The winter cold can make many things more difficult. In fact, it can even affect your car battery's lifespan. To keep your battery working well all winter long, use these battery care tips.

Cold Weather and Your Car Battery

If you wouldn't think of leaving your home with your cellphone battery nearly dead, then don't do it with your car's battery either. It's no secret that the winter cold can take a real toll on your battery and potentially leave you stranded, so why risk it? To prevent getting stranded due to a dead battery, use these tips to keep your car battery healthy.

Test Your Battery

Ideally, testing your battery should be taken care of during the fall. Since the weather isn't as cold in the fall, you still have a chance to test your battery before it gets worn down by the weather. This gives you plenty of time to act before the winter arrives. If you haven't tested your battery yet, you can still do it. Keep in mind that most batteries last up to five years before they start giving you trouble. Signs of trouble will let you know that your battery is near its end, but they don't always let you know when they're close to dying. This is why getting your battery tested is a must. If your battery doesn't have much power left, get it changed as soon as you can since the winter cold can wear it down much faster.

Clean Things Up

The cold weather can put extra strain on your battery as it tries to do its job. The cold alone, however, isn't the only thing that can add extra strain. If your battery's connections are dirty or have corrosion on them, this won't help. In fact, your battery may feel some resistance as a result of this buildup, making it strain even more. This winter, clean up your battery's connections, removing corrosion, dirt, and any other debris you find. Once things are clean, tighten the connections so that your battery has an easier time performing its job.

Keep Things Warm

It's hard to stay warm during the winter because outdoor temperatures reach their lowest of the year. You may make an extra effort to stay warm and toasty, so why not do the same for your car? Keeping it out in the cold overnight can make starting your car in the morning harder, so take some precautions to avoid a battery that won't start. If possible, park your car in the garage or in a covered space where it is protected from the wind and the elements. If you don't have a covered space, a car cover can help keep things warmer. It can also help to park your car facing east, which is where the sun rises. As the sun comes up, it'll warm up the front of your car a bit quicker. These minimal changes can make all the difference as you try to start your car in the morning. During the winter, giving your car a synthetic oil change in Williston can help reduce some of the added strain on your battery. Since synthetic oil change doesn't become thick in the cold like conventional oil, it'll have an easier time flowing through your engine. This means a more efficient engine and less strain on your battery. To find a great synthetic oil for your car, click here to purchase AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil. To find more products like this, contact the friendly oil experts at Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc at (701) 572- 3780.

Give It Time to Start

When you get in your car and you turn the key in the ignition, you may automatically also turn on the heater, turn on the lights, and turn up the radio. Unfortunately, doing all of this as soon as your battery starts can put even more strain on it. Give the alternator a chance to start charging your battery before you give it an even heavier load to take care of. Once you start driving, pull away slowly so that your engine and engine oil have a chance to warm up and reduce the strain on your battery.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Williston, ND This Winter

Keep your engine well protected this winter with a synthetic oil change in Williston, ND. To find a great synthetic oil for your car, contact the friendly oil pros at Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc. at (701) 572- 3780. They'll be happy to help you find the right products for your next oil change.