Why do you need to turn on the headlights before starting the engine?

Many motorists, whose driving experience spans more than one decade, argue that in winter, before starting the engine, it is imperative to turn on the high beam headlights for a few seconds. Like, this way you can extend the life of the battery, and indeed the electrical system as a whole. To what extent this recommendation is fair, the AvtoVzglyad portal found out.

It's no secret that in the frosty season, the operation of the car must be approached with extreme caution. After all, at sub-zero temperatures, the systems and units of the vehicle are subjected to increased stress. There are a lot of recommendations for “winter” car care, passed on by motorists from generation to generation. Some of them are really useful, while others are not something that is no longer relevant, but even dangerous.

There is a lot of controversy in the circles of car owners around such a procedure as pre-heating the electrolyte and battery plates by turning on the high beam. Those drivers who received "rights" back in the Soviet Union are convinced of the need for this manipulation. And young people have a different opinion - premature activation of light devices is detrimental to the battery.

Motorists who oppose "foreplay" make several arguments. First, they say, turning on the headlights with the engine off drains the battery. This means that there is a high risk that the car will not start at all if the battery was already “run down”. Secondly, the activation of lighting devices is an unnecessary load on the wiring, which already has a hard time in the cold.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with “preparing” the battery for work by turning on the headlights. Moreover, this "grandfather" advice is very useful - both for heavily used cars and for brand new ones. As the technical expert of the Russian AutoMotoClub company Dmitry Gorbunov explained to the AvtoVzglyad portal, it is recommended to activate the light - and it is the distant one - literally for 3-5 seconds every time after a long stop in the winter.

In addition, if you want to extend the life of the battery, periodically clean its terminals, monitor the charge level, and also forget about moving the device from under a cold hood to a warm apartment at low temperatures. After all, as you know, serviceable and fully charged batteries do not need a warm overnight stay. Well, tired, no longer coping with their duties, a place in a landfill.