Battery fluid disappeared

[John47]

Battery problems are battery problems whether NH, JD or abc.
I worked with batteries as part of my job for years, from 12 volt vehicle to 24 volt LHD batteries underground in mining, to nine ton battery packs on underground electric locos.
ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS use distilled or de ionized water!!!
As the op's have stated, sounds like overcharging ie higher than normal voltage. Check your voltage at the battery with the engine running, over 14.5volts, have the alternator/regulator checked out.

 

[Willl]

Check your voltage

if only,,,,,:confused2:

 

[ultrarunner]

Ditto on NOT turning battery upside down and dumping it out.You will be moving the depleated acid plates from the bottom of the battery back to the plates. This sulfated material is what shorts out the battery at the end of its life. That is unless it has a short, or an open in connections.Adding fresh acid, not recommmended, only distilled water, or de-ionized.. See, we had battery school for our gen-sets, esp with 8d sizes.. But I know this info will probably start up a firestorm of responses..Yahhha .Jy.

As a kid I would walk by a "Battery" re-builder on my way to work...

I stopped in one day and asked him if I could rebuild batteries and he chuckled... he did give me a quick tour... back then most batteries were sealed with tar on top of the rubber case.

He would open the battery, pour the acid through a sieve and clean out the accumulated residue in the bottom of the case... then examine the plates and if they looked good, he would put the battery back together.

Apparently, many battery problems are the result of internal shorts from the old lead that collects at the bottom of the battery.

The acid would be reused after straining and checking specific gravity...

The old guy was very friendly and told me a bright kid like me shouldn't be working around battery acid and lead.

 

[Travelover]

As a young man I worked at a rental shop. We had some German diesel compressors that had huge batteries. When the batteries got weak, we'd turn them on their sides and use a power washer to flush out the crud from the bottom, them refill them with acid. As I recall, it worked pretty well.

 

[jonyyuma]

As a young man I worked at a rental shop. We had some German diesel compressors that had huge batteries. When the batteries got weak, we'd turn them on their sides and use a power washer to flush out the crud from the bottom, them refill them with acid. As I recall, it worked pretty well.

Like a lot of other things, batteries have gotten a lot cheaper. They are also a whole lot lighter. Part of the lighter is thinner plates and cheaper connectors.I don't know of any batteries being rebuilt now except the commercial lift type like the 36 or 48 volt fork-lifts. we had a bunch of 8d batteries[two years old] that would just blow the entire tops off, while cranking the engines. All our batteries now have plastic safety spill shields over the tops.It will sound like a 12 ga. going off when they open underload and ignite the hydrogen gases.This is not related to age or charging, as we have some of the best chargers available.I read on here about getting 7 years out of OEM. the message: please watch out when charging or cranking an engine, I have had several of my own batteries blow the caps off the top, when they get old or weak. Sulfuric acid is not a joke.My 2 cents worth to consider...Jy.

 

[John47]

if only,,,,,:confused2:

It's a starting point in troubleshooting a fault.

 

[Willl]

It's a starting point in troubleshooting a fault.

Your preaching to the choir and it was meant in jest.

The 'parts changers' here out number the 'trouble shooters' 2 to 1. :laughing:

 

[Jimmy Joe]

I wonder if he found the problem yet?

 

[maverickxxx]

My brother and dad just replacedthe battery in there tractor and theyused a marine deep cycle battery. I told them i dont think they have cranking amps that a regular automotive battery has im not sure if thats true or not

 

[David Devuono]

By all means if you have distilled water handy use it in your battery. Otherwise, whether you use distilled water or tap water, there are much more things at work shortening the life of your battery then the kind of water you put in it once or twice a year. The heat in the summer, cold in the winter, leaving your lights on, winching etc etc will do more to shorten the life of your battery. In fact many have never popped the top on their batteries to check fluid levels, usually just changing them out every 5-7 years. Even maintenance free batteries will lose water. In the Telecom business we do/did monthly maintenance on our large batteries, checking specific gravity and adding fluid monthly. Today, we use a lot of Gel batteries that are maintenance free and change them out like car batteries instead of maintaining them for 15-20 years where distill water could make a difference. Marine batteries are designed for cranking and deep cycling so you should be okay, just probably not worth the extra expense unless you got a deal.

Having said that, newer vehicles like the Chevy Silverado have smart charging systems that don't charge a "full" battery with a 14.5 volt equalize charge, but float it at a lower charge. This will mean less outgassing, and even lower maintenance needs. Never taking the battery below 50% charge and "smart charging it" and using distilled water might get you 10 years. I'd rather spend my $100 every 5 years for "piece of mind knowing it will start in the winter".

 

[Wayne County Hose]

By all means if you have distilled water handy use it in your battery. Otherwise, whether you use distilled water or tap water, there are much more things at work shortening the life of your battery then the kind of water you put in it once or twice a year. The heat in the summer, cold in the winter, leaving your lights on, winching etc etc will do more to shorten the life of your battery. In fact many have never popped the top on their batteries to check fluid levels, usually just changing them out every 5-7 years. Even maintenance free batteries will lose water. In the Telecom business we do/did monthly maintenance on our large batteries, checking specific gravity and adding fluid monthly. Today, we use a lot of Gel batteries that are maintenance free and change them out like car batteries instead of maintaining them for 15-20 years where distill water could make a difference. Marine batteries are designed for cranking and deep cycling so you should be okay, just probably not worth the extra expense unless you got a deal.

Having said that, newer vehicles like the Chevy Silverado have smart charging systems that don't charge a "full" battery with a 14.5 volt equalize charge, but float it at a lower charge. This will mean less outgassing, and even lower maintenance needs. Never taking the battery below 50% charge and "smart charging it" and using distilled water might get you 10 years. I'd rather spend my $100 every 5 years for "piece of mind knowing it will start in the winter".

You guys have batteries that last 15-20 years??? Please, give all the details you can. Battery size, brand, application, etc.

 

[jonyyuma]

I belive he was refering to Stand-by batteries, like on a UPS sytem or back up power. I work on them too. But gel-cells are taking over now.Battery life varies so much today. you will see all kinds of figures, just like gas mileage claims.?Jy