Tips to maintain car batteries

Inspect the battery and auto-electrical system regularly. The battery indicator on the dashboard is first (in some cars) and foremost indicator of the health of your battery. Another way of checking the status of your battery is to use a multimeter. Typically, a reading less than 11.5 means that the battery needs to be recharged.

When you start your car, your battery gets a workout, but it is then charged up by the engine during the trip. So, if you only drive a short distance, the battery will be unable to regain the amount of power lost – and if you repeat the process daily, the battery voltage will steadily decrease until it can no longer start the car.

Maintain the power of your car's battery by driving it frequently (start vehicle for around 10 minutes) and for longer periods of time – and if you don't use your car very often, consider investing in a Bosch battery charger to help maintain the proper voltage.

Car batteries thrive when they are kept close to 100 percent charged, so leaving your headlights or interior lights on while the engine is turned off is a no-no. Always ensure that all accessories are turned off before exiting the vehicle, and double-check that the lights are turned off as you walk away.

Make sure your battery's top is clean, dry, and free of dirt and grime. A dirty battery can discharge all over the gunk on top of the casing, resulting in a mild short circuit and eventually flattening the battery.

The battery terminals will corrode over time as well, so keeping them clean and free of build-up is an amazing way to extend the life of your car battery. Always ensure that the vent hole is clean and not blocked by dust.

Here are a couple of additional tips & tricks to ensure longevity of your car battery -

• Do not use grease on cables, clamps, & terminals. Use petroleum jelly.
• Add demineralised water in case of a drop in the electrolyte level.

Get superior performance and excellent reliability with the Bosch range of 12V, AGM & SLI Batteries & Chargers for Bikes, Cars & Commercial vehicles.