Community Forums

mel s · 09-23-2013, 10:49 AM

Is there any danger of battery damage if the level of the electrolyte drops below the tops of the plates, (thereby contaminating the top of the plates with mineral oil)?
Mel
'96 Safari

buck454 · 09-23-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel stuplich

Is there any danger of battery damage if the level of the electrolyte drops below the tops of the plates, (thereby contaminating the top of the plates with mineral oil)?
Mel
'96 Safari

Simular to a question I have about this venture. I have done it once with the older batteries that were on the MH. A story within itsself as I got cable messed up, but nevertheless I remember I had the thought that I was removing a significant amount of battery fluid to make room for MO. I now have new battery and I question the removal of 4 joz per cell of battery fluid. I have installed the Pro-Fil system so loss of water is a minimum anyway. did many of you, actually do this to new batteries. I see the idea behind the function but I have mentioned this to a number of folks who should be in the know and they seem to never have heard of the mineral oil addition....certainly plenty of reading on irv2 though and I trust great information, advice, and help here. Bill

gripper · 09-23-2013, 03:17 PM

Last year, when I purchased four new 6 volts, I thought the same....that I would have to remove the acid in each cell, before I put the MO in. However, I just added the MO and there must have been room, because I didn't have to.

Mr_D · 09-23-2013, 03:20 PM

I just waited til the level was down some and added the mineral oil. Also did it to my new Interstate GC-2's last year with the same results: less maintenance needed and no corrosion.

Dunner · 09-23-2013, 03:42 PM

Thermoil is probably what Michelin briefly re-badged as their own battery life extender.

Sewing machine oil is probably the same.

There's also a $19.95 automotive finish product called Wipe New. Probably nothing more than Zep or RMP3 in a tiny bottle.

Dunner · 09-23-2013, 04:09 PM

I wonder who decided it should be 4 oz for a 6 volt

greg-1 · 09-23-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

I wonder who decided it should be 4 oz for a 6 volt

Good ?

Dunner · 09-23-2013, 04:45 PM

It works, if that's what you're asking.

greg-1 · 09-23-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

It works, if that's what you're asking.

I agree totally have it in mine the question how did the amount you put in each cell come about ?

Dunner · 09-23-2013, 05:46 PM

Maybe that original battery life extender that came out years ago, used that amount.

TeJay · 09-23-2013, 06:37 PM

How much MO. That's been answered. All you are doing is preventing the air from making contact with the electrolyte. Lets see: 12OZ bottle of MO and 6 cells (12-V) that's 12 divided by 6 = 2-OZ / cell.

Now 6-V 3 cells 12 divided by 3 = 4-OZ.

. That's how the amount was determined. If you placing a layer of MO the thickness is not really to important.

Now does it work??? I wouldn't have a clue. I do know this much. If it was of some benefit I believe B+'s would come from the factory with MO in them. Will it do any harm. Perhaps if the plates become exposed because of water loss the MO might interact or at least coat the plates.

ALL B+'s gas. During the normal charging and discharging H and O are lost because the water breaks down. There is a reason why you only ever add water to a B+. That's because it breaks down and is gassed off and passes out through the MO to the outside. I had a professor who told us that one should expect to loose about 1-OZ of water in a battery for every 1,000 miles of driving. I don't know if that was true then or even now.

Will it do any good???? I really doubt it. It's been my experience, (40 years of it) that if you keep the water filled (distilled if your water has a lot of iron in it), annually clean the surface with warm water and baking soda which neutralizes the sulfuric acid, keep the terminals clean, usually the B+s will last just about 59 months on a 60 month B+ and 74 months on a 75 month B+.

TeJay

Mr_D · 09-23-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeJay

Will it do any good???? I really doubt it. It's been my experience, (40 years of it) that if you keep the water filled (distilled if your water has a lot of iron in it), annually clean the surface with warm water and baking soda which neutralizes the sulfuric acid, keep the terminals clean, usually the B+s will last just about 59 months on a 60 month B+ and 74 months on a 75 month B+.

TeJay

See post #24 for your answers, pictures included.

1ciderdog · 09-23-2013, 07:15 PM

I live off grid and have 16 L-16 batteries costing well above $3500. My solar advisor said not to use mineral oil or any other additive until after the warranty period was passed. (In fact he said he'd never add mineral oil to any battery but that would start a heated discussion since so many members have had good success with the mineral oil) So I'd think if you have batteries still under warranty you might want to hold off on adding mineral oil or other "additive" to avoid any warranty problem. Just a thought.

Dunner · 09-23-2013, 07:18 PM

TeJay, I know that you're calling a battery a B+, but where did that come from? The mineral oil I bought from Safeway came in a 16 oz bottle.

Why not 3 oz per cell? Who's idea was it to use 4 oz?

If the journey to my destination is bumpy and MO gets on the top of the plates, will it hurt the batteries?