Battery leaking

S

SigmaRho1416

Junior Member
Hey guys. I have a 1941 ford, Stock flathead, 6v positive ground, I am running a standard 6v tractor battery from the local tractor supply. I have had the battery for about 4 years now. It always works,charges etc but it has always leaked water out from under the 3 caps. Enough that you can see it pooled up in the battery tray after a drive . The only time it really stopped was because it was empty or close to it. Its really starting to trash up my battery tray and the frame rail under it. What could cause this? Even just sitting there unhooked I get a seepage on the top of the battery. Its almost like it has a plugged up vent or something. I have double checked my voltage regulator and its working correct, I guess I am just out of ideas. Thanks in advance.
 
What is your charging voltage --perhaps your regulator is set wrong, or a bad ground could be making the charge rate too high.

It could also just be the battery.

The battery that came with my 46 had all the tar gone, I could lift the cells out of the case ---the battery wasn't very good, I parked on a hill, gave the car a shove, climbed in and kicked it off in 2nd most of the time, but the battery didn't leak

If it is overcharging it will cook up any battery, the Optima won't leak, but it won't last long with overcharging ---on my A I use the headlights to control the charge --but it doesn't have a regulater, the battery is 14 years old.

Try driving with the headlights on --if the battery doesn't leak then get a new regulater, or have it adjusted.
 
sounds like time to get a new battery....especially if it's "trashing" your vehicle.....good luck.....Mike
 
Thanks guys. The voltage regulator is sending around 7 volts to the battery. I will probably end up getting a new battery. Its just strange that this one has been doing it since I bought it. I was using the same brand/style battery before this one and it never leaked. Hopefully after this last refil it will boil out what it needs and stop leaking for a while.
 
That's why I went to Optima, that acid will mess up your engine bay & wiring.
 
Order a battery from your nearest A/C Delco distributor. It will not leak or vent acid. I've sold hundreds of batteries from various suppliers. I can tell you that Delco makes the best ones. It's the only brand I never have to warranty.

Batteries are inherently going to be an easy to fail part. It's a box full of corrosive acid that has to pass high amperage on a regular basis. Most battery brands don't hold up. Even the big names like interstate and diehard are garbage in my book. I work on a half dozen cars every day, and I notice that nearly all brands of batteries tend to have a lot of corrosion on them from acid leakage. AC delco has a better case design. They just don't leak. Additionally they are designed for higher charging voltages. They are very reasonably priced too. Half the price of an Optima.

I can't say enough good things about the Delco batteries. Try it and you will see.
 
Optima is the way to go, but if you just want a wet cell battery try using a plastic tray in the bottom of your battery area. Be sure to put a drain hole connected to a rubber/plastic hose that goes below the frame. A marine/boat plastic battery box will also work.
 
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