What to fill in the battery: step by step instructions, features and recommendations

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The battery is one of the most important elements in any car. It is he who supplies the starting current to the starter, which subsequently turns the crankshaft and starts the engine. Batteries can be located in different places - under the hood, in the trunk, and on trucks and even on the frame. But, regardless of the type of car, the battery tends to age. And one of the most common situations is electrolyte evaporation. What to do in such a situation? Can water be added to the battery? Find out in our article today.

How the electrolyte structure changes

Before we figure out what can be poured into the battery, consider the processes that occur inside the battery when discharging and charging. This will help avoid mistakes when adding liquid to it.

So, car batteries contain 65 percent distilled water. The rest is sulfuric acid. With this ratio, the density of the electrolyte is about 1.28 grams per cubic centimeter (the error is up to three percent). This is the optimal level at which the desired voltage is produced. Note that during charging, the temperature of this liquidincreases. This process is called electrolysis. During battery charging, gas is released. In this case, part of the water evaporates. The acid concentration also changes. The density of the electrolyte increases. At first glance, this might seem like a good thing. In fact, high density leads to a decrease in battery capacity.

If we consider modern maintenance-free batteries, they have a sealed closed case. So, the evaporated water after charging turns into condensate. And after a while it flows back into the "jar" (these are the holes in the battery). The characteristics of the solution do not change and the density remains at the same level. Such a battery can serve for a long time - up to five years or more. But if the tightness of the housing is broken, the distillate level drops. This negatively affects the battery life and capacity.

It is worth talking about another factor called solution sulfation. This is a process in which s alts from the acid begin to settle on the lead plates themselves. This usually happens when a large current is applied or when the battery has been idle for a long time (two months or longer). Sulfation also leads to a decrease in battery capacity and to a decrease in acid concentration. Therefore, in order to extend the life of the battery, you need to regularly monitor the concentration of the solution inside and, if necessary, replenish its level.

Water or electrolyte?

Unscrewing the lid of the battery can, we find that the level of the solution has dropped significantly. But how to replenish it? You need to be guided by the density of the liquid. Do not immediately pour electrolyte intohope that the battery will again regularly take charge. Incorrectly dissolving the liquid, you can only bring the battery closer to its death. Sulfation of the plates will occur, and in an accelerated form. The amount of acid in each jar will increase, and the plates will simply begin to crumble.

What is poured into the battery, which was with empty cans or has served for more than three years? In this case, it can be restored by flooding the electrolyte. But not the fact that such a battery will work for another three years. In most cases, this is a temporary measure. If the density is higher than normal, add more distilled water.

How to properly fill the battery if the density is increased?

To do this, the battery must be removed from the car and installed on a flat surface. It is important to clean its upper part from dirt and oil (if any). Next, use a slotted screwdriver to unscrew the plastic lids of each jar and use a hydrometer to measure the density.

Also pay attention to the color of the electrolyte. It should not be dark or contain small deposits (this indicates the beginning of the decay of the plates). If the density is higher than 1.35 grams per cubic centimeter, it must be lowered. What is poured into the battery in this case? In this situation, the jars must be diluted with distilled water. After each jar is filled with it (it is better to add from a syringe), you should install the battery for charging. Please note: charging must be done with the mostsmall current. The operation time is two to three hours. After that, the density must again be checked with a hydrometer, and in each of the six cans. Ideally, this parameter should be between 1.27 and 1.29 grams per cubic centimeter. if the voltage is too low, do not panic. The battery may be undercharged or too hot. The acid is finally mixed with water after three hours at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

Please note: you can not fill in a new electrolyte in the battery if you have insufficient liquid level in the banks. Remember that only water evaporates in jars. The acid is much heavier and under any circumstances will be at the bottom. What to fill in the battery? In this case, only distilled water can be used. How much to fill it into the battery depends on the current level. It must be the same on all banks (at the maximum level).

If density dropped

What to fill in the battery? In this case, do not add water. This will only make the situation worse. The only correct solution is to fill the electrolyte. Before the operation, it is necessary to make a control measurement. It is produced by the same hydrometer. If the value obtained is 1.25 grams per cubic centimeter or lower, it is worth increasing it by using a new electrolyte. The density of the latter should be about 1.27 grams. What volume to use? Using a syringe, you need to pump out the old liquid from the first jar to the maximum and pour it into a measuring cupor test tube. It is important for us to know how much solution was withdrawn from the first jar. This volume must be written down somewhere in a notebook. The volume of the new solution should be half that of the one we removed.

What's next?

If the result was less than the norm (up to 1, 25), you should repeat the operation again. We also note that when adding electrolyte, the battery is also put on charge. The technology is the same as in the case of adding distilled water. Charging time is two to three hours. After this time, we perform another control measurement. If the indicator is below 1.28, an acid with a density of 1.4 grams per cubic centimeter is needed.

About flushing

Earlier, we noted that when measuring, an opaque liquid can be detected. This suggests that the solution contains destroyed particles of lead plates. If you restore the battery, they must be removed completely. What to fill in the battery? First you need to use distilled water. We fill all damaged jars with it, close the lid and mix thoroughly. Don't be afraid to turn the battery upside down.

So we better clean the inside of the jar from dirt. After mixing, pour back all the dirt. What to fill in the battery next? We use water again. How to pour water into the battery, we already know. If, after repeated mixing, it has not changed color, then we have removed all the dirt from the plates. Now you can safely pour electrolyte here and measuredensity. By adjusting the water and electrolyte levels, we will reach the ideal value of 1.28 grams per cubic centimeter.

Pay attention

If literally black water has formed in the jars, most likely the plates cannot be restored. Such a battery is easier to replace with a new one. It is not possible to restore lead at home.

Summing up

Thus, we can independently restore the battery and return it to its former life. How to fill the electrolyte in the battery, you already know. If the density of the electrolyte becomes about 1.28, such a battery will last for some more time. How long will it last? It already depends on the condition of the lead plates. If they have already begun to crumble, the effect will be short - up to several months. But if the color of the solution has not changed, such a battery will last for at least a year.