Maint-free Battery Question

[The Critic]

If a consumer purchases an automotive battery today, he or she is destined to purchase a battery containing one of these setups:

• Contains vent caps, no maintenance-free claim.
  
• Contains vent caps, maintenance-free claim.
  
• Contains visual hydrometer, no vent caps, maintenance-free claim.
  
• Contains visual hydrometer, vent caps, no maintenance-free claim.
  
• Gel-type, no visual hydrometer, maintenance-free claim.

• 
  
  My father's 92 Toyota Previa had setup #4. There were vent caps, yet there was also an "eye" to indicate battery health. It was a three color system: green or blue for "good," red for "add distilled water," and clear for "discharged." The van was a garage queen, only used several times a year for long trips.
  
  The battery always showed the color for a "good" condition via the visual hydrometer. Never received the RED indicator to add distilled water. So, I never did. After seven years on the original battery, the indicator finally turned RED, and the battery died at the same time. The battery was topped-up, but then the indicator indicated a discharged state. At that time, I just tossed the battery as it didn't owe us a dime anyway after seven years.
  
  My point being, just how important is it to keep your battery topped up? Especially the low-maintenance types.
  
  For instance, if I go out and purchase a Duralast GOLD (Johnson Controls) battery today, it makes no claim of being maintenance-free. It still contains the traditional, removal vent caps. If I left it alone and never touched it, what are the chances that I'd still be able to obtain a reasonable five years out of it?
  
  Likewise, Johnson Controls makes batteries that are labeled maintenance-free under the Kirkland Signature, DIEHARD, etc labels. While these batteries are labeled maintenance-free, they still contain vent caps. Is it necessary to top-up these batteries?
  
  This has me thinking. Despite being labeled "maintenance-free," won't these batteries still lose water at the same rate as the ones that aren't labeled maintenance-free? Or do they contain a different material in the electrolyte that is less prone to water evaporation?
  
  Or should the electrolyte never require top-up anyway under normal service? After all, the battery in the Previa (as mentioned earlier) never "called" for a top-up until the very end of its life, seven years, so doesn't that mean most batteries don't lose very much water?
  
  *So, in the end, the question is, do batteries really need to be topped up? Or under normal driving conditions, that battery top-up makes little difference in service life. *
  
  Thanks in advance.

 

[moribundman]

Top off if it becomes necessary. I believe my current battery is 6 years old and it still working fine. However, modern batteries do eventually die pretty much without warning...

 

[Donald]

If it has vent caps then it should be checked yearly and topped off with distilled water. The eye is only looking at once cell. And the eye does not check the level only the state. As long as the level is above the plates the battery will function fine and the eye will show green if the charge state is good. However the level could be just slightly above the plates and water is needed.

If a battery has vent caps its low maint. but not maint. free. Only a battery with no caps is maint. free.

 

[Chris142]

The eye only lets tou check that one cell. It may show good when the other 5 are bad.

 

[brianl703]

Car Battery Maintenance: To Water or Not to Water?

CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In millions of vehicles, lead-acid
batteries start people on billions of journeys every day. Yet as car engines
become more complex and the technology of automotive batteries advances,
motorists seem to be confused about the proper maintenance of the batteries
under their hoods. The article, "Auto Batteries: Some Go the Distance" in
the November 2005 issue of Consumer Reports, clouds the issue further.
The auto battery, made of lead, plastic and electrolyte -- a dilute
solution of sulfuric acid and water -- is designed to deliver a short burst of
high power to start the vehicle's engine. What does battery maintenance
entail? Should motorists pry off the battery caps, check the electrolyte
level and add water? And what does the term "maintenance-free" really mean?
Battery Council International (BCI), the trade organization representing
the country's leading manufacturers and recyclers of lead-acid automotive,
commercial, telecommunications and industrial batteries, provides clear and
unequivocal recommendations.

Maintenance-free batteries
The Consumer Reports article states: "While some batteries with caps are
claimed to be maintenance-free, any such model should have the electrolyte
level beneath its caps checked at least yearly, according to Battery Council
International, an industry group." This is incorrect.
According to BCI, the majority of today's auto batteries are maintenance-
free. This means that motorists should not check or top off the electrolyte
levels in maintenance-free batteries.
"Battery manufacturers provide instructions with their products, and a
motorist should read and follow all of instructions that come with the
battery," said Randy Hart, President of BCI. Mr. Hart also is President of
Superior Battery Manufacturing, Co. in Russell Springs, Kentucky.
In addition, the battery label generally provides guidelines: many
maintenance-free battery labels carry a "do not open" or similar statement.
Finally, battery caps that appear to be removable may actually be glued or
locked in place. "If a battery cap is meant to be opened, it can be opened
without much effort. Forcing or prying these caps open may destroy or
permanently damage the battery," Mr. Hart said.

Maintenance-accessible batteries
Every battery is not maintenance-free; a few auto batteries are referred
to as "low water loss" or "maintenance accessible" batteries. In certain
conditions, such as hot climates or high heat, it may be necessary for the
motorist to add water. Here, too, the battery label will provide a guideline:
these products typically do not carry a maintenance-free label or a statement
that advises against opening.
For maintenance-accessible batteries, the motorist can check electrolyte
levels by a few different measures. Some batteries have removable battery
caps; others carry a "magic eye," a small, round device that floats to the top
of the electrolyte; still others have a translucent case through which the
fluid level can be seen. If the level is low, the motorist can top off the
electrolyte by adding a small amount of distilled -- not tap -- water.
Battery Council advises against tap water, which can contain chlorine or other
chemicals that can change the composition of the electrolyte.
While today's auto batteries provide motorists with reliable service and
long life, nothing lasts forever. All batteries eventually reach the end of
their service lives. In addition, a battery can dry out and fail prematurely
if the vehicle's electrical system malfunctions or fails.
"But in a properly designed, voltage-regulated system, water loss should
not cause maintenance-free batteries to fail," said Mr. Hart.
What about original equipment batteries that come with a new car? For the
original vehicle battery, customers should follow the vehicle manufacturer's
instructions about checking electrolyte levels. When it's time to replace the
battery, the motorist should buy a compatible replacement and follow the
instructions with the replacement battery.

Other maintenance tips
Motorists should occasionally check the terminal connections (where the
battery cables are hooked to the battery) to be sure the connections are tight
and free of corrosion. If the terminals are corroded, they can be cleaned
with a brush (such as a discarded toothbrush) and a light paste of household
baking soda and water. Keeping the terminals bright and tight will help
ensure that the battery performs through its entire service life.
"Without automotive batteries, virtually everything but muscle-powered
transportation would stop," said Mr. Hart. "Lead-acid batteries satisfy our
voracious appetite for clean, recyclable and recycled energy under the hood,
and there's no mystery to keeping them in top form."

Note: BCI is a not-for-profit organization that represents the
international lead-acid battery manufacturing and recycling industry. It
provides its members and outside organizations with a statistical database of
information pertaining to the battery industry.


SOURCE Battery Council International

 

[Aldaris]

Hmmm.... I haven't seen any batteries in the United States with removable caps. I see them in European cars and such where you can remove them easily, but not in the US. There are recessed covers that are pressed on that I am aware of, and those are the only ones I've ever remembered seeing in the States. Am I meant to pry that off with a screwdriver and pour in distilled or DI water?

 

[moribundman]

I got a low maintenance EXIDE (I think?) battery from Kragen in my Audi. It's got caps with coin slots for easy access and topping off with distilled water.

 

[alreadygone]

IF you have caps, check occasionally. Any water you can drink is acceptable for topping off. DONOT add additional electrolite, as acid level just becomes more concentrated as water evaporates/boils off, and water brings it back to proper specific gravity.

No caps, forget about it! Most battery mfgrs. expect you to. Normally the only time these batteries will get low is if they have been subjected to overcharge, which means they'r damaged (cooked) and devising ways to add water isn't gonna help.

As stated battery eye only works on one cell, wich can give you general idea of state of charge, but not individual cell condition. Reason it's green is because it(plastic dohickey) will float in correct specific gravity level of fully charged battery, as battery becomes discharged acid becomes weaker and dohickey sinks.

Bob

 

[brianl703]

Quote:

---

Am I meant to pry that off with a screwdriver and pour in distilled or DI water?

---

I don't think so. Although those caps/covers (I'm talking about the rectangular ones that cover three cells, 12V batteries have two of them, usually embossed with all sorts of warnings) WILL come off if pried off, it doesn't mean that they are intended to be removed.

 

[brianl703]

Here's an image that shows the two "removable" caps/covers very well:

 

[RacerE7773]

I'm going to ask the clerk whenever I get another battery if I don't get another Interstate. It's been to $%^& cold to spend any time with water out under the hood. By the time I'd get the caps off the jug was half frozen.

 

[Donald]

My thinking is that the almost maint free batteries are very low water loss and that in most cases the fluid included at the factory will last the warranty period of the battery. However I see no harm in popping off the caps once a year for a look see and adding distilled water if low. There is no way that can harm the battery and should help it.

Somone commented that you can add any water you can drink, no way. Hard water with a lot of minerals tastes good but is no good for a battery. Only add distilled water.

 

[johnd]

If you are interested, here is a link to a website that has probably more than anybody ever wanted to know about lead/acid batteries. I've spent hours there reading.

http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq.htm

 

[NYEngineer]

My buddy owns a battery store. In order to show how the eye on the battery only monitors one cell and is basically useless, he has a battery on the counter with the whole battery cut away except the one cell with thw eye. The eve is green. I always try to buy batteries that I can check/add water. Would you buy an engine that you couldn't check the oil?

 

[eljefino]

I read somewhere that GM/Delco cooperated on the maintenance free battery but said battery needed a few tenths more voltage to properly charge. GM voltage regulators are set up for this. So a "wrong" or "universal" battery might show more water loss in a GM application.

 

[TeeDub]

If it has an acid/water solution AND it has vent caps some of the water will evaporate over time.

I'd just bite the bullet and get the Optima Red Top with the gel cells. I've had excellent results with those and they are totally sealed. The battery in my Audi 100 is under the rear seat, so you either need to vent the battery with a hose under the car (it comes this way) or go to the Optima, which is a much more elegant solution for an AR engineer.

 

[bar1]

Optima isn't Gel cells. It's lead (spiral) and acid in closed cells.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/o...mage.9999.0.gif

Exide Select Orbital is built equal to the Optima.

 

[Ugly3]

If your battery has removable caps just add distilled water maybe 3 times a year to bring it up to the proper level.

 

[9c1]

Just the other day I serviced a Motocraft battery which said "Maintenance free" on the label, but has removable caps to check the liquid level. I was a little surprised to see removable caps on a maintenance free battery, but that is what it was. Shows there is always something to learn.

 

[Aldaris]

Quote:

---

Here's an image that shows the two "removable" caps/covers very well:

---

That is the exact same battery that is installed in my Lexus. I cracked open the battery covers today and saw that the water level was down a fair bit, so I added about 3oz to each of the 6 peepholes until the water level went up to 1/8" up on the peephole shaft. Wow, all this time learning about cars and maintenance and never once opening up a battery. Learn something every day! Thanks.