How long should a car battery last?

Hello, dear blog readers and regular subscribers! We all know that a serviceable battery guarantees a stable start of the engine in almost any weather, well, perhaps, with the exception of the most severe frosts (see material on the topic). In this regard, we need information about the life of a car battery that has real practical value for the driver.

Unfortunately, no battery (battery) lasts forever, and every few years we will have to dispose of it, replacing it with a new one. Manufacturers usually guarantee a period of up to 5 years, during which the battery should not cause serious problems to the car owner. The minimum period is about 3 and a half years, since much depends on the intensity of exploitation and its features.

The battery may draw more power than specified in the product data sheet. The constant overdischarge mode leads to the fact that the battery life is steadily reduced. Sometimes even 8-16 hours is not enough to bring the battery back to life, so before calculating its resource, make sure that it is as charged as possible.

What affects the service life

Everyone knows the truth that the maximum amount of energy the battery spends at the time of starting the power unit. Therefore, for short trips, she simply does not have time to recover, especially if the driver often stops and turns off the engine. The same can be said about driving with the air conditioner on. The stereo system, devices powered through the cigarette lighter, a rechargeable phone actively discharge the battery, not to mention external lighting devices. The battery is able to restore its balance qualitatively only when driving over long distances.

Reduce battery life and passive consumers: an alarm with a work indicator, an on-board computer, a door opening system, and so on. They work even during the period of time when the car is parked or in the garage. In order not to discharge the battery, simply discard the negative terminal - this technique can be used if you plan not to operate the car for a long time.

Influence of high and low temperature

Weather conditions, in particular air temperature, also affect the average battery life. Frost adversely affects the viscosity of the electrolyte, and this, in turn, increases the resistance of the passing charge. As a result, such unfavorable processes are observed as:

• freezing (thickening) of the electrolyte;
• shedding of electrodes;
• capacity reduction;
• body deformation;
• reduction in service life with simultaneous failure.

On the other hand, how many years your battery will last is also affected by high air temperature. It leads to the evaporation of the liquid inside the cans, which leads to undercharging and overdischarging, and increases the likelihood of corrosion processes. There is an acceptable battery discharge level, which is no more than 25% in winter, and no more than 50% in summer.

How long should a battery last

Frequent use of an undercharged battery will degrade its performance. As you can see, the performance properties of such equipment are affected by a whole set of processes and factors. The battery fails the fastest in cars that are used for taxis, where the service life may not exceed 1–1.5 years. But there are situations when the driver manages to drive on one battery for 6 or more years.

Despite the fact that there is a concept of a warranty period of service, which the manufacturer must comply with. The Ministry of Transport has set a certain standard. It is regulated by the document RD-3112199–1089-02. This guidance document deals with the service life of lead-acid batteries in various vehicles.

This is in demand when calculating depreciation and writing off car batteries by service life.

In order to increase the life of your battery, you need to properly care for it. It would be useful to check the voltage level at the battery terminals 1-2 times a month using a load plug. It is also necessary to check the electrolyte level and, if necessary, bring it to normal, as well as the density using a simple device called a hydrometer. Also take a look at the article