Battery Maintenance
While it’s unlikely that you’ll need to replace your car battery more than every four to five years, you should be checking it on a similar interval to your oil changes – every six months or 6,000 miles driven, whichever comes first. Typically, this can just be roped right into your oil change with a multi-point inspection, but you need to check it yourself if you’re not bringing your vehicle into the experts.
When to Replace
As we mentioned, it's likely you only need to replace your car’s battery every four to five years. This can vary based on the battery and different habits or driving conditions, but it’s a good rule of thumb to follow. That said, you don’t need to replace the battery at that time if it doesn’t need it, which is what diagnostics are for. If your car starts failing to start, however, it’s definitely time for a replacement.
How to Recycle
When you replace your car’s battery, you cannot just toss the old battery in the trash. All batteries, especially large ones like those found in vehicles, contain various materials – such as heavy metals – that can be harmful to your health and others, so it’s important to recycle it when you’re done. Most places that sell replacement batteries will take your old battery upon purchase.
