Your tyres, air conditioner, car cooling system and paint are the parts or features of your vehicle that are most prone to problems during summer and under hot weather conditions.
Heat can make the air inside the tyres expand, which can lead to overinflation and bulging of the tyre walls. The intense summer heat can also force your air conditioning unit to work harder, which can cause it to break down or produce warm air and leave your car smelling stuffy.
In addition, your car’s cooling system has to work harder to keep your engine functioning at the right temperature during summer. When they fail to work properly, they can cause some engine components to overheat and malfunction.
Lastly, prolonged exposure to heat and UV rays can cause the car paint to crack and peel off, leaving unsightly marks on your vehicle. It can also lead to a dull paint finish.
However, there is another part of your car that can also receive a beating during the hot months: the battery.
How Does Heat Damage Your Car Battery?
Providers of car battery services in Dubai say that the summer heat can cause these issues that can damage your battery:
● Faster internal evaporation
Car batteries use electrolytes, usually water and sulfuric acid, to function properly. Since the substances are fluid, they evaporate faster in the summer heat. Without these liquids, the battery will malfunction and even stop working completely.
● Sulfation
Sulfation pertains to the formation of lead sulphate crystals on the surface of the battery’s plates after every recharge. Heat can accelerate the process, which can cause battery failure.
● Corrosion
High temperatures coupled with quicker liquid evaporation can also cause faster natural battery corrosion and oxidation in the summer.
● Overcharging
Extreme heat can cause your battery charging system to fail, which can then lead to overcharging. When this happens often, you reduce the lifespan of your battery.
How Can You Protect Your Car’s Battery From Summer Damage?
Below are the best tips for protecting your car’s battery from extreme heat and minimising the damage it can get during the hottest months of the year:
1. Always park your car in a shaded area.
Parking your vehicle in a garage allows you to reduce the damage it takes from the sun and high temperatures.
Doing so allows you to protect not only your car’s battery, but also the other parts that could take a beating from the heat.
If you don’t have access to a garage, always park your vehicle in a place where it can be shaded from the sun. This means parking under or beside trees, buildings, and other structures that can give your car shade.
Another way to safeguard your car from heat is by keeping it covered with an all-weather vehicle cover. This accessory deflects heat and protects your ride from UV rays.
2. Check the battery regularly.
Inspecting your battery frequently, especially before taking your car on a long drive, can help you avoid plenty of problems on the road. Moreover, you will be able to prevent the battery from becoming so damaged that you will have no choice but to replace it.
Make it a habit to check the battery case for bulges, cracks, and leaking fluid. Also, inspect the brackets; make sure they still secure the battery sufficiently and are free of corrosion.
If you see any loose cables, tighten them immediately. Loose brackets can also shorten the lifespan of the battery and damage the other components.
If you want to have experts check your car’s battery thoroughly, or if you need to have it replaced, aside from bringing your vehicle to a service centre, you can have mechanics visit you and conduct these services in your location.
With experts providing their service in your home, you can save time and money by not bringing your vehicle to their shop.
3. Monitor your battery’s water levels.
If your car battery has a water level indicator, keep an eye on it so that you know how much liquid your battery has lost. Although it is sealed and you cannot refill it, you can take steps to minimise its exposure to heat and prolong its lifespan.
Checking the water levels regularly also allows you to know when to get a car battery replacement before you are left stranded somewhere because it has completely failed.
Keep in mind that with good care and maintenance, a car battery’s lifespan can last for three to five years. However, if you live in a place that experiences extreme temperatures year-round, this lifecycle may be even shorter.
If you’ve had your battery for at least three years, check it frequently and be prepared for an eventual replacement to have a safe, smooth-running vehicle.
4. Practise proactive car maintenance.
Staying on top of your car’s scheduled maintenance can also help the battery, engine, and your vehicle overall.
This means changing the oil, conducting battery tests, and having your car undergo a full mechanical inspection routinely and before the seasons change.
Also, stay up to date on your radiator fluid flushes. The radiator keeps your engine cool, thereby protecting the battery and other parts from overheating.
If the radiator is not working properly, your battery is more likely to get damaged faster from the intense heat.
Also, always keep the battery clean. Remove dirt, debris, and grease from the top of the battery regularly since they can cause build-up that could drain its power.
If you feel you’re not up to the task of cleaning your car’s battery, have your engine cleaner service provider take care of this job.
5. Be more mindful of your car battery usage.
Regardless of the weather and time of the year, you lower your car battery’s lifespan when you always leave the lights on, keep chargers plugged in, turn on the radio, and use other features when the engine is off.
When you are driving, your car’s alternator takes over some of the work involved in powering the light, radio, and other features. However, once you turn off the engine, all these fall onto your battery.
Keeping the light on, charging your phone, and regularly listening to the radio for hours can shorten your battery lifespan.
To protect your car battery from heat and prolong its life, stop these habits. Also, make sure you always unplug your chargers and turn off your lights after use.
Following these tips can help you maintain your battery’s health. Moreover, you can prolong its life and avoid the need to replace it before it reaches the end of its expected lifespan.
