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Old 10-19-2015, 10:13 AM   #1
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Fluid leak out of new starter battery

My new starter battery looks like this after the van has been sitting parked for a few weeks:



Note the fluid (battery acid, I assume) that's been coming out of the caps cover.

It's a cheap-o starter battery from some discount place, and I haven't used the van since getting the new battery installed. I keep my van "plugged in" while parked at home, so I guess there might be some kind of overcharging going on here. Should I be worried, or just ignore?

-- Geoff

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Old 10-19-2015, 11:12 AM   #2
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

I would pull the battery and take it back to the store to get a refund. Then take the money and get a different one. The leaking acid will eat through a lot metal if it keeps on. It looks like the cables are already being affected.
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Old 10-19-2015, 11:53 AM   #3
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

I agree, it's likely your charger is overcharging the battery. If you have a volt meter, check at the terminals after being plugged in long enough to reach a full charge. Float voltage should be about 13.2 to 13.4 or so for a flooded lead acid battery. Once a battery is fully charged, if the charger continues to run (13.5v to perhaps 14.3?) rather than go into float mode, it will boil the electrolite out of the battery (the big bubbles you see with removable caps) This doesn't really hurt the battery unless the electrolite evaporates to a level below the plates, in which case the battery will die quickly.
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Old 10-19-2015, 12:52 PM   #4
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

Good point about the corrosion. Sounds like I should just ditch this lame battery and go with a real one.

I was trying to support a small local business here by getting this off-brand battery, but perhaps that wasn't a good move.

The discoloration around the terminals is some kind of spray the guy used before putting the cables back on.

When I say, "plugged in", I mean the standard RV-park camping 110v house connection. I leave that plugged in while the van is stored in the garage.

I just drove the van again this weekend. Battery voltage is 12.65v after parking overnight last night, then 13.39v just now after plugging the 110v house connection back in. I'll check again later what it goes to after charging overnight.

-- Geoff
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Old 10-20-2015, 07:46 AM   #5
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

When plugged into the 120 RV-camp plug you're inadvertently charging the start battery too---that's why the acid is leaking out the vents. While I'd not buy anything but NAPA's better battery your discount brand isn't really the problem here.

Good that you're trying to support the smaller local guys---maybe ask if they have the better quality for exchange?
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Old 10-20-2015, 08:02 AM   #6
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffff
My new starter battery looks like this after the van has been sitting parked for a few weeks:



Note the fluid (battery acid, I assume) that's been coming out of the caps cover.

It's a cheap-o starter battery from some discount place, and I haven't used the van since getting the new battery installed. I keep my van "plugged in" while parked at home, so I guess there might be some kind of overcharging going on here. Should I be worried, or just ignore?

-- Geoff
Hi. Take it back and get a sealed maintenance free battery. I like ACDelco M27MF.
Check 'em out, good US 4×4 & Marine Deep Cycle Battery.
Cheers, Doug.

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Old 10-20-2015, 10:54 AM   #7
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheriffdoug
Hi. Take it back and get a sealed maintenance free battery. I like ACDelco M27MF.
Check 'em out, good US 4×4 & Marine Deep Cycle Battery.
Cheers, Doug.
Is there an advantage to using a deep cycle battery for the engine starter?

-- Geoff
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Old 10-20-2015, 12:22 PM   #8
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

Yes buy a sealed battery.

And, why do you plug in at home all the time? I never do and all works fine. Sometimes I don't use the van for a week.
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Old 10-20-2015, 12:47 PM   #9
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey
And, why do you plug in at home all the time? I never do and all works fine. Sometimes I don't use the van for a week.
I sometimes don't use the van for months, and I don't want the house battery to discharge while it's sitting parked in the garage, even if the appliances are all turned off. Should I not be doing this?

For many years I kept the van parked outside, and the solar would keep everything topped up so it wasn't an issue -- but it's dark in the garage.

-- Geoff
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Old 10-20-2015, 09:00 PM   #10
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Re: Fluid leak out of new starter battery

You can put in a battery switch that will isolate the starting battery if you have easy access to it. Lots of guys with track or race cars use them. Diesels are a bit difficult to deal with being where the batteries are located and plus diesels have twin batteries. You'll have to reprogram the radio and clock each time you close the switch. The CO and propane detectors will also knock down your house battery system so it's best to fully charge those as well and isolate that system too.

Starting batteries that are AGM types (like the Sears platinum) will hold a charge for longer than a month provided there is no load. I run AGM starting batteries in my van and will never goback to standard wet cell types but they're kind of expensive.

If I were to put my vehicle in storage where the solar is not exposed to light I'd purchase a small lower amp stnadard maintenance charger or a AGM type charger that has smart charging capabilities and let the separator work in it's normal operation...JMO. I'd still monitor things on a weekly basis as batteries are expensive

[Edit] Some types of lights will make your solar operate out of direct sunlight. I've even seen fluorescent lights provide a small low amp charge. Metal Halide seem to work the best but are kind of expensive to run.
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