How the battery can withstand the cold season

Modern car batteries are called "maintenance free", but this does not mean that we should not take care of them in winter. They are also sensitive to external temperatures. When the thermometer drops below zero, the chemical processes in them slow down. As a result, they produce less energy, and with increasing cold, their capacity decreases. At minus ten degrees Celsius, about 65 percent is available, and at minus twenty, 50 percent.

For older and weaker batteries, this is not enough to start the engine. And after unwinding, the battery often dies prematurely. Advice such as "turn on your headlights when it's cold to warm up the battery" or "remove the spark plug to reduce compression" are mere legends and should remain in their place - in folk wisdom.

It is better and more successful to leave the car or at least the battery warm. If that's not enough, use a full bottle of hot water. It is enough to put on the battery ten minutes before starting to "warm up" the ignition. If unsuccessful, stop after the tenth second of the try, leave the battery alone and repeat after half a minute.

To avoid battery problems in winter, you can use some of the following tips. It is important that lead acid batteries remain sufficiently charged in cold conditions. If the vehicle is operated for short distances and often performs cold starts, it is recommended to check its capacity and, if necessary, recharge with an external charger.

Devices with a so-called "support function" that can be connected, for example, via a cigarette lighter. Make sure that they work even with the ignition off. This is not the case for many new cars. In addition, it is recommended that you regularly wipe the battery case and terminals with an anti-static cloth to avoid static losses.

It is recommended to tighten the terminals from time to time. For old batteries with a charging hole, make sure there is enough liquid in the chambers. Otherwise, distilled water should be added.

To protect the battery from damage in winter, users such as the fan, radio, seat heating cannot be fully turned on.