Battery top up with water or acid solution?

[TallPaul]

All my life I have only heard that if the fluid (water acid mix) in the cells of a car battery is low, you top up with water (distilled in hard water areas). Today the guy at the motorhome shop I patronize told me that I should get one of those packs they use to fill new batteries with the acid/water mix and use it for top ups, because it does no good to use plain water.

What gives?

 

[brianl703]

Add water. It's the water, not the acid, that evaporates (or is broken up into hydrogen and oxygen by the chemical processes taking place in the battery).

 

[Quest]

+1 to Brian's comment.

Yes, just plain distilled water (or demineralised water).

Don't add those "so-called" battery reviver package or acid-in-a-bottle thingy. It's a waste of $$.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Distilled water!

 

[pastmaster]

H2O! If you don't have distilled water, let the water sit for a while to let any sediment settle to the bottom of the vessel. Don't use all the water, leave a little at the bottom because of the settled contaminants. Always use water and charge the battery on a charger. Don't use the vehicles alternator to charge a discharged battery, if you can. I know that circumstances dictate your actions. Paul

 

[Steve S]

only add water to just cover the plates no more.

 

[JHZR2]

DOnt you actually want DI water? The acid will make the correct ions for conduction of the electrolyte?!?

JMH

 

[chas3]

not again.

use distilled water no matter what your region of the country. softened water has salt. city water has lots of interesting things in it that batteries dont need.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00223.htm

ok you are in the middle of nowhere, and dont have a bottle of distilled water in the trunk. fine, collect some muddy water and let the dirt settle out. prepare to buy new battery.