South Africa is an incredibly diverse country. But being known as the rainbow nation isn’t just about our people – we have six distinct climate zones, from the Mediterranean climate of Cape Town to tropical conditions in Durban to the dry highveld of Johannesburg.
South Africa is an incredibly diverse country. But being known as the rainbow nation isn’t just about our people – we have six distinct climate zones, from the Mediterranean climate of Cape Town to tropical conditions in Durban to the dry highveld of Johannesburg.
What does this mean for your car battery? It’s simple. Batteries are affected by temperature and climatic conditions. Knowing what these temperature deviations do to a battery can help prevent excessive wear and tear.
The good news is that when you Google “where my Closest Willard Xpress is”, our specialist technicians understand exactly what they are looking for.
But why does temperature affect batteries?
Batteries and climate conditions are closely related. A battery is a self-contained device that can store chemical energy and convert it into electrical energy. This is true for all batteries.
Here’s the problem. External temperature factors can speed up or slow down the chemical reaction inside a battery.
When the temperature plummets quickly, this chemical reaction can slow down so fast that it may seem like the battery has died.
And in extremely warm environments, the chemical reaction starts to speed up, which means that vehicles used in hot climates may experience shorter battery lifespans.
These temperatures also affect how your static vehicle’s battery discharges over time. The rate of static battery discharge increases with an increase in temperature.
So, climate has a large part to play in the longevity of the life of a battery.
Now, let’s talk about what your nearest Willard Xpress is going to suggest is wrong with your battery, depending on the location – and some advice for battery longevity.
Cape Town
Even with global climate shifts, generally speaking, Cape Town has wet winters and dry summers.
Winter in Cape Town doesn’t drop below a maximum of 11°C during its coldest month of July, according to National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). This means it is unlikely that cold start issues will be a factor when getting your battery checked in Cape Town.
But in summer, maximum temperatures are hanging around the 29°C mark. And in the summer of 2022, Cape Town reached a new record high of 45°C in Table Bay, blowing the old record out of the water by 2°C.
If you’re looking to prolong the life of your battery in the Mother City, you will want to keep your vehicle in a cool garage.
Coastal environments also play a role in the wear and tear of your battery at its terminal points, which are made of metal. Residue build-up on these terminal points will cause issues with the battery, but they can simply be cleaned to make it more effective.
Using a mixture of baking soda and water, brush away dirt with an old toothbrush, dry off, and apply a liberal dose of petroleum jelly. The petroleum jelly will seal off the terminal point from the elements, allowing you to use it for longer.
Durban
Temperatures in Durban don’t fluctuate as much as in the rest of the country. According to a South African Government report, the port city has an average low of 11°C in winter.
In the summer, conditions might heat up to an average of 28°C. But if you’ve spent time in Durban, you’ll know the humidity is the climatic factor to be aware of.
The average humidity is a balmy 79%, reaching 83% in summer and dropping to only 73% in winter. This humidity will contribute to terminal wear and tear, as it does in Cape Town.
Following the previous maintenance plan will help keep your battery operating longer.
Johannesburg
Conditions on the highveld can become warm. In the summer, the city averages out at a top temperature of 26°C. But it can quickly become incredibly cold.
According to the South African government, the average low temperature in Johannesburg in winter is 4°C.
So, for Johannesburg, these frigid temperature dips can be problematic for a car’s battery.
It’s also worth noting that colder temperatures will thicken your car’s engine oil, which will require more cranking power from the battery. This is a problem if the chemical reaction is already slowing down.
To avoid cold start-up issues, it’s important to ensure you have proper cold-starting fluids. By simply adding some anti-freeze to your coolant system, you will ensure that the system won’t clog or freeze up.
Blockages in the coolant system will put stress on the engine and stop it from starting, as well as strain the battery. After multiple attempts to start a cold coolant system, a battery may fail due to excessive strain.
Book Your Battery in for a Test at a Willard Xpress
Getting hold of your closest battery retailer or centre has never been easier. Simply reach out to us here.
If you so desire, we can come to you to fit a new battery. You can also call our Battery-on-Call service at 0860-12-00-12.
