Dogs Days of Summer

Summer's warmth beckons with road trips, beach days, and windows-down adventures. But as the dog days of summer approach, a hidden danger lurks beneath the hood. The scorching heat can make your car battery bark, leaving you stranded and frustrated. While winter often gets the blame for battery issues, the reality is that summer's high temperatures are far more damaging.

Understanding the Chemistry
Car batteries rely on a delicate balance of chemical reactions. Inside, lead plates bathe in an electrolyte solution, generating electricity through oxidation-reduction. The ideal operating temperature for this process is around 80°F. Beyond that, things start to unravel.

Heat's Devastating Impact

1. Evaporation: As temperatures climb, the electrolyte solution evaporates at an alarming rate. This exposes the lead plates, leading to internal damage and reduced lifespan. Imagine your battery slowly losing its lifeblood, weakening with every hot day.
2. Corrosion: Heat accelerates corrosion, causing harmful deposits to build up on the battery's internal components. This hinders the efficient flow of electricity, reducing your battery's ability to hold a charge. Think of corrosion as rust eating away at the battery's functionality.
3. Sulfation: Tiny sulfate crystals form on the lead plates during normal operation. While regular charging usually breaks these down, heat exacerbates the process, leading to larger, more stubborn crystals that impede power generation. Imagine your battery becoming clogged with these crystals, choking its ability to produce electricity.

The Domino Effect
These individual effects combine to create a domino effect. A weakened, corroded, and sulfated battery struggles to crank your engine, leading to slow starts or complete failure. This can leave you stranded at the most inconvenient moments, potentially ruining your summer plans and creating a stressful ordeal.

Protecting Your Battery
Fortunately, you're not powerless against summer's heat. Here are some proactive steps you can take:

1. Park in the Shade: Whenever possible, park in shaded areas to minimize direct sunlight exposure. This can significantly reduce the battery's internal temperature.
2. Keep it Clean: Dust and grime act as insulators, trapping heat around the battery. Regularly clean the battery compartment to improve airflow and heat dissipation.
3. Maintain Your Electrical System: Ensure all electrical connections are clean and tight to minimize energy loss and prevent further strain on the battery.
4. Consider a Battery Test: Before summer's peak, get your battery tested. This proactive approach can identify potential issues early on, allowing you to address them before they leave you stranded.
    

Don't Leave Pets in the Car
As temperatures rise, it's crucial to remember the dangers of leaving pets in parked cars. Within minutes, temperatures can soar to life-threatening levels, putting your furry friends at severe risk of heatstroke or worse. Even with the windows cracked, a car can heat up rapidly. On an 85°F day, the temperature inside a car with the windows slightly open can reach 102°F in 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, it can climb to 120°F or more. If you need to run errands, it's best to leave your pets at home where they are safe and cool. If you must take them with you, never leave them unattended in the car, even for a few minutes.

Don't let the heat make your battery bark and steal your summer joy. Take charge and protect your battery! Remember, a little care goes a long way in keeping your vehicle on the road and your summer plans on track. Contact AAA Mobile Battery Service today for a FREE battery test. Their expert technicians will quickly assess your battery's health and provide valuable insights into its condition. With this knowledge, you can confidently embark on your summer adventures, knowing your car is ready to handle the heat!

Visit AAA.com/Battery or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to schedule your free battery test. Don't wait until it's too late – take control and ensure a worry-free summer season.

*With some exceptions, AAA batteries are available for most vehicle makes and models. Mobile battery replacement is not available in all areas. Member pays for battery. Some battery installations may require additional fees.