Leaking battery acid

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:10 pm

I'm getting ready to buy some batteries and was just planning on going with Walmart units.

I'm worried about acid leaking in my freshly painted battery box. Do you guys have a solution for this or is there a way to prevent it?

I was thinking about some plastic tray liners or coating for the tray. Any other ideas?

Thanks.

RimfireJim · Post by **RimfireJim** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:07 pm

I've read about these but can't personally vouch for them: http://www.batterymat.com/ Seem to be available through JC Whitney: http://www.jcwhitney.com/acid-neutraliz ... 06087.jcwx, Battery Mart http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-mat.html, Amazon, and many others. Reviews are positive on the two I linked and on Amazon.

MODIFIED · Post by **MODIFIED** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:11 pm

http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-mat.html

works well. cheap too.

I also lined the entire interior battery box and underside of lid with asphaltum. Seemingly the closest equivalent that was coated within my box prior to dis-assembly.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:21 pm

Thanks guys.

I'm assuming the asphalt stuff is the thick black stuff like I use to line my swamp cooler sump. I'm usually into function rather than fashion but in this case I don't want to put that stuff on my new paint job.

I'll look into the pads.

AeroE · Post by **AeroE** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:37 pm

I’ve had no luck with using standard lead-acid batteries in terms of stopping corrosion. Even when you line the boxes with plastic or asphalt (I've tried both), the acid fumes have a way of getting through the smallest defect. One choice is to flush the boxes regularly with a weak solution of baking soda/water. Battery-mat helps, but a lot of damage is from gaseous leakage, not liquid H2SO4.

My time is more valuable than all that messing around, so I’ve gone to AGM sealed batteries; Optima 51R (Honda Civic). I do keep a set of 2HN’s for show. I got two 51R’s from AutoZone for $320+tax.