Written By Marina Dawson

Let’s face it, you’ve spent a lot of money on all your toys. And the batteries you’ve purchased to run them aren’t cheap either. But how much time do you actually spend thinking about protecting your vehicles and your batteries? Just as your batteries need to be cleaned, charged, and stored properly, they also need proper protection from damage. And it goes without saying, so does your vehicle.

One of the first things you might want to consider is a battery surge protector. These devices are a great way to protect against damaging surges of power when jumpstarting or recharging your battery. Not only will they protect the battery itself, but also the charging system and your engine’s computer. Relatively inexpensive, these are a great addition to your toolshed and will give you a lot of peace of mind. Additionally, many will also monitor your battery’s charge, telling you when it is starting to run low. Another type of surge protector can be clamped right onto your battery in the engine and is used not only to protect against damaging surges, but also so that you don’t have to disconnect the battery to safely work in the vehicle. It also acts as a memory saver so you won’t lose all the information stored in your engine’s computer, including the clock, and radio settings.

A battery maintainer can also be an excellent device for protecting your battery from the damages of sulphation. They also protect against short circuits and polarity reversal, and because they don’t overcharge you won’t need to add water to the battery while it is in storage. Maintainers operate in a similar way to a float charge on a battery charger, sending a small but steady current of energy into your battery to prevent stratification and discharge. However, these handy little tools are small and convenient, making them an excellent choice for protecting your battery when it is in storage.

In order to protect your vehicle it is also important to recognize how your battery can be damaging. For instance, batteries that have a cracked or bulging case should be removed immediately from the engine and replaced with a new one. You should not be risking getting battery acid in the engine. Not only is it corrosive and extremely damaging, but it is also highly flammable. Additionally, when cleaning or testing your battery, you might want to consider removing it from the engine. This will prevent any accidental spills. The corrosive agents that form on the battery terminals should also not be allowed into your engine. If you don’t remove the battery for cleaning and testing, you’ll want to have a solution of baking soda and water on hand to immediately clean up any spills. To prevent corrosion under the hood, apply a light coating of water resistant wheel bearing grease or silicone to the terminals.

In addition to your battery, keep your engine in good shape. The alternator should be clean and free of cracks, and should be kept at the correct tension. Replace old cables that show signs of corrosion or swelling with cables of the correct size.

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