Ever struggled to start your car in freezing temperatures?
That sluggish crank or dead battery isn’t just bad luck — it can be a sign that your battery might not have enough Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).
But what exactly is CCA, and why does it matter?
We’ll explain how to pick the right CCA for your car, why you need it in freezing temperatures, how it stacks up against other battery ratings, and more.
This Article Contains:
- What Is Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)?
- How Many Cold Cranking Amps Are Required to Start a Car?
- How Important Is CCA?
- How Is CCA Different From HCA, MCA, and PHCA?
- How to Choose the Right CCA for Your Engine
- 5 FAQs Related to Cold Cranking Amps
What Is Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)?
Cold Cranking Amps is a rating used in the battery industry to define a battery’s ability to crank an engine in a cold climate.
It measures the amount of current (in Amps) a new, fully charged 12-volt battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0 degrees F (-18°C) while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2V.
So how did CCA come to be?
Before the modern starting battery-driven systems, a hand crank was used to start the engine. This was a dangerous task requiring significant strength.
In 1915, Cadillac introduced the electric starter motor, powered by a starting battery that provided enough cranking amps to start the engine.
As vehicles advanced and colder climates challenged battery performance, a standardized measure of the battery’s ability to start in low temperatures became necessary. This led to the development of the Cold Cranking Amps rating, which gave drivers a way to ensure their battery could handle the chill.
Now, let’s find out how many Cold Cranking Amps an internal combustion engine needs.
How Many Cold Cranking Amps Are Required to Start a Car?
The rule of thumb is 1 Cold Cranking Amp for every cubic inch of engine displacement (2 CCA for diesel engines due to higher compression).
NOTE: Modern engines with efficient starters and electronic fuel injection often require less CCA than this rule suggests.
Engine displacement is expressed in cubic centimeters (CC) or liters (L) — both representing the total cylinder volume of the engine. One liter is about 61 cubic inches displacement (CID). For example, a 2276 CC engine is rounded to 2.3L, which equals about 140 cubic inches.
So, how do these numbers work with the car battery CCA?
Applying the older rule of thumb:
- A 280 CCA battery would be more than enough for a 140 cubic inch V4 engine.
- However, it would be insufficient for a 350 cubic inch V8 engine, which typically requires at least 500-700 CCA.
That said, engine size isn’t the only factor influencing cranking power. Ambient temperature, engine oil viscosity, and compression ratio also affect how much power is needed to start a reliable engine. Vehicle manufacturers consider these factors when specifying the OEM battery rating to ensure reliable battery performance in different conditions.
NOTE: Unlike traditional lead-acid batteries, a lithium battery provides higher power with less weight, requiring lower CCA for the same starting performance.
But is CCA really that essential? Can you drive without one?
Read on to find out.
How Important Is CCA?
The Cold Cranking Amps rating of your car battery is critical if you live in a cold climate.
Why?
Batteries lose terminal voltage and power in colder weather, so a higher CCA battery rating ensures a strong cold start.
However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about CCA in warmer climates. It’s still important to choose a battery that meets your vehicle’s recommended cranking power.
Ignoring this could lead to a weak battery and potential starting problems down the road.
While CCA is a key measure of a battery’s starting power, there are other ratings to define battery performance under different conditions.
How Is CCA Different From HCA, MCA, and PHCA?
Here’s how Hot Cranking Amp (HCA), Marine Cranking Amps (MCA), and Pulse Hot Cranking Ampere (PHCA) differ from CCA:
A. Hot Cranking Amp (HCA)
It measures the current of a fully charged 12-volt battery for 30 seconds while maintaining a battery voltage of 7.2V, at 80°F (26.7°C).
This rating is primarily used for starting applications in warm environments, such as a telecom battery backup or a portable power station.
B. Marine Cranking Amps (MCA)
Often referred to as Cranking Amps (CA), this marine battery rating is similar to CCA but tested at 32°F (0 degrees C). The marine battery has a higher starting power than the CCA and is used for starting batteries in warmer or marine environments, where colder climates are rare.
This rating can also apply to a forklift battery, as they require strong cranking power in industrial settings with fluctuating temperatures.
C. Pulse Hot Cranking Ampere (PHCA)
This measures the current a fully charged 12-volt battery can deliver for 5 seconds while maintaining a battery voltage of 7.2V at 0 degrees F (-18°C). The PHCA rating is for batteries used in the motor racing industry.
Some forklift battery and portable power station systems may also consider PHCA for applications that demand instant, high-output power.
Selecting the right CCA for your car’s engine is crucial for reliable starts and battery longevity. Let’s explore how you can find the perfect fit for your engine.
How to Choose the Right CCA for Your Engine
Engines are built to draw only the necessary amount of power from the battery during startup to prevent any damage to the battery.
A higher CCA rating boosts the battery’s ability to deliver a quicker and more dependable start in a cold temperature. Meanwhile, a lower CCA can lead to sluggish or failed starts.
When choosing a battery, it’s wise to go a bit above the minimum CCA required for your engine. This extra power helps your car start smoothly in a colder temperature while maintaining a minimum voltage to sustain the discharge load (power a battery provides when in use) needed for ignition.
However, don’t opt for a battery with an excessively high CCA. A battery that’s too large, particularly a lead-acid battery, may not have a built-in battery management system (BMS) to prevent overcharging or undercharging issues.
Got more questions?
We’ve got you covered.
5 FAQs Related to Cold Cranking Amps
Here are the answers to a few common doubts you may have about CCA:
1. Why Is Cold (Instead of Hot) Cranking Amps Used?
Cold Cranking Amps is used because getting a cold start or turning on your engine in cold weather is much harder than starting a reliable engine in warm weather.
The starter battery, whether lead-acid or lithium battery, needs to quickly deliver large amounts of power within 30 seconds. At the same time, it must maintain the required minimum voltage and handle the necessary discharge load for engine ignition.
However, colder climates thicken fluids, increase battery resistance, and reduce terminal voltage, making it harder for the battery to deliver power. Since a battery must perform under this cold condition, CCA provides a more accurate measure of its reliability in extreme cold.
In warmer temperatures, the battery works more efficiently and produces more power. For example, a battery at 18°C can deliver twice as much power as one at -18°C.
2. How Does a Car Battery Lose its CCA?
A battery undergoes thousands of discharge-recharge cycles throughout its lifespan. Each cycle wears out the plates a bit, and over time, the lead deteriorates. As your car battery loses capacity and starting power, cold cranking amps decrease.
3. Should the CCA Rating Drive Your Car Battery Purchase?
While you should consider the CCA rating, it’s important to realize that most vehicles don’t regularly experience sub-zero temperatures.
Here’s the deal:
Using a lower CCA battery than the original automotive battery won’t give you enough power for your car. At the same time, getting one with a much higher CCA battery rating isn’t practical. For the most part, an extra 300 CCA isn’t necessary and can cost more.
So, use the CCA rating as a starting point. Make sure your replacement battery’s CCA rating is the same as or slightly exceeds the original battery’s.
Also, remember that a high CCA battery isn’t always better than one with a lower CCA. It just means that it has more starting power to crank a car engine in a colder temperature.
4. How Many CCAs Do You Need in a Jump Starter?
The amps needed to jump-start a car will be lower than the car battery CCA.
For an average-sized car (compact SUVs or light trucks), a 400-500 CCA jump starter should be enough. A larger truck may need more amps, around 1000 CCA.
A diesel engine requires more amps than a petrol engine.
5. How to Keep the CCA From Decreasing
Here are some tips to maintain your CCA:
- Follow regular battery maintenance.
- Choose the right battery according to your manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Park your vehicle in a garage or shaded area during cold weather to prevent the automotive battery from freezing.
- Drive regularly to allow your battery to charge fully.
- Buy a new replacement battery if you have a weak starting battery.
Get Reliable Starts Every Time with AutoNation Mobile Service
Cold Cranking Amps are important, but they’re not the only factor that matters — even in freezing temperatures. These ratings apply to a new battery, but real-world performance depends on battery health, charging conditions, and your alternator.
At the end of the day, you just need the right battery that gets your car started without any fuss.
And if it ever leaves you stranded, AutoNation Mobile Service has your back — because pushing your car isn’t a workout anyone wants.
Our mobile auto repair services are available throughout the week. We also offer upfront pricing and a 12-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty on all repairs.
Contact us, and we’ll bring top-quality service straight to your driveway.