You may not think about your car's battery often, and when you do it's because it has some sort of issue. To avoid battery-related issues, use these tips to care for it all year long.

Battery Care Tips

Your car's battery is super important if you want your car to continue running well. You may not stop to consider how your battery is doing or if it needs some maintenance. If you want your battery to have a longer life and keep your car running for a good amount of time, then maintenance will be needed. To learn how to care for your battery, use the tips below.

Clean the Battery

Many people don't realize it, but their battery terminals can develop debris over time. This can be made up of corrosion, rust, and just general buildup. This can get in the way of your battery properly performing its job since it won't be properly connected. If you notice that the terminals or connections don't look clean, then it's definitely time to tidy this up. Not only will this help reduce the strain on your battery, but it can also help extend its life.

Keep It Tightly Connected

Another issue you may not notice unless you inspect your battery closely is that your battery's connections can get loose. If it's not tightly connected, this can, again, make it harder for your battery to perform its job. Another thing to look out for is that your battery is properly mounted. If it isn't, your battery may be vibrating or moving around while you drive, which can cause damage to it. If you drive on bumpy roads, it's worth getting your battery checked often to ensure its properly secured.

Test Your Battery

Knowing how old your battery is can help you be more prepared because you'll know around when it's due to be changed. In general, batteries last between three and five years, but this will also depend on other conditions. Whether you know how old your battery is or not, it's still good practice to check its voltage level. This will give you a better idea of the condition your battery is in so you know when you should plan to change it. To reduce the strain on your battery, it can help to keep the rest of your car in great shape. To keep your engine running strong, give your car a synthetic oil change in Minneapolis. An oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil can get the job done so that your battery can do its job more easily. You can find more great products like this by contacting the oil pros at All Service Oil. Give them a call at (763) 257-3130 or visit their online store to learn more or to place your order!

Take Care of the Entire Car

The battery is just one part of your car, but its lifespan doesn't depend on just its care. You also have to take proper care of your entire car in order to maximize your battery's life. By properly caring for all its other parts and systems, you can help reduce unnecessary strain on your battery that can reduce its lifespan.

Turn off the Lights

It happens way more often than you think. You turn the light on in your car to look for something and forget to turn the light off as you exit your car and leave it for the night. Or you leave the headlights or emergency lights on. This simple mistake can lead your battery to lose power and leave you stranded. If this is something that has happened to you, do your best to remember to turn off all of the lights. Go through a mental checklist every time you leave your car to avoid draining your battery.

Avoid Short Trips

Finally, taking very short trips in your car can actually put extra strain on your battery. Since these short trips won't allow your battery to fully charge, they're less than ideal for its lifespan. Similarly, if you don't use your car often, your battery may not start up the next time you want to use it. A portable charger can get you out of a sticky situation like this, so add this to your tool kit.

Take Care of Your Car With a Synthetic Oil Change in Minneapolis

Give your car a synthetic oil change in Minneapolis to ensure your engine is able to work at its best. To find quality synthetic oil your engine will love, contact the friendly oils pros at All Service Oil. Give them a call at (763) 257-3130 to learn more or to place your order!