Choosing the Top Battery for Your Car

A car’s battery is responsible for starting the engine and all the electrical systems in your car. A high-quality battery will last you a long time if you take proper care of it. Even the top car batteries lose their power after a few years. Cold temperatures can be damaging to batteries as they may lose more than half of their charge, and they use up most of their power to start the engine or heat the interior of the car. For this reason, you should ensure that you get your car’s battery checked regularly, especially if you’re planning to go on a long road trip. You also need to know which kind of battery is suitable for your car’s model. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best battery for your car.

The Basics

First, you need to find a battery with the right capacity for your car. There’s a specific kind of battery for every car model, so consult your mechanic or check the car’s manual if you choose to replace the battery yourself. Even at the beginning before you get your car, certain information can be beneficial to you. According to the information found on myautoloan.com, a new car will have parts in different conditions than that of a used car, naturally. So as you get information to get a new car, you should also ask about the details of the condition of the parts as well. If you can’t do it yourself, you need to visit a reliable car dealership. Search online for good dealerships near you, and read the customers' reviews for guidance or ask your friends for recommendations. You want to get a quality brand battery for your car to avoid any power failures on the road.

Most quality car batteries will last up to 5 years, and this kind will be expensive. If you’re planning to keep the car for a long time, you better not skimp on the battery. Ask for the warranty period of the battery as quality products usually have longer warranties. Make sure to test your battery every year and before long rides to make sure it will keep your car running. Regular checkups are also a good indicator of when you need to replace your car’s battery.

Battery Power

There are two important aspects to a car’s battery that you need to be aware of. To get the best rated car battery, you need to know about its cold cranking amps or CCA and reserve capacity or RC. CCA calculates the power of your battery when it ignites the engine in cold weather. To measure this, the battery is subjected to freezing temperatures and then its performance is tested and evaluated. The CCA of your battery has to comply with the requirements of your car.

The RC metric calculates how long a battery can run a car if the alternator or the car’s electric generator stops working. It also indicates the reserve power of the battery that can turn on the electrical system in the car when the engine is turned off. This metric is tested by measuring the time it takes the battery at a 100% charge, that is, 12.6 volts, to drop its charge to 10.5 volts, or 0% charge. When the charge is that low, this means that the battery cannot start the car’s engine unless it’s jump-started. A good RC measure will indicate the battery’s capacity to run the car for 2 hours or more.

Both items are written on the battery label, so make sure to check them out before you purchase the battery. You also need to check your car’s manual to find the right CCA and RC metrics for your car.

Battery Checkup

If you weren’t planning on keeping your car for a long time, you might’ve considered getting a cheap battery. This type of battery requires regular maintenance. Make sure to get your battery checked for electrolyte levels as you may need to top them up. On the other hand, if you’re keeping your car for a long time, then consider getting the more expensive maintenance-free battery. This kind doesn’t require a regular checkup for electrolytes. However, it’s still recommended to perform a battery checkup once a year.

Make sure to check the production date on the battery; it’s usually written on the battery’s label in a month/year format. Before replacing your old battery, compare it with the new battery in terms of its size and shape to ensure it’s the right match.

Before making your decision, you need to figure out how often and in what conditions you’ll be driving your car. Extremely hot weather can lead to plate erosion and depletion of electrolytes at a faster rate, and cold climates can affect your battery’s life expectancy as well. Consider all the different conditions you’ll be driving in in order to purchase the right battery for your car.