Category Archives: Car Maintenance

Ever made an effort to jump-start your car battery and was surprised that it was covered in gunk? If perhaps you were wondering what the glop was, it was battery decay, formed by acid condensation. Luckily, to clear out the acid build-up, you just need to utilize a basic chemical solution. A typical household product, which is baking soda, can clean battery acid very easily. Cleaning your battery isn’t really very difficult to carry out but you should take necessary precautions.

Baking Soda Solution

You have got to first obtain the supplies you need, most of which can be found in your home. You basically need safety glasses covering your eyes, baking soda, adjustable pliers and screwdrivers with insulated handles, and a stiff-bristled brush. Additionally, you will need open-end and box wrenches, some sort of scraper either metal or plastic, cleaning brushes for the battery terminal and a turkey baster or small funnel. You should also have some sponges, spray-type household cleaner, rubber gloves along with a bucket of clean water. This can seem like numerous things for cleaning a battery, but we did say doing it safely.

Because the corroding deposits contain sulfuric acid, it is advisable to use rubber gloves and safety glasses. You should also make sure that the deposits avoid getting on the car since it will damage the paint. Determined by how corroded the battery might be, the amount of cleaning that is needed will vary. To be able to fully get rid of the dirt and corrosion, you will need to take the battery out of the vehicle. First, take the plastic or metal scraper to get off whatever dirt you are able to, and also use the bristle brush.

Cleaning Steps

The next step usually is to combine one tablespoon of baking soda with a pint of water and apply the solution to the battery and the cable connection using the funnel or turkey baster. Work the formula of baking soda directly into the heavily corroded places with the brush, and disconnect the battery cables from the terminals for easier cleaning. You can remove the cables, starting with negative first then positive, using the pliers and wrenches. Brush aside every last bit of oxidation from the terminals and all of the parts, and then flush each one with the baking soda solution.

Now use the liquid cleaner inside the spray bottle, and a sponge to get rid of the remaining dirt and grease. Immediately after, dry all of the parts and reassemble everything and be sure you reconnect the cable with positive first. Make sure things are all secure and you now have a clean, safe battery.

Perhaps you may need to perform some extra prepping for your car so it is ready for the winter months. During severe winter weather, you will have some issues that could arise. If you have a newer vehicle, it may not matter much but you should still be cautious. It can save you a considerable amount of money if you decide to use all of these tips, or at least some of them.

Check Your Tires

The cold weather might lead to your winter tires to deflate quickly so keep an eye on the pressure regularly. You’re going to get better gas mileage when your tire has the right pressure, and it will give you a less chance of getting a flat tire. Make sure that your gas tank is higher than a quarter full. With older cars, the gasoline lines normally would freeze if the tank was not at least a quarter full though newer cars don’t have this problem. You need to hold enough gas in the tank, in case you become stranded. Make sure that you have an emergency kit that contains cold weather equipment like gloves and hats. It’s also wise to have jumper cables, flashlight, flares along with essential tools.

Check Fluid Levels

You must also look at the fluid levels before cold weather rolls around. If you reside in an area that has gone below freezing, you will need to make sure your cooling system is in check. Typically the majority of the expensive engine breakdowns originate from cooling system failures. Verify the antifreeze level on a regular basis throughout the winter. It is advisable to in addition have liquid for your windshield washer that will not freeze during the winter. It’s also wise to have your battery pack checked to determine if it can last through the winter. Get rid of any corrosion on your battery terminals, or your car might not start. The life expectancy of a battery is shorter with serious cold weather. Always make sure that you have jumper cables in your car if the battery dies.

Change Oil

Experts recommend to have your oil changed prior to winter even when it is not time yet. If you have an older car, using a light weight oil helps keep the parts in your car lubricated. Newer cars and trucks usually use lighter weight oil all year-long. You may even want to swap your wiper blades for the wintertime as well. The new blades will probably be more useful in wiping off the ice and slush that collects. You should also get the snow tires on also for the traction. At the very least use a good all season radial tire.

You should definitely get all of this done before the winter weather hits. If you are not diligent, you may find yourself in a heap of trouble in the thick of winter. You shouldn’t procrastinate, go ahead and take action before the mad rush begins.