Car Battery Question

[JanetRose]

If a car batttery is left on its side, can it leak? Also, how bad is it to be leaking?

 

[Serena]

I don't know the answer, I just know a leaking battery is bad. That stuff will eat through just about anything.

 

[JanetRose]

Do I just put baking soda on it and clean it up?

 

[Philharmagik]

most batteries are self contained and should not leak. if one does it will eat through most anything. wear rubber gloves and use a baking soda and water mix to clean up.

 

[Disfan1]

DH works for a major car battery manufacturer. ANY car battery left on its side will leak eventually. (Except Optima) The acid will destroy almost anything except plastics. Best thing to clean it up with is baking soda with LOTS of water. If it only leaked a little and the vent caps are removable, set it back upright, remove vent caps and check fluid level. If the battery was made by Delco or East Penn, they are completely sealed and cannot be checked for fluid levels. The fluid should come up to the bottom of the small tube you look through. If you can see the tops of the metal plates above the fluid, (but can still see fluid) top off with distilled water just to the bottom of the tubes (splash guard) and recharge on a 10 amp automatic charger. If no fluid is visible at all, but you can still hear it sloshing around, you will need to add electrolyte available at most auto parts stores. PM me if you still have ? - DH was helping me with the answer.

 

[JanetRose]

My daughter had left the battery in her car (she didn't want to wait until Walmart installed it for her) but I took her car and the battery back to Walmart and they replaced it with another battery. We put baking soda on what leaked out and I still need to clean it with baking soda and water, it looks like. Thanks!

 

[Serena]

I'm glad you got it taken care of.