12/10/2022
Batteries - The Cold Truth
Today we are going to talk about your car battery; there are a lot of facts and rumors' that may come with a battery and not all batteries are the same! For this article we will be covering the effects of low temperatures on a car's battery.
What is a car battery?
(1) Most people do not know that a car battery is a "rechargeable" battery that is used to start the vehicle. Its main purpose is to provide an electric current to the electric-powered starting motor, which in turn starts the engine that actually propels the vehicle. Once the engine is running, power for the car's electrical systems is still supplied by the battery, with the alternator charging the battery as demands increase or decrease.
Learn more about what a car battery is and how it functions here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_battery
What is happening?
On average when the temperature is below 32 degrees, car batteries lose 35% of their strength, and at zero degrees they lose 60%. (2) Cold temperatures put severe stress on your battery, which is why the winter season is often a catalyst for car battery replacements. The cold weather has your vehicle facing two challenges at once: power loss with slow chemical reactions and oil/engine troubles. (3) Most batteries work through an electrochemical reaction, which sends power signals to your terminal ends. This chemical reaction slows down in cold weather and weakening your battery’s potential power.
With all this you might find yourself thinking, “It is not too cold—why is my battery dying?” This is a common issue for drivers in the south. The freezing winter temperature does put stress on your battery, but this is not often what kills your battery. Ultimately, the true killer of car batteries is the summer’s heat. It causes internal battery corrosion and evaporates the electrolytes that your battery relies on.
Summer damage then leaves your battery unable to fight off the stress of cold weather. For drivers here in Florida, this means that your car battery faces extensive summer deterioration. Then, when the weather becomes cold, your battery does not have the structural integrity to manage the added seasonal challenges.
It's not always JUST the battery!
(2) In the winter, car batteries are forced to work harder to get your engine going. Cold temperatures thicken your engine’s oil, which makes it move more slowly. This increases the amount of power needed by your battery to kickstart important processes. If the amount of charge in your battery is already reduced by the cold weather, you may find yourself with a vehicle that’s unable to start. Also, the amount of technology you have in your car can take a big toll on the battery’s ability to do its job. Seat warmers, headlights, radio and electronic device chargers all demand power from the battery to start. This can be overwhelming and cause the battery to fail, especially if it’s older and already struggling to hold a charge.
Since your car’s battery is already working at a disadvantage during the winter months, you won’t be surprised to learn about the things that will almost guarantee your car’s battery dies when it’s a cold morning and you’re trying to hit the road.
Final thoughts
Your vehicle is a complex peace of machinery and there are many different possibilities to why your battery could fail, from something as simple as a loose cable, corrosion, and faulty wires or something complex like a failing alternator. Something to remember is a battery will not last forever and the only way to keep driving without worry is a proper maintenance plan.
We hope you learned something new!
Stay mobile my friends.
references:
(1): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_battery
(2): https://boyceautorepair.com/how-to-keep-your-car-battery-from-dying-in-cold-weather/ #:~:text=Winter%20weather%20is%20tough%20on,expensive%20tow%20in%20your%20future.
(3): https://www.chapelhilltire.com/does-the-cold-weather-kill-your-car-battery/
