Car Battery Shelf Life- Introduction and Storage

The battery plays one of the most important roles in your car. It starts the engine and runs all the electrical components. That means your car will not perform to its maximum capacity if the battery is not strong enough.

A new car battery will not have any issues performing these tasks. But as time goes on, you start realizing that the battery is failing. A replacement is necessary when the situation gets worse.

You can avoid the last-minute rush by running regular battery checks as part of your maintenance activities. This guide will share how to check battery life and get the best from it.

How to Check Car Battery Life

A car battery comes with a specific lifespan. Whether in use on the shelf, your battery cannot last beyond its time. How you use the battery determines whether it will last for the longest time or if you will be forced to replace much sooner.

There are several ways of checking the battery life so that you can adjust your usage and perhaps get the best results. Consider the following:

Using Voltmeter

Checking the battery voltages tells you whether it still has enough capacity to run car activities or if it requires some checking. For this, you will need a voltmeter, which is used to measure voltages in devices. Find a good voltmeter and then follow these steps:

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Turn off any accessories that may drain the battery. These include the ignition, radio, and headlights.

Remove the terminal covers and connect the voltmeter, starting with the positive (+) terminal and then the negative (-) terminal.

Check the reading. A good battery should have a nominal voltage of between 12.4V and 12.7V. Anything above 12.5 indicates a healthy battery. 12.3 means the battery is 75% charged, while anything below 11.8 shows you need more juice in your battery.

The voltage indication is an excellent way to tell whether your battery is charging effectively. You can take the measurements before charging the battery and then after charging to compare.

Using Car Lights

Not everyone has a voltmeter. Luckily, there are other ways of checking your battery's life without spending money on such items. One of the easiest ways is using headlights.

Here is what to do:

Turn on the headlights and notice their brightness. If they are darker, it means your battery is low and needs recharging. If you start the engine and the lights brighten, it means the alternator is working, but your battery may have issues.

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The battery is healthy if there is no change in the headlights' brightness.

Your car's lights should be one of the main indicators that your battery is healthy or has issues. However, only those who know how to read and check the issues will get the most from it.

Using a Battery Health Indicator

Technology has made things quite easy today. Modern cars come with battery health indicators as part of their new components. This is a cover attached to the battery that reads the battery life.

The indicator comes with an arrow that turns either red or green. When the voltage is low, it will show red, but your battery must be charged when it's red. A battery health indicator promises the easiest way to tell whether your battery is good or if it requires checking.

Check Battery Life Using a Multimeter

You can check how much power is stored in your battery using a multimeter. This is a device used to measure battery capacity accurately.

Follows these steps:

Turn on the headlights. With the car engine off, turn on the car headlights for about two minutes. This will remove any surface charge your battery may have.

Set the multimeter to 15-20 volts. Ensure your multimeter is properly set to this measure to ensure the best reading.

Turn off the lights once the two minutes are over and connect the multimeter. Start with the positive terminals and then move to the negative to ensure a safe connection.

Check the reading again. If the voltage is not about 12.6 volts, your battery may require checking since it's probably damaged.

Start the car and check the reading again. A good battery should have a reading above 10v on the multimeter.

Notice a bad battery. If the voltage drops below 5 when the car is running, your battery has run out of its life and requires a replacement.

A healthy battery will start your car's engine and run other electrical components without any issues. But when you notice problems with ignition and cranking power, it could mean your battery has come to the end of its lifespan, requiring a replacement.

Can a Car Battery Last 10 Years?

Car batteries don't last forever. However, their lifespan is often misunderstood. Some batteries will show when they are near their lifespan, while others will not show. It's important to know how long your battery is likely to last so that you can make appropriate plans.

So, can a car battery last for 10 years? It's very unlikely to get such results. While there are stronger batteries that will last for five or more, most will reach the end of their lifespan at three years under normal use conditions.

Once your battery reaches three years, start thinking about a replacement. Unfortunately, it might not matter much whether you are using it every day or once in a while, considering even the shelf life remains the same.

Certain conditions can increase the lifespan of your battery or reduce it. Extreme heat and cold, overcharging, and over-discharging are the main threats to battery longevity.

Can You Store a New Car Battery?

Yes. You can store new car batteries. Such a battery can hold a charge for as long as two years, although it diminishes over time through self-discharge. You will need to charge the battery periodically to keep it charged and avoid potential damages.

Most manufacturers recommend a certain period of storage, most 6 to 9 months before using. As stated above, delaying its use will not extend the battery's life beyond three to five years.

Battery maintenance is crucial if you want to get more from it. Ensure regular cleaning, servicing, and much more. Even though it will not last forever, you can be sure it will give you maximum time.