Can idling the engine charge the battery?
3 Answers
Idling the engine can charge the battery. The method for charging the battery is: 1. Turn off the engine and remove the battery; 2. Open the vent caps on the battery; 3. Attach the red clamp of the dedicated charger to the battery's positive terminal marked with a plus sign, and the black clamp to the negative terminal marked with a minus sign; 4. Adjust to the 2nd gear and select the 12-volt power source; 5. Plug in the charger, turn on the switch, and charging will begin. Precautions for battery charging include: 1. In cold weather, check if the electrolyte is frozen before charging; 2. Check the electrolyte level before charging; 3. During charging, measure the density and voltage of the electrolyte approximately every hour, and monitor its temperature; 4. Ensure the charging area is well-ventilated and strictly prohibit open flames; 5. Stop charging if unattended.
As someone who has experienced a lot of car maintenance, I've found that idling the engine does charge the battery because once the engine is running, the alternator starts outputting current to charge the battery. However, the efficiency is very low, especially at idle when the RPM is low and the output power is limited. In winter, it's common to see car owners thinking that idling for 10 minutes will fully charge the battery, only to find that the old battery is still undercharged. A better method is to drive for a few minutes; once the RPM increases, the charging becomes faster and more thorough. At the same time, prolonged idling wastes gasoline, increases emissions, and may lead to engine carbon buildup issues. It's advisable to regularly check the battery's condition with a voltmeter, and once it drops below 12V, it should be serviced or replaced.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I often encounter dead battery situations. Idling the engine does provide some charging - like on cold days when I let the engine run for a while after starting, the battery voltage slowly recovers a bit. But the effect is limited. Last time when my battery was aging, idling for 20 minutes only restored a small portion of the charge. It got fully charged after just five minutes of driving later. So I think it can serve as a temporary emergency measure, but don't count on it to completely solve the problem. The key is to avoid long-term battery discharge affecting its lifespan. My habit is to drive immediately after starting for more efficient charging - it's simpler and works better.
