Keeping battery good in cold weather

antbarbato · January 2, 2016

I will be bringing my truck to school (Washington D.C. area) this semester and I am a little concerned about keeping the battery from dying in the cold weather. I leave my truck in a parking garage and can really only drive it on weekends - so once a week. Is there anything I can do to prevent my battery from not having enough juice to start my truck when the temperatures get cold? Thanks for any help!!

Bob D · January 2, 2016

No secret. Many of us live in climes much colder without issue.

Make sure connections are clean.

Check water level, add if needed (distilled of course).

Make sure you have no aftermarket devices that may run when engine is off and drain the batt.

If your battery is <5 yr.s old, you should be fine.

CapitalTruck · January 3, 2016

I live in Northeast DC, you won't have a problem. I just buy a new battery every four years, whether or not a new one is indicated. You won't have any problems. What school you going to, Maryland?

Spurshot · January 5, 2016

If you have 110v power where it is garaged, there are heating pads available for batteries, oil pans, transmissions, and engine blocks. https://www.wolverineheater.com/Oil-Battery-and-Transmissions-Heaters-Car-Light-Truck-s/1814.htm

But, the comments above are steering you right.

kstruckcountry · January 5, 2016

I switched to an AGM battery recently, it seems to cold start better now. I used to have the truck sit for a week or to and never had any issues, even in single digits.

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Nanotech Environmental · January 5, 2016

If you have access to a 110v recept close to the truck, an optimate charger is your best bet of all, not that you really need it. These things can double or triple the life of a regular lead acid battery. Granted, it really doesn't get cold enough in the DC area to worry about cold starts.
If you were going to school in Yellowknife NT, or Anchorage AK in the winter, then you'd need to take precautions....