should I bring my car battery inside for the night?

Question

at what outdoor temperture should you consider removing the
car battery and storing inside for the night? I hear some people
in Alaska do that, if they don't have a block heater.

It already takes a few seconds of cranking to get the engine
started when it is ~10-20 F outside in the mornings. And they
are forcasting that the temps will dip below zero tonight and
Sunday night here in Kalamazoo, MI.

Answer 1

You probably should, just to set your mind at ease.

The thing you really need to do is get a tune-up and have your injectors cleaned. It was 9 today where I live and my car didn't even give a hesitation about starting.

But then again, I replace my plugs every fall (I don't believe in the 100,000 miles between tune ups) and I use a fuel injector cleaner the 1st fill-up of every even month. My Vue runs so well, my boss told me never to try to say I was having car trouble as an excuse for showing up late.

I also use synthetic oil which is very helpful in winter, and I use 0W-30 instead of the recommended 5W-30 to ensure oil flow.

Answer 2

If your car is in good condition, i.e. you keep up the factory recommended maintenance, you should not have to do anything to get you car to start at -20/30F. You indicated it turned over for a few seconds before starting. That indicates the battery is strong enough to turn it over. I would let it sit for a few seconds after turning the igniton on in order to ensure adequate fuel pressure at the injectors. At those temps I would be VERY much more concerned with anti-freeze than the battery. A cracked block beans a new engine and that is very pricey. I was raised in Fairbanks AK and know bitter cold. We did in fact take batteries out at times, but that was before 12 volt batteries were in cars. I don't beleive that is necessary with todays cars. If you are concerned about your battery, get it checked at a reputable battery shop with a battery hydrometer. It will tell you the condition of the electrolyte in the battery. If it is within specs, you are good to go. You can also have a battery "trickle charger" installed under the hood that will keep the battery warm by charging it at a very low rate. That means an electrical cord sticking out the grille, just like a lot of far north cars.

Answer 3

It sounds like your battery may be near the end of its life - usually 4-5 years. If this is the case, then yes, the cold can kill the battery, but the battery is on its last legs, anyway. General rule of thumb: if the battery is 1 year or less from the end of its listed life span (check the sticker on top of the battery), and the ground strap, starter cable and both terminals are clean, tight and in good condition, then you may as well bite the bullet and get a new battery. Keep it indoors might give the battery a few more weeks of life, but be ready to call a towtruck - you never know when it'll die.

Answer 4

The slow cranking is probably more because of the lubricants being sluggish in the cold rather than the battery.

You can, but you will have the problem of your clock and radio presets being off, and if computer controlled it may run in default mode until it learns how to property idle again. Worse case your security system will simply shut things down and refuse to start.

Just plug in the block heater. If you have a car in MI you have one.

Answer 5

Wow, this is the first I heard it being done that way.
If you ask me, Id really hate to lug the battery in and out of the house. scrape up the snow from the hood, dig your way inside your car, try to open the hood, fight a current blizzard while reattaching the freaking terminals. and then turn the ignition key.

That is some major work.
Ill settle for the few seconds of cranking.

If push comes to shove, Id sooner buy those portable car battery chargers that plug up into your car cigarette lighter, it gives your battery enough juice to start right away.

Answer 6

most batteries are good for that drop in temp to below zero...if its a newer battery, you'll be ok to leave it out..if its older, then maybe bring it in, or put a trickle charger on it to help keep it warm...another idea is place a heating pad over it...best bet is to buy a new battery, with a cold cranking amps...cca..of 800 or above...or buy a block heater or radiator heater...many options outt here...good luck !!!

Answer 7

if your battery is old and the engine is cranking slow , you may want to , however all your radio ,anti theft and other presets will be lost , if you have a portable eclectic heater you may want to pre-heat the engine with that , set it on medium and plug it in a couple of hours before you go. good luck.

Answer 8

Ugh. Here too they're saying about the same temperatures. I have a 2001 and haven't had any trouble yet starting it in the frigid mornings. So, I'd leave it. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Answer 9

There is no reason to bring the battery inside.
It would be better to buy and install an engine block heater.

Answer 10

well if you use the car every day its fine if you let it sit for more than 3 days bring it in.