Is Your Battery Ready for Winter?
HOW LONG DOES YOUR VEHICLE'S BATTERY LAST?
The average battery lasts between two and five years.
Check on the battery to see when it was born. This is the start date for your battery not the date it was sold to you. It could have been resting on a trickle charge in the back of a store for up to a year.
The power output of a battery significantly decreases with temperature changes; at 35 degrees Fahrenheit, capacity drops 35 percent, at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it drops another 60 percent. A weak battery likely will not turn over past 4-5 cranks below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
HOW TO DO A QUICK BATTERY CHECK.
At night turn lights on start your engine, run it at idle until warms up, step on the gas, if you lights get even slightly brighter you have a dying battery.
HOW TO DO A FULL BATTERY CHECK.
You will need a multimeter. Multimeters can cost ten dollars or less. You only need a basic one. You can pick one up here on Amazon.
With the engine off, set your multimeter to any voltage setting above 15 volts and connect to the battery leads. A fully charged battery should measure at least 12.6 volts. Have someone start the engine. As you crank the engine make sure voltage doesn’t drop below 10 volts. Below 10 volts is a sign of a dying battery.
With the engine running, voltage should measure between 13.7 to 14.7 volts. Also make sure you clean up the battery cables for a corrosion-free, good connection. Wipe or spray the connection with a small amount MotorKote Hyper Lubricant. Wipe the cables down with MotorKote.
MOTORKOTE CAN HELP.
In extreme climates, consider a lower-viscosity 5W-40 oil. Ensure products meet OE specifications.
Add two ounces of MotorKote Hyper Lubricant per quart of your chosen motor oil in the crankcase.
MotorKote is a friction reducer and does not require heat to work, it works cold instantly. Your vehicle will start easier with less stress on the battery and warm up faster. You will have more pep right when you need it.
America's #1 Friction Fighter
MotorKote® Hyper Lubricant®
• Is safe & effective, period.
• Does NOT contain PTFE, silicone, graphite, molybdenum, or any other harmful substrate chemicals.
• Has NO long or short term corrosive effect on metal.
* In new vehicles - we recommend waiting to install Motorkote® Hyper Lubricant® until a period past the new car warranty period.
