The Effect of Heat and Cold on Car Batteries

Car batteries are quite sensitive when it comes to the effects of heat and cold. You might have heard that ‘excess of everything is bad’ and ‘everything looks good in moderation’. Such is the case with car batteries. Extreme temperatures scorching heat and freezing cold) can adversely affect the battery’s health and performance. Excess heat or cold can be hurtful to car batteries.

If you are concerned to know about the kind of effects heat and cold can leave on your car battery then keep reading this article. It will educate you about the possible and probable effects of heat and cold so that you can be prepared to deal with these issues. 

Does cold weather affect batteries?

Cold weather and extreme winter surely affect car batteries and their performance. Cold weather surely affects the car battery draining the car battery sooner than expected. 

Slower Chemical Reaction: It does this by slowing down the chemical reaction taking place inside it. As you might already know that the battery gets the power from that chemical reaction whereby it converts the chemical energy into electrical energy. When due to cold weather the chemical reactions slow down then it means that the ability of the battery to hold a charge is compromised which lowers its ability to generate and provide electricity to power the car engine. 

Reduced battery capacity: A drop in temperature also drops the capacity of the battery by increasing the resistance. The enhanced resistance acts as a shield against current flow which reduces the power supply to start the engine of the car. This means that you might struggle to start the engine. 

Damage to battery health: A sudden drop in temperature also affects battery health adversely. Sudden cold temperatures can result in the expansion and contraction of internal components of the battery that can aid in damaging the internal structure, components, and casing of the battery. This damage can result in capacity loss which shortens the life of the battery in turn.

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Engine oil thickening: Cold weather also results in the thickening of engine oil. This means that now you will need more energy to pump up the oil and with less battery capacity and electricity supply it can become a c challenge to start the car and force pump the oil. 

Increased load: Cold weather demands the increased usage of car heaters, headlights, windshield wipers, seat heaters, and defrosters which put an increased load on the battery. 

If the Car Battery Dies in Cold will it Recharge

It is quite common for a car battery to die during cold weather. If your car battery dies during the cold then it is possible to recharge it. Though the recharging likelihood and extent depend upon a number of factors such as:

Age of battery

Battery condition

Battery health

The severity of winter (cold weather or drop in temperature)

Time for which the battery stays dead 

A dead car battery means that it can’t hold and supply electric charge or power. But it doesn’t mean that you cannot recharge it. You can use the jump-start technique to start the car. This can be done by connecting the positive terminal of the dead battery with the positive and negative terminal of the dead battery with the negative terminal of the battery of another vehicle. Or you can simply invest in a good portable jump starter to stop relying on the availability of any other car. A battery that is in good health and is not completely drained will start after a jump-start. Afterward, when you hit the road the alternator will start recharging the battery. The more your drive the more battery can be charged by an alternator. It is usually recommended to drive for more than 10 km to fully recharge the battery. 

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As an alternative,  you can also use a battery charger to recharge the battery to its full capacity (or recommended by the battery manufacturer) and then start the car.  You can also use a battery warmer to warm the battery and then charge it, so that it can nullify the effects of cold temperature and enhances the ability to store charge. But remember do not try to inflict sudden temperature changes as inconsistent temperature changes can also damage the battery further. 

However, if your car battery is damaged, old, or has been sitting for too long then it may be impossible to fully recharge it even after using proven tactics like jump-starting. This is so because extreme cold weather can make it tougher to recharge a battery that is dead as the temperature drop already reduces the ability of the battery to effectively hold charge. 

Can heat kill a car battery?

Popular opinion says that heat is not that bad for the car battery, but reality strikes quite opposite. Extreme heat may not outright kill the car battery but it works as a slow destructor that will eventually lead to a point of eventual failure. 

High temperatures can leave severe impacts in comparison to low temperature. When exposed to excessive heat for an extended time, the lifespan of car batteries shortens as they face severe damage and capacity loss. The heat effects on car batteries include:

Accelerates chemical reaction: High temperature or heat can speed up the chemical reaction taking place inside the battery. You might already know that heat is produced as a byproduct of a chemical reaction. When exposed to heat for an extended time, the external heat plus the heat produced inside the battery can build up together and damages the internal components of battery. This can result in a lower performance which can shorten the lifespan of the battery and kill it. 

Fluid Evaporation: Extended exposure to heat results in temperature raise of around 140 degrees or more. This leads to in fluid evaporation. This fluid is the electrolyte that is the catalyst that administers the chemical reaction inside the battery and helps in producing electricity. When this electrolyte or fluid evaporates then it decreases the overall capacity of the battery and reduces its performance. 

Plates Corrosion: Heat can affect the lead plates inside the battery as well. Temperature raise inside the battery can corrode the lead plates more quickly. This deteriorates their performance and compromises the overall output or performance of the battery and shortens the useful life of the battery. 

Over-charging: Exposure to heat can damage the charging system component inside the battery such as voltage regulator, BMS, or any other such system. This results in overcharging the battery which is just like a slow poison for the battery as it kills the battery over time.