Will My Battery Survive Winter?

With the winter driving season approaching, many drivers might be wondering if the battery in their vehicle will continue to provide them with reliable service or leave them stranded on a cold, snowy night. Although there is no sure fire way to predict when a battery will ultimately fail, there are some steps that can be taken to help ensure reliable service. 

The first step is a simple visual inspection of the battery to make sure the terminal connections are clean and free of corrosion and that there are no signs of damage or leaks. It is also important to ensure that the battery tray is free of debris and the battery hold-down is secure.

The second step is an inspection of the vehicle's electrical system. The following items should be checked:

Determine the battery's state of charge and state of health by testing the battery with a conductance-type tester or subjecting it to a physical load test.

Check the output of the alternator. Proper output is necessary to operate the vehicle's electrical demands and to maintain the battery's charge.

Check the cranking motor for proper operation and electrical draw.

Check all cables within the electrical system for excessive voltage drops.

Determine if the battery is properly sized (Cold Cranking Amps and Reserve Capacity) for the vehicle.

Battery Storage

There are many questions about how to properly store and charge a battery. (Fig. 4) During storage, a slow chemical reaction takes place inside the battery that causes it to lose charge over time. This is referred to as self-discharge.

Fig. 4

The rate of self-discharge varies directly with the temperature in which the battery is stored. To reduce the rate of self-discharge, batteries should be stored in a cool place. If in storage for extended periods of time, charging with a constant voltage, variable current taper rate charger is recommended when the open circuit voltage of the batteries drops below 12.3V. "Trickle charging" should not be used to keep batteries in a charged condition when in storage.

If batteries are going to be stored in an area that will subject them to freezing, they should be fully charged before being placed in storage. A fully charged ACDelco battery has a freezing point of -60 degrees F or lower.

There are no issues with storing an ACDelco battery on concrete. ACDelco battery cases are made of polypropylene, which will not allow current drain to the concrete. Many early style batteries used hard rubber cases that were somewhat porous and had a high carbon content, which would allow the battery to discharge if placed on concrete.

Customer Questions

Here are a couple of questions customers may ask regarding the health of their batteries.

Q - Is summer or winter harder on a battery?

A - The summer heat is much more detrimental to batteries. Heat speeds up the chemistry that occurs within the battery and can accelerate conditions such as grid growth, grid corrosion, and plate shed, which may ultimately lead to battery failure.

Q - I accidentally left my headlights on and now my battery is "dead." Should I replace it?

A - A battery that has become discharged can usually be recharged and placed back into service.

- Thanks to Mike DeSander and Dennis Kissack