Answer
Sep 18, 2025 - 02:46 PM
If you're putting a car into hibernation or long-term storage, battery maintenance is key to avoid coming back to a dead one — or worse, a damaged one. Here's how to do it right:
- Disconnect it (or not): If the car’s sitting for over a month and you don’t need anything powered (like a security system), disconnect the negative terminal. That stops parasitic drain. But if you do want to keep memory settings or alarm active, go for a battery maintainer instead.
- Use a battery maintainer/trickle charger: Best option hands down. Hook it up and let it do its thing — it’ll keep the battery topped off without overcharging it. Just make sure it's a smart one with float mode.
- Keep it clean & dry: Dirt, dust, and corrosion can cause slow drains. Wipe the terminals, apply a little dielectric grease or petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion, and keep it in a dry space.
- Charge it fully before storage: Don’t leave a half-dead battery to sit. Charge it to full first — sulfation sets in faster when voltage is low.
- Avoid freezing temps if possible: A fully charged battery can handle the cold better. But if you’re in deep winter zones, bringing it indoors isn’t a bad idea.
That's the general idea for a standard vehicle with a combustion engine. Keep in mind, the rules may change a bit when it comes to hybrids or EVs, though ✌🏻
