overfilled water in battery

[drewh01]

Hey all,

Am new here and was hoping my first post would be on a positive matter but doesnt seem to be the case!

Found my battery had died the other day - first thing I did was check the water levels, and they *seemed* to be quite low. So I topped each up, filling till about 2 cm from the top of each of them.

Anyway I jumped the car and took it for a drive etc, and it seemed fine. I went to an uncle who works for RACQ, who checked it and it came up ok (310/330 CCA). However, when we looked there was water (and sulphuric acid no doubt) seeping from each of the 6 filler caps. Some had also leaked down onto the cables and hoses beneath the battery.

I took out the battery, cleaned it thoroughly and removed excess water from each - and degreased the whole engine bay. All is good now.

My question is, what sort of damage have I done to my battery by overfilling?? I know some acid would have also leaked out, but given its like 30% acid normally I wouldnt have thought too much? (not that much leaked out).

Love to know what ppl think - thanks!


Cheers
Andrew

[aaronng]

I wouldn't be worried about the battery. Letting the battery go flat causes more damage than losing some water and acid from the battery.

[drewh01]

let it go flat?

I actually have no idea why it did go flat. No lights were left on or anything like that. I wish I knew why it did.

[LTDHO]

Batteries don't take tap water.
If and I say 'if' you have to top it up, use distilled water only.

My advice, buy new battery, they are cheap as.

[drewh01]

LTDHO,

With all due respect - I have no clue why you even replied to this post. Did I ever say I used tap water? No, of course I know to use distilled water.

The battery is now fine - and as I said was checked by my Uncle who works at RACQ using their machine and it is in good condition.

My question - the whole point of the thread - was to ask what damage might have come to it by overfilling each of the 6 cap areas. (i.e. overfilling caused some water/acid to seep out and I'm wondering what damage that would cause to the battery).

[Type S Tony]

You can damage your bonnet! and get a build up of crap around the terminals which can distort power transfer!

When u buy your next battery buy a maintnance free one thats sealed completely so you dont have to waste precious space on the forum talking about car batteries and paying out LTDHO!

[aaronng]

let it go flat?

I actually have no idea why it did go flat. No lights were left on or anything like that. I wish I knew why it did.

Check your audio system first. The amp should be wired to your battery but with a relay to turn it off and on. Some cheapo places install audio by connecting the amp to the battery without a relay, which makes it essentially powered 24 hours of the day.

[drewh01]

aaronng, thanks for that - its the stock alpine radio (integra vti-r 95) so its *probably* not that. Anyhow the battery has been running fine since so weird why it happened.

Type S Tony - I wasn't paying him out. I just didn't understand what a reply of 'use distilled water' had anything to do with the question I asked... I never mentioned using tap water, so it seemed completely irrelevant to the question thats all. No paying out intended.

[dc5s]

It was a mere suggestion there drew, no hard feelings, he was just saying if you used tap water, then next time, use distilled.

Nothing more!

Welcome to the forums mate :)

[beeza]

With all due respect - I have no clue why you even replied to this post. Did I ever say I used tap water? No, of course I know to use distilled water.

WHOA!! Slowdown there.

In your very first 1st post on ozhonda you say you wished this was a positive matter to be introducing yourself with then 2 posts later you are blasting someone for trying to help U!!!

U might get away with that crap on honda-tech.com but on ozhonda,we don't operate like that.

[drewh01]

beeza, I just didnt understand where the reply came from as it didnt really address the question.

Anyway, thanks all for your advice and opinions etc!

[beeza]

All good Drew!

I know what ya mean,Internet forum's are a bit tricky at first but you know how it goes give respect and you get respect back :)