You rely on your car battery to provide the power to start your engine and run all your electrical systems. On average, a battery will last between two and five years. Learn more about how to care for yours to maximize its life span.

Factors That Affect a Battery’s Life Span

The average life span—two to five years—offers a wide range in time since many factors will impact how long your battery will last. Warm temperatures and high humidity, for example, tend to shorten the life span because they accelerate sulfation damage. Sulfation is a buildup of lead sulfate crystals on the battery plates, which impedes the chemical to electrical conversion.

How to Maximize Your Battery’s Life Span

While you may not have much control over your climate, you can take care of other controllable factors. Avoid exposing your car battery to unusually high temperatures by keeping your radiator in good condition and not parking your car in the sun. Change your oil as often as recommended in the owner’s manual to ensure your engine doesn’t overheat.

Avoid running the battery’s charge too low. Don’t leave on electrical systems, such as your radio or lights, for too long when your car is off.

Also, take longer driving trips rather than several short ones each day. Starting your car draws a significant amount of power from the battery, and it needs at least 15 minutes of drive time to recharge.

When the time comes to replace your car battery, head to A-1 Auto A/C Specialist & General Auto Repair in Honolulu, HI. This team of ASE®-certified mechanics uses state-of-the-art equipment and the finest auto parts to help your car thrive in the Hawaiian climate. See their full list of services online, and call (808) 836-2939 to schedule an appointment and free estimate.