Car Battery Blanket Views

General Goods

Extremes in temperatures are probably the single biggest factor which can decrease average car battery life. Look into buying a battery blanket or thermal insulator. If you live in an area that regularly sees temperatures below freezing, you should look into a thermal blanket that is also a battery heater. Additionally, if you live in this type of environment, you should also purchase an engine block heater. Cold oil doesntrs"t flow very easily and will add drag to your engine, putting increased strain on your battery, decreasing your car battery life expectancy.

Another neat tool is a battery blanket - the automotive equivalent of a heating pad. This device attaches to the battery itself and pre-warms the battery prior to starting. Increasing the temperature of the battery significantly increases its cranking power, so having a battery blanket on hand could mean the difference between successfully starting the car and being stranded.

Place a thick blanket and hot water bottles on the battery. This is an inexpensive way to keep the battery warm during the night and will not raise your electric bills. Fill two water bottles with hot water and stopper carefully. Wrap the bottles in a thick blanket and place over the battery in the engine compartment. Remember to remove the bottles and blanket before starting the car.

Your original battery had enough room surrounding it for a simple plastic insulating blanket. This device is intended not only to keep your battery warm on cold nights--which it does--but also to keep the battery cool on hot days. Modern cars restrict the amount of air flowing through the engine compartment to improve both aerodynamic efficiency and economy. New engine compartments are pretty crowded. The elevated temperatures are enough to boil the electrolyte right out of the battery--hence, the simple insulator. Installing a bigger battery means there is no room for the insulation, which translates to short battery life, especially in warmer climates. You should try to rig up some insulation for your new battery, or at least replace the giant battery with one that permits the insulator to be reinstalled.