Most of us think about our car battery during the winter, worried that our car won’t start in sub-freezing temperatures. But did you know that the summer heat can be just as bad — if not worse — for your car battery?
As the battery fluid evaporates in the high temperatures, it can cause all kinds of damage inside the battery itself. Heat can also cause battery corrosion — and who wants to start a road trip to the beach only to discover their car won’t start?
Obviously you can’t turn down the heat outside, so how do you take care of your battery in super hot weather? Here are a few ideas:
- Keep it clean. Clean dirt and grease off of the battery with a simple water and baking soda solution to reduce corrosion.
- Park in the shade. If you can, find cooler places to keep your car so it doesn’t overheat. Remember it can be up to 50 degrees hotter under the hood than it is outside!
- Next service appointment, ask for a battery check! If you aren’t sure how your battery is holding up, we can test it.