2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Can I ruin a battery?

[Rhondasway]

Ugh! So truck was stored for months with charged batteries disconnected. Still had some juice but took awhile to hold a charge (jumped to start). I popped the lids on them and added a bit of water, to the bottom level of the little tubes. Now I have battery acid leaking, enough to come out on the fender and is eating tiny bits of paint.

I used a straw to take water out of all ports, but still it's happening. Have I blown a seal or something? Do I need to take more out? Batteries are working strong but I must stop this leaking!!!!! :{

Thanks... ... ... .

 

[Road Dog]

It sound like the case is cracked. That would mean new batteries.

 

[seafish]

First off, you should know that it is perfectly plausible that an older battery has finally died from either old age, lack of maintenance, extreme conditions, (which CAN actually include NOT being used for too long a period of time), OR a combination of ANY of the above factors.

MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, if your battery is leaking acid, it needs to be checked out more thouroughly and almost IMMMEDIATELY, using various battery testing procedures to make sure that it is NOT a dangerous condition. (For example, overcharging CAN lead to danegrous and unwanted explosions !! :-laf )
Your local auto parts store should be MORE then happy to do some, most or all, of these tests for you, but DO pick a store that you regularly visit and buy from that hires (somewhat) knowledgable counterhelp.
However, out of courtesy AND your own safety, DO first rinse the battery down with water a few times, or maybe even use gloves, baking soda, water and a brush, depending on how MUCH acid is leaking out.


All of the above being said, about the ONLY ways I know that a battery can actually leak, bleed, or weep battery acid/electrolyte is from one of the condiotons below-

... overfilling the case (which you can ignore because you know you didn't do that)

... overcharging the battery (which can be the result of simply charging a battery that has a bad cell or two in it OR the result of having a bad alternator or charge regulator/controller or even a bad temp sensor, depending on what year truck you have. One way to telll if the battery is OVERcharging is by looking for warping and distortion at ALL or ANY of the sides of the battery. Warping is only caused by too much heat which is most always caused by overcharging.

... a physically damaged case with some sort of hairline crack caused by being dropped or, yes, even freezing OR overhaeting one too many times!!

Hope that helps...

PS--if you have't done it yet, you are going to want to rinse off the leaked battery acid from your truck engine compartment as well

PPS Please DO fill out your truck sig using your TDR user control panel so that ALL of us here in TDR land can know what year truck you are drivng and thus help you out with WAY more detail then you probably even want... Oo.

 

[GAmes]

Due to the design of the 2nd gens air that blows thru the engine compartment blows across the tops of the batteries and siphons the acid out resulting in paint damage. The damage was already done, but I switched to sealed AGM batteries several years ago. No servicing and no more damage.



Just remembered that water should only be added when the battery is charged, so if they required charging after you added the water they may be over full.

 

[Rhondasway]

Thanks, guys! I do think I may have prematurely filled them when they were very low on charge. I've taken even more out and plan to go have them both tested. Trying to rinse everything to avoid corrosion/burns.

Don't know what I'll do about the damaged paint, maybe it's a new excuse to never slow down.

Love the idea of a sealed battery; which arm do they require as purchase price? :-laf

 

[BGlidewell]

Baking soda will neutralize acid for cleaning up after the leaky batteries are removed

 

[GAmes]

Love the idea of a sealed battery; which arm do they require as purchase price? :-laf

Although initially more expensive they last longer so cost per service month is about the same as a conventional battery. And I really don't miss my first born:-laf