How to extend the life of your semi truck battery?
Problems with the vehicle battery are the main cause of breakdowns that occur on the road. Therefore, it is very important to take into account the factors that affect its performance. The battery is a vital part for the proper functioning of our semi truck, but we do not always know what to do to make the most of its useful life.
That is why at Express Fleet Services we have prepared this post in which we give you some simple and practical tips on how to extend the life of your semi truck’s battery and how to keep it in the best conditions.
Factors Affecting Your Performance
The performance and useful life of a semi truck battery is directly related to the charge and discharge cycles to which it is subjected. For example, sudden changes in speed, driving at low revolutions, seasonal changes in temperature and additional devices that we have in our vehicle affect its performance.
Winter is one of the seasons that most contributes to the aging of our semi truck’s battery. This is because the motor will need more battery and the hours of consumption of heating, chargers, GPS, computers, etc. They are longer than in summer.
How long does a semi truck battery last?
The life of a semi truck battery usually varies depending on the maintenance and care we give it. In general, a battery that is well maintained and used properly can remain in operation for up to 4 years.
To know if the useful life of our battery is ending we will have to look at:
- The pilot lights located on the dashboard that indicate failures.
- If the terminals are deteriorated and oxidized.
- If failures occur when booting.
- Any of these signs are a good reason to go to a semi truck workshop where they tell us what exactly is happening to the vehicle and what measures we must take to solve it.
Tips to extend battery life
To avoid suffering stoppages with your semi truck on the highway caused by battery failures, it is very important to follow some recommendations:
- Clean and tighten the terminals properly.
- Check the electrolyte level if necessary.
- Charge electronic devices when the semi truck is running.
- Before stopping, prepare the cabin so as not to abuse the air conditioning or heating.
- Once stopped, avoid using elements that are not necessary.
- Avoid turning on internal and external lights whenever they are not necessary.
- As long as the batteries can be recharged with an external charger, since with the alternator they only charge up to 90%.
- Turn off all lights before turning off the semi truck.
- Check the battery every 4000 or 5000 km.
- Follow the advice of the battery manufacturer.
- Buy good quality batteries.
However, even if we follow all these tips and take care of maintaining and caring for our battery, we must not forget that it is very important to go to an official workshop to have its condition checked and replaced if necessary. In this way we will avoid any problem on the road.
In Express Fleet Services we have a workshop specialized in semi semi trucks. We have the best tools to work with your semi truck and leave it in perfect condition. We repair and carry out the maintenance of elements that are so important for the proper functioning of the semi truck, such as the engine, the battery, the brakes, the steering, the lights, the clutch, the exhaust pipe, the oil change or the tires.
Having each of these elements in good condition will make our semi truck work perfectly. For this reason, it is essential to have a reliable workshop in which they take care of all the mechanical part of the semi truck. Contact us now and visit our shop.
