Adding mineral oil to wet cell batteries ..Your thoughts

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by jimbo2013

but is the oil displacing the correct amount of acid for the batteries to operate?

The oil doesn't displace anything but air space (above the acid/water solution).

Is oil an electrolyte?

No and doesn't need to be. The oil only creates a barrier between the acid and the air space above.

I don't believe this thread is about looking for new technology, it's about using older technology to improve old technology. We all know we can buy Lithium or AGM batteries. It's​ just some of us prefer to buy 8 GC2s @ $650, rather than the alternative of $3000. Yet still have some of the bennie's 😀

[distaff]

A few interesting comments - if oil and water mixed you would have salad dressing, or your coach would be upside down. The electrolyte in a battery have a specific gravity very similar to water, and oil floats on water.

When you add the oil, first you make sure you are happy with the level of electrolyte by adding distilled water, then float the oil. Add water as needed, but it will be infrequent. Oil is pretty much chemically inactive in the battery, and it is a bit of a dielectric.

Yes, you can spend more on technically more advanced batteries and maybe they will out perform the old style, but I'm happy to let you run the experiment and report back here in 6 years on the performance of your batteries. I hope you are right, by then I may be interested in new batteries. The ones in my coach were 1/2 the price of conventional Trojans, maybe the cost of the new technology ones will have come down by then.

[Happycarz]

I'm with Dan on the Mizer Vent Caps. I have been using them for 20 years on 3 coaches. I just added 1 cup of water to each of the 4 house batteries. Although I have periodically checked the water level, the is the first addition in a year.
Lack of battery cable corrosion is a nice side benefit.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by RobRoy

Please elaborate, if you would.

Sail boats, off road vehicles, construction equipment and any other use, that would involve high angle or high shock loads, that could mix the oil with the acid.

[Stan&Jacquie]

I added mineral oil (Walgreens) to my house batts over a year ago. Have noticed a distinct drop in cable terminal corrosion and the need to add water less frequently. However, I check battery water monthly and still find that I need to add some, though less than when not using the mineral oil (about 1 cup distilled water divided evenly over my 4 house batts).

[RobRoy]

Again, yes I certainly I believe that by adding mineral oil on top of the electrolyte will slow down the degassing hence less corrosion issues.

That being said, your batteries are still using water and that level has to be replenished in order to maintain a proper level to avoid mineral oil contacting and coating the battery plates.

As far as increases battery life by adding mineral oil? I question that and believe that to be anecdotal and nothing more.

I have Motorcraft batteries in my crew cab dually that are 12 years old and just checked them with a real VAT 40 carbon pile load tester and the tested fine, of course, they are maintained on a regular basis and on a battery maintainer when in a storage of more than a couple of weeks.

The other issue would be ( at least to me ) with oil in the batteries is that as stated by TwinBoat “high angle or high shock loads, that could mix the oil with the acid. I know that I have experience driving conditions would shock and shake the coach batteries severely.

I am still trying to dig up reports studies on mineral oil in batteries and seem to be coming up empty.

I sent Exide batteries the question on this practice and waiting for a response.

So my thinking at this point is …that you still have the same amount of time involved and service intervals to maintain the proper electrolyte level by adding water because as someone stated that the mineral oil only slows down the flow rate that the gasses exit the battery and not the volume of gasses.

The 8 batteries in my coach have roller bearing slides 4 to a slide and to maintain them proper water level takes very little time 5-10 minutes. Then take my pump pressure garden Sprayer and spray down the trays with a mixture of water and baking soda.

I'm still trying to noodle this mineral oil thing out and the pros versus the cons . .....I want to take a good look before I leap.

Thanks for all the responses

[CampDaven]

I check my Magnum Energy readout often as I pass by it. If it goes to Absorb charge at 14.5 or higher for more than a few minutes after you plug the coach into the pedstal, or goes above Float charge rate of 13.6 often, the charger is not on par. excessive battery electrolyte loss is most often caused by improper inverter/charger settings and poor 12V electrical management.

IMO mineral oil may be a band-aid for the problem?... (not a fix).
That has been my theory all along. I am convinced that I only need to top off the cells once a year because when stuff is good, there is no need for a bandaid.

I didn't have 12V mgt in my first 2 coaches, just chargers I trusted (but verified with a meter). I have my Dad's lessons firmly in my head on many topics.
Another thing is that when charging is happening as it should, it will periodically show Full Charge. If it doesn't there are likely battery or charging issues

[William Willard]

RobRoy -- Adding mineral oil is more about avoiding corrosion than having to add water, & it certainly does that --

Harry -- What is the brand of the battery polish you use ? I need to get some -- Bill Willard

[distaff]

The Mizer caps seem interesting.

Unless you expose your coach to the kinds of inclines that would invert it, oil stays on top. The cells are deep and narrow, not a lot of room for white caps to form, if you get my point.

Last, you still need to add water because as you charge your batteries, you are creating hydrogen, and it comes from the water, so you do need to replace some water from time to time.

If Dave can tell the rest of us how to run an all electric coach overnight with furnaces going (since it is very cold outside in the winter) without deeply discharging and then recharging our deep cycles, I'm sure we would all like to learn. How long your inverter stays on bulk and absorb charging is directly dependent on how deeply you have discharged your deep cycles.

If you stay on shore power for extended periods, no problem.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by William Willard

RobRoy -- Adding mineral oil is more about avoiding corrosion than having to add water, & it certainly does that --


So the service interval really doesn't change because you still have to maintain the electrolyte level.

Harry -- What is the brand of the battery polish you use ? I need to get some -- Bill Willard

Here ya go, my friend, your wish is my command

Battery Manufacturers in Poland

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

Please tell me that the gas can in the picture that you have stored next to the batteries contains something other than gasoline! Distilled water perhaps?

Yep, distilled water.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by distaff

The Mizer caps seem interesting.

As did I

Unless you expose your coach to the kinds of inclines that would invert it, oil stays on top. The cells are deep and narrow, not a lot of room for white caps to form, if you get my point.

Last, you still need to add water because as you charge your batteries, you are creating hydrogen, and it comes from the water, so you do need to replace some water from time to time.

If Dave can tell the rest of us how to run an all electric coach overnight with furnaces going (since it is very cold outside in the winter) without deeply discharging and then recharging our deep cycles, I'm sure we would all like to learn. How long your inverter stays on bulk and absorb charging is directly dependent on how deeply you have discharged your deep cycles.

If you stay on shore power for extended periods, no problem.

Waiting to here others input on the Water Miser Battery Vent Caps

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by William Willard

Harry -- What is the brand of the battery polish you use ? I need to get some -- Bill Willard

Distilled water rinse before the polish is applied ! Eliminates those unsightly water spots !

[William Willard]

Thanks Ben -- Water spots was what I was having problems with - Bill Willard