In winter conditions, at temperatures below -18 degrees, the battery recharging efficiency decreases due to an increase in its internal resistance. During short trips in winter, the energy expended by the battery to start the engine does not have time to recover, and the battery begins to wear out, gradually discharging and, in the end, fails irreversibly.
In the summer, on long trips, the engine becomes very hot and it often happens that it is difficult to start it again. For such «hot» startups sometimes consume as much battery power as in freezing weather. This applies especially to high-compression engines with large cylinder displacement, as well as to models equipped with a K / V system.
For more information about the battery, see Section Battery check and care Chapters Vehicle settings and routine maintenance.
Purchasing a new battery
The above indicates the importance of choosing the right battery, taking into account the parameters of the engine and vehicle equipment. When buying a new battery, you should pay attention to its performance:
- Rated output voltage. Has the same meaning (12 V) for all batteries used in passenger cars, which virtually eliminates the possibility of error.
- Capacity, measured in ampere-hours (A•h) and, roughly speaking, determining the amount of electricity contained in the battery. The choice of the value of this parameter determines how long the battery is able to provide the possibility of cranking the engine with a starter, more precisely, how many attempts to start the engine can be made. The price of a battery is almost directly proportional to its capacity.
- Starting current (A), i.e. current supplied to the starter when starting the engine. The amount of starting current on batteries can be indicated according to four different standards: GOST (for domestic batteries), EN (European standard), SAE (american standard) and DIN (Germany). The last, German standard, is closest to the Russian GOST and is affixed on most European-made batteries «default», i.e. when the standard system is not specified. The higher the starting current, the greater the speed the starter develops and the greater the torque it is able to transmit to the engine flywheel.
Ideally, the replacement battery you purchase should meet the performance requirements of the Specification to maximize battery life. Purchasing a battery with a smaller capacity can hardly be considered a good money saver, since it will last much less and, in addition, can lead to unpleasant troubles associated with starting the engine in the winter season. You should not purchase a battery with an excessively large starting current - such a hobby is associated with the risk of failure of the starter. If the standard battery does not crank the engine properly, it will be better to change the engine oil first - which will most likely lead to an automatic correction of the problem.
There are several signs by which it is possible with a sufficient degree of probability to distinguish the original from a fake. First and, perhaps, most importantly: the country of manufacture and the manufacturing plant must be indicated on the battery case, it is better if with an address. Second: the date of manufacture must be indicated, which is of particular importance for sealed batteries (unattended) type. The delivery set must include a technical passport, while the presence of instructions is not strictly required. Third: high-quality batteries have a good appearance. The housing must have smooth edges, be equipped with reliable plugs and smooth pole terminals covered with protective caps, which are often covered with a layer of special anti-corrosion grease.
Battery charge
Charge a failed battery in accordance with the charger manufacturer's instructions.