General Battery Maintenance Myths

There exist some general battery maintenance myths for vehicles. It is important to understand them so that we are not carried away by the same myths. They are enumerated here below:

1. Placing a Unit on a Concrete Floor will Make It Discharge

Regardless of the surface where your car or truck battery is placed, over the period of time, all lead-acid units discharge naturally. There is an effect on the rate of self-discharge depending on the temperature of the electrolyte and the plate chemistry. Commencing from Nissan to Fiat vehicle models, this applies to all lead-acid makes and models.

2. Full Recharging is Ensured When the Vehicle is Regularly Used

It’s a fact that when the vehicle’s engine is in motion, a car or boat battery is recharged. Having a short trip inside the city or leaving your car idle in the driveway will not be able to fully recharge your standard vehicle battery for Ford, Toyota or any other kind of vehicle battery. Thus, a periodic recharging may be required in addition to the charging that happens while driving the vehicle.

3. Vehicle Battery Will Not Burst

Regardless of the common view, a lead-acid vehicle battery can burst in specific situations. When a wet lead-acid unit is charged, it might cause electrolysis of the water that generates oxygen and hydrogen gasses. These gases can be heated if sparks are produced with bouncing, linking or unplugging charging cables, which results in a burst. Loose terminal clamps often contribute towards starting a burst.

4. A Good Way to Test the Alternator is by Disconnecting the Car or Truck Battery while the Engine is in Motion

The voltage generated by the alternator is stabilized or ‘filtered’ by car and truck battery units. Electronic components or the charging system can be destroyed as the peak voltage increases due to disconnection. This was a usual practice several years ago; however, the charging systems have gone through a lot of alterations since then, and so this is no longer the case.

5. Vehicle Battery Last Longer In Hot Weather Compared to Cold Weather

Hot and cold weather both have an effect on your vehicle’s battery. The fact is hot weather lowers the life of units by 1/3rd on an average, and cold weather lowers the starting capability. It is not advised to “warm up” your car battery on cold days by turning on the headlights. If this is done, it may lower the available capacity that can be used to start a cold engine.