help, and you can always ask for an inspection along with your next oil change or tire rotation.
  • Look for a Replacement: We know that this is the one thing that you’re trying to avoid, which is why we’ll do our best to make sure that your battery is running optimally. If it can’t hold a charge though, you’ll be forced to replace it with a new one.

 Is your battery giving out due to the cold? You can test it by scheduling a service with us at Stanley Ford Gilmer.

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