Extreme cold putting Saskatchewan car batteries to the test

That familiar winter frustration of turning a vehicle key and hearing nothing has been playing out across Saskatchewan as extreme cold settles in and wind chills hover near -40 C.

Steven Millar, a supervisor with Battery Depot, said deep cold has a way of exposing batteries that are already struggling, especially if they hadn’t been properly maintained throughout the year.

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“It’s the most important part of the car, it’s the heart of the vehicle,” Millar said. “It’s the main factor that gets that vehicle running.”

Millar said batteries weaken over time and are far more likely to fail during prolonged cold snaps, and the damage could go beyond a simple no-start.

“When you look at a battery that hasn’t been maintained throughout the year, keeping it charged, putting a charger or a maintainer onto it, you potentially risk not having the car start or damaging the battery,” he said.

In severe cases, Millar said the cold itself can cause physical damage.

“For example, it (the battery) freezes,” he said. “Or it can crack.”

Once a battery cracks, Millar said replacement is the only option.

“If it freezes so bad that it cracks the case, by the time it thaws, it’s going to lose all the acid where that crack was,” he said. “So generally, (you should) replace the battery.”

Millar said many drivers assume their vehicle’s alternator can keep the battery healthy, but that wasn’t always the case.

“Don’t rely on the alternator to charge the battery,” he said, adding that short trips could quietly drain reliability over time. “You’re not allowing the alternator to put back into the battery what you took out of it.”

During extreme cold, Millar said reducing strain on the system is key.

“Make sure that you’re plugging your vehicle in,” he said. “And if you have a battery maintainer, make sure you’re plugging that in as well.”

Plugging in helps warm the engine oil, which Millar said makes it easier for both the engine and the battery to turn over.

“You’re not turning over a block of molasses,” he said. “It makes it easier on the whole system.”

He also recommended giving vehicles time to warm up before driving.

“Start the vehicle, let it run, get the oil circulating,” Millar said. “Once it’s warmed up a little, then you can start driving it as normal.”

For longer-term battery health, Millar said regular charging and simple checks go a long way.

“A good battery charger is your best friend,” he said. “Check your connections, make sure they’re tight and clean, and make sure there’s no corrosion.”

Because in cold like this, Millar said, it doesn’t take much for a routine morning to turn into a problem.

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