How to Check Car Battery Water Levels : Part 3 of 4: Adjusting the Fluid Levels

 

1. Use only distilled water to fill the cells. Distilled water can be purchased at most grocery stores. If the electrolyte levels in the cells are low (plates are exposed), fill each cell to just cover the plates. Then use a battery charger to recharge the battery, or just drive the car for a few days in normal service. Only fill to the maximum safe level — just touching the bottoms of the filler tubes — if the battery is fully charged.

• Use a clean funnel, sports bottle, turkey baster, etc. to ensure control of the flow and accuracy of the final level when filling each port. Be very careful to prevent any dirt or cleaning agents from getting into the cells.
• Using tap water, well water, filtered water, or anything but distilled water, will introduce minerals and chemicals (e.g. chlorine if it is city water) and other contaminates that will result in decreased battery life.

2. If the battery is weak or dead, avoid filling the cells fully. If you are adding water because the battery is weak or dead, it is better to fill it just enough to cover the plates (or leave it alone if it is at a normal level).

• When a weak or dead battery is charged the electrolyte level will rise, therefore you should allow space for the level to rise when you charge the battery. (This does not happen to a fully charged battery.)
• Electrolyte levels can also rise if the battery gets hot.

3. Wipe up spills and close the ports. Ensure all areas are clean and free from dirt or debris, then place cleaned port covers back onto the battery.

• If you accidentally overfilled the battery but there is no overflow onto the top surface of the battery, the best thing to do is just to stop filling and let it be. If there was an overflow onto the top of the battery, remember that the overflow is acidic — do not let it touch your skin or clothing.
• Clean it with a rag or rags or with paper toweling by wiping away from the ports. Do not let the rag or paper towels get wet enough to drip on other parts of the car or anything. Rinse the rag or paper towel in a pail of water. Wear gloves--don't get the water on your hands. After the job is done, discard the rinsed out rag or paper towel in the regular trash. Pour the water down a drain, being careful not to splash the water around. You do not want to take a chance that the residue of acid will get on something else. Finally, clean anything that the overflow contacted with a rag dampened with window cleaner.
• Visually inspect any overfilled battery weekly for a month to see if there is any further overflow, and clean any overflow as described above if necessary.
• The sulfuric acid lost from the battery by an accidental overflow is probably a small enough amount as to be immaterial to the operation of the battery. It is best not to attempt to add acid to to replace the loss. (Too much acid shortens the life of the battery more than too little.)

Okay, Part 4 will be continued in the next post :)
Thanks.
Source : wikihow.com