One thing that no car owner wants to deal with is a dead car battery. If you find yourself in this situation, here is everything you need to know brought to you by Huff Oil Group in Fayetteville, NC. 

What Causes a Car Battery to Die?

Car batteries can die out for many reasons. Some like having electrical problems can be hard to catch, and others like leaving your headlights or radio on are entirely preventable. A car battery can last anywhere from three to four years. One of the best ways of keeping your battery healthy is by having a regular maintenance routine where thy check it for corrosion or malfunctioning that could make it die out prematurely.

Having a regular maintenance routine for your car includes taking care of its battery. For additional maintenance steps and the best products for your engine, consult the oil experts at Huff Oil Group by calling them at (910) 988-9328. Once you’re ready to place your order, visit AMSOIL’s online shop.

What Are Some Causes of a Short Battery Lifespan?

There are a few reasons why you could have a dead car battery prematurely. Three of the most common ones are user error, climate factors, or your driving habits. Let’s dive into these a bit more.

User Error

A common reason for batteries to die out prematurely is user error. This might look like using the stereo when the car is parked, leaving the car’s lights on at night or for extended periods, or using any electrical component without letting the battery recharge. To avoid these scenarios, be mindful of your battery usage and give it enough time to recharge while driving to avoid draining it when parked.

Climate Factors

Climate can also be a factor in shortening your battery life. In places with hot temperatures, batteries tend to last for shorter periods as the liquids inside them evaporate, hurting your battery’s functioning. In this case, parking in places with good shade and ventilation can keep your battery from overheating.

Driving Habits

Another reason your battery might be drained is your driving habits. If you usually have commutes under 15 minutes, your battery might not have enough time to recharge. In the long run, this can shorten your battery life. Luckily the solution is easy; if your commutes are short, try taking the long way home a few times a week to give your car’s battery enough time to recharge.

To keep your vehicle in good condition for longer, use excellent products like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil. For this and many other fantastic products, call Huff Oil Group at (910) 988-9328 or visit their online store anytime!

Keep an Eye Out for These Signs of a Weak Battery

When batteries are running out, they tend to show signs before ultimately losing their charge. Some signs to keep an eye out for are:

• Your car takes longer to start.
• Your interior lights aren’t bright enough.
• Your battery is bulging, leaking, or has corrosion on the terminals.

These signs are enough to take your car into your trusted mechanic’s garage and have them check your battery to see how well it’s holding a charge and if it needs to be replaced.

How to Jump-Start a Car

It’s helpful to know what to do if you wake up one day and realize you have a dead car battery. Jump starting a car is easy, but you will need some equipment like jumper cables and a second car or a jump starter. Here are the steps to jump-start your vehicle:

1. Park your car and the other car close but make sure they’re not touching. Turn both cars off.
2. Pop the hood of both cars, locate the batteries and get your jumper cables.
3. Attach the jumper cables to your car’s battery (dead battery). First, the red clamp (+) to the positive terminal, then do the same with the working battery.
4. Next, clamp the black clamp (-) to the working battery’s negative terminal.
5. Clamp the remaining black clamp to an unpainted metal surface of the dead battery’s car.
6. Start the car with the working battery and then the other one.
7. Remove the cables in the reverse order you clamped them in.
8. Run the engine on both cars for a few minutes.
9. Take a 15-minute drive to help your car’s battery charge up again.

If this doesn’t work, you’ll need a new battery to replace the dead one and have your car up and running again.

We hope these tips help you avoid having a dead car battery. If you're looking for excellent products for your car, Huff Oil Group has the best ones to keep your car running for longer. Call them today at (910) 988-9328 or see AMSOIL’s full range of products in their online store.