How do I keep my car battery from draining in cold weather?

Cold weather is quite rough and tough on a car’s battery. You might already know that car battery gets drained quicker during cold and doesn’t perform as expected. But do not worry because there are tips and tricks to still make your car on the road during winter. If you want to know how then read the article through to the end. 

In this article, we are going to share the reasons for battery drainage in winter as well as the preventive measures to keep the battery (and hence the car) running. 

Why does cold weather drain car batteries?

There are multiple reasons which contribute to car battery drainage during the winter season. It is important to get acquainted with all these reasons in order to be prepared to prevent the battery from draining. 

Slower chemical reaction: You might be aware that the chemical reaction that occurs in a battery converts the chemical energy into electrical energy that is responsible for offering power to your car. The cold temperature in the winter season slows down the chemical reaction. The battery losses around 35% of its total strength at 32oF and around 60% of its strength at 0oF. This reduces the battery's ability to hold a charge which is why the brain drains more quickly than it was supposed to. 

Increased resistance: The cold weather affects the battery by increasing the electrical resistance inside the battery. As the battery gets exposed to colder temperatures, its internal resistance starts to increase due to disruption in normal chemical reactions. This enhanced resistance can result in limiting the current flow in the battery which ultimately reduces the power supply to the car’s engine. In old batteries, such increased resistance can even lead to battery failure. 

Increased Demand: During winters, the engine oil gets thick which makes it even harder to pump the oil. Which means that it needs more energy. In the same manner, the electric components of cars such as headlights, stereo systems, GPS, etc also demand more energy to operate. And that too when the power supply from the battery is already compromised from the battery. This drains the battery sooner than you’ll want.

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Corrosion: Cold weather can also cause corrosion on the battery terminals. The corroded battery terminals do not offer the power supply expected from a normal working battery. This is why you will notice that the battery is draining more quickly than usual.

?Negligence: Any negligence on your part can add a great deal to quicker battery drainage. By negligence, it means that you are using or wasting the battery’s power on things that are not vital. To name a few examples: keeping cars’ doors open which consumes energy by letting the inside light on, keeping headlights on when you are not hitting the road, leaving the accessories plugged in, listening to music when the engine is not ignited, or letting the GPS run unnecessarily when the engine is off, etc.  

Car Battery Draining in Cold Weather

Cold weather is not really friendly to the car’ battery. A car battery can drain faster in cold weather than it does in warmer temperatures. This is primarily because of the slower chemical reaction that doesn’t produce and store as much power inside the battery as needed to power up the car. Battery drainage is inevitable in cold weather, but it doesn’t mean that you let your car battery die in cold and do nothing. There are plenty of preventive measures that you can do which are shared next.  

How do you keep your car battery from dying in the winter?

We have established that cold weather can be tough on your car’s battery. But the great news is that you can take preventive measures to keep your battery from dying during winter. These preventive tips can be lifesaving for your car’s battery in winter:

Parking in a garage: during winter, try to locate a parking garage with free space where you can park your car. These garages that are covered and are mostly built in underground facilities offer a warmer parking space for your car. The key agenda here is to keep your car battery warm. The more you can protect it from cold the more you will protect the battery from draining and dying out completely. 

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Refrain from Idling: To keep your car battery alive during the winter season, you should take your car for a drive for at least 10 km more than once a week. Many people assume that merely starting the engine and idling for a few minutes will keep the engine warm. But idling or very short trips can shorten the lifespan of the car battery as driving for a such short time doesn’t allow the battery to fully charge, which puts strain on the battery and affects its health. When you drive your car for a considerable time (10 km and more) then your alternator gets to work and fully charges the battery to keep it alive and running. The key is to do a few errands in one trip to hit the road for one long drive rather than hitting the road for shorter trips. 

Battery Check on regular basis: It is advised to take your car for a regular battery check especially before and during winter. Such battery checks help to identify battery health, antifreeze level, and any probable issue. A little issue now can create a big mess if not handled on time. A well-maintained battery surely works better than a neglected one. 

Recharge with a battery charger: The most common reason for a dead battery in winter is the fact that the battery was not charged to its full capacity in the first place. To refrain from this, you can recharge your battery with the help of a good quality battery charger up to the level recommended for your battery. 

Get a Battery warmer: you can also use a battery warmer to keep your battery from dying. As already stated, the key is to keep the battery warm to give it an environment where the chemical reaction can take place comfortably.

Power down the car: Make sure that no accessories or electric equipment are using the power unnecessarily. To start with turn off the lights properly, close the car's door, refrain from using radio and GPS, etc when not required. 

Buy a Jump Starter: Don’t forget to buy a good jump starter just in case your battery drains out completely. It will help you power up the engine without any external help.