Non-sealed battery

After 2 years of ownership I just realized my battery is not sealed.

Should I be adding distilled water to it? Hopefully not a really stupid question....

 

Up to you. I'd think it would be a bigger issue in a hotter drier climate. I replace mine about every 2 years anyway.

 

Yes, you should top it up using only distilled water.
Maintaining a proper water level is key to long battery life.
I check mine every oil change.

Above the plates but below the ring as below.

 

Agreed - Won't hurt to add any water back. Distilled Water.

But out here a battery in the engine bay gets you 18 to 24 months. Even a SLA or AGM battery. I usually get it comped on warranty a few times between purchases.

 

I topped up my battery a month ago with distilled water and sure it'll last longer but they say you don't have to so don't feel bad for not.

Anyways, Rusty laid it out pretty well above. Just make sure to use distilled water if you do.

 

I have never added water to a car battery in my life and I don’t remember the last time I bought a new battery. I’m probably going to hell.

 

It must be the heat down south, I’ve had batteries nearly a decade old still going strong

 

I also suspect that a dead battery is in the eye of the beholder. I have read accounts of people replacing a battery because there is “corrosion” on the terminals.

 

Typically I like to run a battery until It struggles to near the point of needing a boost. Not the best way to go about it I know but it's how I roll.

In my ranger that I had for over 5 years, I threw a scrapyard battery in it of unknown age and I sold the truck with the same battery. Not all batteries are made equal but some are pretty good still

Afterthought/editing my words, I should mention along with all this, I do "keep an eye" on my battery by how fast the engine cranks over to gauge when to replace it. If it's -25 and the engine barely rolls over fast enough to start, then i'll start shopping for a battery because chances are it wouldn't cut it at -40. In the summer time though I roll the dice until it needs a boost.

I get the idea of replacing a battery preventively but they're not cheap and I feel that if I were that skeptical to replace it annualy/bi-annually then I would invest in a midtronics/gr8 to test my battery and maybe test batteries on the side to recoup the cost of the tester

 

I test batteries every fall with this old school load tester - 25 or so years old.
If they pass I keep running them.

 

Reminds me of the VAT 40 machines we used in school

 

It is most definitely the heat. Especially in the southwest. Turns them into battery jerky.

I've had Optima Yellow and Red and the two cells that die first are the ones inboard towards the engine.

 

You mean like beef jerky? I love beef jerky.

 

I see you're in Alberta.
My experience of 7 decades here is replace the battery every 5 years then you lessen the chances of being stranded.
Lead acid batteries at Costco are pretty "cheap".

 

Exactly.
But Beef Jerky = Good. Mmmmmm.
Battery Jerky = Bad. Ugggggghhhh.