Battery leaking? Normal?

Then why doesn’t a new one leak? For that matter why do none of my older batteries not leak.

it’s a failed seal. A failed part is not a normal part. I wouldn’t replace it unless it was causing more trouble than it has. It’s very common on older batteries, but not normal.

Sorry I can’t agree that a failure is normal bro.

 

Car batteries can sorta seep electrolyte from the caps. I wouldn’t call it a failure, it’s more of a design flaw. They leak badly if someone put too much water in.

Yours doesn’t look too bad. I would just wipe it off and address the build up on the hold down bracket at the bottom of the picture. Mine I stuck one of those felt pads under right there. Noco makes really good felt pads and they’re like $1 on Amazon.

I spend a great deal of time working on batteries. Car batteries and huge industrial type. This one I have to add 1-3 gallons every other week. The last big one I sold cost $14k.

 

Had this same issue under the bracket. Mine was a small crack under bracket. Bracket was too tight (my fault). Replaced battery, cleaned up and repainted bracket. Made sure not to over tighten this time. Expensive lesson.

 

I appreciate all the responses so far. I'm not saying Napa batteries are bad, but I normally buy my batteries from Costco and never had one leak. Apparently those are sealed acid batteries with no caps that can be removed. I never had a lead acid motorcycle battery leak like this but then again those were sealed. Not sure what the benefit is of this type with caps over ones without.

I did have my battery checked at Autozone. It passed. They offered to check my starter and alternator but I declined. Not sure what they would be looking for here anyway. Besides my alternator was just changed.

 

Unless the Costco ones are AGM, they still had some way for the electrolyte to leak out. Fluid filled lead batteries always need some way to vent if the fluid boils.

Anyway, you're good. On with life.

 

The simple solution if a battery is leaking from one of the caps is replace the cap. Its plastic seals no longer conform to the round holes, it’s lost its ability to seal. Maybe toss them in a pot of boiling water for 5 min. to try to return them to original condition instead of the deformed current condition. It’s just plastic.

 

Every Costco battery I’ve had has open cells (with a cap) and all have a tiny bit of electrolyte buildup on the top of the case. Easily kept clean, especially with a wipe down from time to time with an alkaline solution (baking soda).

The Noco felt terminal protectors are like a buck at Walmart too and work surprisingly well.

 

Is your system overcharging (above 14.1 vdc)? If so, battery could be overheating. Just a thought, mine lasts 5 - 6 years no corrosion, no problems.

 

I hear you guys, but I suppose my battery was leaking more than normal. Maybe simply the tiedown was too tight. None of my other batteries on other vehicles ever did this where it was this noticeable.

The front tiedown bolt was so corroded with white gunk before I cleaned it that that can’t be normal. But again maybe it was leaking from the side due to the tiedown being too tight. Either way I’m gonna leave it alone to my trip.

I doubt it. I have a new alternator as of last week so either way I don’t think it matters at this point

 

I had one Costco/Interstate battery on my 1962 Triumph TR3 a few years ago that puked quite a bit of electrolyte from the positive (ground) terminal. Much more than normal. I blamed my older Battery Tender at the time, and quit using it (I only use CTEK now) and bought a new battery.

TBH it could also have been the old skool battery carrier I used to move it into the car, one of the kind that was a strong plastic strap with metal ends that gripped the two terminals. I guess it's not impossible that carrier overstressed the terminals. I don't use that strap any more, and I baby the terminals during installation and use.

 

Three years old...Cheap insurance...just replace it...Batteries don't see to last as they once did....I just replaced a three year old battery on our Buick Lucerne..It was reading 12.01 in the morning.

 

CTEK is outstanding. I mounted it atop the fuse box using velcro, and ran the cord inside to a NOCO plug mounted on the bumper, drivers side. Each night I plug it in from a cord from the garage, without having to open the hood. Perfect trickle regulation. I got seven years out of an OEM battery this way, never overcharged, no leaking whatsoever. FWIW.
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$118 CTEK (56-958) MUS 4.3 Polar 12 Volt Fully Automatic Extreme Climate 8 Step Battery Charger

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Here’s some pictures of the noco felt pads doing their job.

 

Liquid LA batteries have a vent. Charge one hard/fast and it will generate H and O2.
When I was younger we would capture the gas in a syringe and light it. Makes a decent pop!
This is why instructions for connecting jumper cables have you connect the ground to frame away from the battery as the last lead, so that a spark doesn't potentially blow up your battery.

Motorcycle batteries used to have vent tubes on one side which made it easy to capture the gas. Our favorite technique was to use a glass syringe to catch it.