Getting your Battery Ready for Winter

When temperatures plummet and snow is all around, a dead car battery can be a major inconvenience at best, and an emergency situation at worst. The best time to winterize your car and cover some battery basics is before the cold weather arrives.

Your automotive winterizing routine should include a full check-up and cold-weather prep for your car battery. Why? Because cold weather is hard on a car battery. In cold weather, your battery loses about 40% of its original capacity when the temperature reaches –40°C, while your engine requires up to 3 times as much power to turn over because the oil is so much thicker under cold weather conditions. This capacity is only further reduced by the normal wear and tear your battery endures throughout its life.

Here are a few tips to help get your battery ready for the season

• Clean your battery with warm, soapy water and dry the casing well.
• Remove the terminals and wire brush them and the battery posts with warm water and baking soda to remove any corrosion and any other debris/dirt that may have accumulated. Traces of dirt can trap moisture, especially during damp winter days. This moisture acts as a conductor along a path that normally doesn't conduct electricity at all, and can leak enough current between the battery posts to prematurely drain your battery.
• Re-attach the terminals and coat all exposed metal with petroleum jelly.
• Ensure all battery cables are in good condition.
• Some batteries need to have the fluid level checked. Distilled water is best. Do your best not to overfill battery cells.
• Utilize a trickle charger (such as 11-1543, or 11-1522) throughout the winter to keep your battery warm and fully charged.

As a general rule, batteries over four years old are more susceptible to cold temperatures. If your battery is four years old or more, it may be a good idea to bring your car in and get your battery checked. In the event that your battery is in need of replacing, here are a few tips to help you select the right battery for your vehicle, and a list of batteries available for you to purchase.

Selecting the Right Battery

In the event that your battery is in need of replacing, there are a few things to consider when selecting a battery:

Understanding Differences In Battery Technology

Standard Wet Cell Lead-Acid Battery

Conventional lead-acid batteries for a 12 volt system consist of six cells, each contributing approximately 2 volts. Each cell contains a positive lead plate, a negative lead plate and diluted sulfuric acid paste, and is designed to convert chemical energy into the power that starts a vehicle.

The average life of this type of battery is approximately 3 years. It is also the most affordable battery type since this is the most widely used technology. The broadest assortment of products, with the greatest application coverage, performance options and warranty offerings is available in this type of battery.

Spiral Grid Battery

The chemistry that creates this battery’s power is very similar to that of a conventional battery. However, innovative design changes allow this battery type to offer features and benefits that standard lead acid batteries do not. Each cell in Spiral Grid batteries (still comprised of lead plates with sulphuric acid and water) is wound up tightly, through an Advanced High-Compression Cell Design. This makes the internal components of each cell immobile and helps the battery resist the effects of vibration. The format of the battery acid inside these batteries is also different. The acid paste is “free" within the case of standard lead-acid batteries, while in Spiral Grid batteries the paste is actually absorbed into a sponge-like material called an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). This technology and the completely sealed design of the battery allow it to be installed in any configuration (horizontally, vertically or sideways) and render it spill and leak proof, making it safer for you and the environment.

Because of the AGM cell design, the spiral grid battery is able to resist vibration 17 times better than a conventional lead-acid battery, lengthening the battery life span by two times that of a conventional lead-acid battery. It recharges in as little as one hour and maintains a greater percentage of charge over extended periods of inactivity.

Selecting the Appropriate Battery Technology

Standard Lead Acid Batteries
(Sure Start, Motomaster 72, Eliminator)

• Average life is approximately 3-4 years
• Have the broadest assortment of products, with the greatest application coverage, performance options and warranty offerings
• Are the most affordable since this is a well-established and widely used technology
• Are still used by the majority of Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEMs) in their vehicles today

Spiral Grid Batteries
(Eliminator Spiral Grid)

• Advanced High Compression cell design allows the battery to resist vibration 17 times better than a conventional lead acid battery, and have twice the life span
• Contain a valve regulated system that captures the hydrogen and oxygen produced and “recycles" them to form the battery’s water supply, eliminating the need for water content maintenance
• Have a shorter recharge time – as little as 1 hour – compared to conventional lead-acid batteries
• Maintain a greater percentage of charge over extended periods of time
• Feature AGM technology and a completely sealed design allowing any installation configuration (horizontally, vertically, or sideways) and renders the battery spill- and leak proof to be safer for you and the environment.

Selecting the Battery That Fits Your Vehicle:

Battery group size indicates the battery size that will best fit the physical dimensions of your vehicle. You can find this information in the Motomaster Electronic look-up unit located on the battery rack, the Motomaster battery catalogue, in your vehicles Owner’s Manual, or check with our Automotive Parts staff, who will be happy to look it up for you.

Selecting the Proper Cold Cranking Amps (CCA):

CCA is an indication of battery power. It is important that you select a battery that has a high enough CCA rating to allow you to turn over your engine under colder temperatures. For newer vehicles, the CCA rating will be similar to that of the battery originally installed in your car. For vehicles with substantial aftermarket electronics, and older vehicles (electrical systems lose some efficiency over the years, and now require more power to perform the same task) it is recommended to purchase a battery with a higher CCA rating. As a general rule, the higher the CCA rating, the better your battery will be able to perform in sub-zero conditions.

Determine what length of warranty best suits your needs.

The chart below includes information on both CCA ratings, and the length of warranty of our Automotive Battery assortment.

If Battery Problems do occur this winter, make sure you are prepared by ensuring you have a booster pack, battery charger or booster cables so that you can get back on the road as quickly as possible.