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April is National Car Care Month, a campaign created by the non-profit, Car Care Council, aimed to educate motorists about vehicle maintenance and repair. National Car Care Month according to the Council’s website, means “it is time to get your car ready for spring driving and summer road trips!”
Your battery, in addition to tires, brakes and wipers, should also be checked for readiness. As you begin to prepare your vehicle battery for the warmer weather, be sure to keep these maintenance tips in mind:
All batteries should be kept clean. If the battery needs to be cleaned, disconnect it. Neutralize the acid accumulation with diluted ammonia or a paste of one part water to three parts baking soda. Clean the deposits on the terminals with a battery terminal brush and additional grime from the battery’s exterior and cable clamps with water. When the battery is reconnected, coat the terminals with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent deposits from accumulating again.
Inspect the case, terminals, cables and clamps. Battery components can be damaged from acid and corrosion. Replace damaged cables and clamps, but if the case or terminals are damaged, the battery itself should be replaced.
Check the battery’s charge. Keeping the battery at full charge will prevent sulfation, which interferes with the battery’s ability to hold a charge. After the engine is off for at least six hours, measure the battery’s charge with a voltmeter to determine the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV). The manufacturer’s specifications will provide the OCV that corresponds to 100 percent State of Charge (SoC). If a charge is necessary, consult the battery manufacturer’s specifications for the proper level of charge.
Follow these steps to ensure the battery’s performance through the fall. If replacement is needed, a high-quality battery improves the car’s dependability.
As always, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for battery care and handling and direct any questions to your battery professional.
ODYSSEY® batteries are manufactured with proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology, allowing the pure lead plates to be made thinner so more fit inside the battery case, providing more surface area for the most power in a given group size and ample cranking even at low Depth of Discharge (DOD). They can perform in extreme temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C) to as high as 140°F (60°C) and offer greater cycle life for frequent deep discharges that can occur when powering on-board accessories. Unlike conventional flooded lead acid batteries, virtually maintenance-free, non-spillable Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) ODYSSEY® batteries are sealed and do not require watering.
This year, EnerSys® marks 25 years of ODYSSEY® battery production. To follow the ODYSSEY® battery 25th Anniversary journey, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by using the hashtag #MYODYSSEY.
ABOUT ENERSYS®
EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the recent NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries, which are sold across all three lines of business. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.