what level should you fill your car battery up to?

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Learning how to safely check the electrolyte levels in your car battery is an important aspect of auto maintenance that should be performed a few times each year. Checking is important for two reasons: first, because electrolyte naturally evaporates and 2nd, because a small amount electrolyzes into hydrogen and oxygen every time the battery charges.

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   Locate the battery. In most cars, you lot simply need to open the hood of your car to admission the bombardment.^[1]

   • Some batteries are located lower in the engine compartment, backside the front bumper and ahead of the front wheels. These are sometimes accessed from the bottom and need to be removed for service.
   • About BMW and Mercedes Benz batteries and a few others are located in the body, concealed in an isolated compartment.
   • Batteries may also be located nether the rear seat, such as in some Cadillacs.

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   Clean. Earlier you lot cheque the h2o levels, clean any dirt or debris from the meridian of the battery and around the bombardment terminals. This is important, as y'all practise not desire any foreign material entering the battery cells when you open them. This is besides important because a clean battery surface helps slow or stop corrosion on nearby metal.^[two]

   • For general cleaning of road grime and minor corrosion, use an ammonia-based window cleaner. Spray the cleaner on your rag — not on the battery itself — and wipe abroad any dirt. Paper towels can be used every bit long as you replace them before they disintegrate to bits.
   • Heavy corrosion can be cleaned with a paste of baking soda and water. Over again, moisture the rag and wipe, do not soak the battery with baking soda. Sometimes information technology takes many repetitions of wetting the rag and wiping. Follow up by cleaning with a rag dampened with window cleaner to remove the blistering soda. Leaving a residuum of baking soda on the outside of the battery will speed upwardly hereafter corrosion of the terminals and nearby metal.
   • Don't go ahead of yourself here — exist sure the covers are on the battery ports at this stage of cleaning. Do not let cleaning fluids drip or flow into the battery through the ports.
   • Note: If y'all prefer, you lot can remove the battery from the car before cleaning and performing this maintenance, and reinstall it later. This may be safer, specially if the battery is in an awkward location. This will reset some or all of the electronics in the machine however (clock, radio station presets, etc.). If the battery can exist serviced without removing it from the motorcar, this usually saves considerable fourth dimension overall.
   • You lot can also remove the battery terminals from the battery and dip them in a cup of very hot water. The hot water will melt away the corrosion, leaving a clean surface. Make sure the terminals are completely dry before replacing them on the bombardment. (This will also reset the automobile's electronics.)

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   Open the ports. On top of the battery are typically two semi-rectangular plastic covers used to seal each battery cell port. These tin can be removed by gently prying with plastic putty pocketknife or a screwdriver. Endeavor prying from a number of points effectually the periphery of the cover if the cover does not immediately come up loose.

   • Some batteries have six individual round covers instead. These can be removed past twisting counter-clockwise, and so lifting them out.
   • If the battery is labeled as "maintenance gratuitous," it is not designed to be opened. Manufacturers advise that water cannot be added to these batteries, they only need to be replaced if they stop working well.

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   Keep cleaning if necessary. Removing the port covers may reveal more dirt on the top of the battery. Go along cleaning past wiping abroad from the ports with a rag dampened with window cleaner.

   • Practise non apply baking soda for this cleaning. Use a pocket-size amount of window cleaner, and be very careful to forestall annihilation (cleaner, clay, bits of paper towel, etc.) from inbound the ports.
   • Don't be tempted to skip this step — keeping the meridian of the battery clean will reduce future corrosion. This is an important aspect of bombardment maintenance for preserving the integrity of the connections.

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   Compare the fluid levels in each cell. By looking down into each port you can see the electrolyte level of each individual cell. Each cell is supposed to be covered in an equal amount of fluid.^[3]

   • If this is non the case it could have been caused simply by accidental overfilling previously, in which case the trouble is easily corrected by proper filling later on, after the overfilled level has gone downwards in normal service to the normal range.
   • If fluid levels are plainly unequal, information technology is also possible that the battery may take a small-scale fluid leak or a cracked instance. If then the bombardment needs to be replaced. If at that place is no obvious leakage, fill the bombardment to the maximum safe level, using distilled water simply, and check once again in a few weeks to come across if the levels have remained uniform.

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   Recognize when electrolyte levels are low. The electrolyte is besides low if any part of the plates is exposed to air. If the plates are not fully covered with electrolyte, so the bombardment cannot operate at total chapters.^[four]

   • Exposing the plates to air ruins the area exposed to air in a affair of days.
   • If the electrolyte is simply almost i/2 inch (1 cm) below the top of the plates, adding plenty water to the bombardment to just comprehend the plates may return it to serviceable condition at a slightly reduced chapters. (Instructions for adding water follow in Role 3 of this wiki article.) Otherwise, yous will need to consider replacing the battery.
   • A depression electrolyte level could be caused by overcharging, and then if this is the instance, you should consider having your alternator checked.

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   Recognize when electrolyte levels are normal. The normal fluid level is about 1/2 inch (i cm) to a higher place the tops of the plates or about 1/8 inch (3 mm) below the bottoms of the filler tubes that extend down from the port openings.

   • If this is the example it may not be worth the effort to fill the battery at this fourth dimension. Only supercede the port covers and audit over again in three months.

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   Recognize when the electrolyte is at its maximum level. The maximum safe fluid level is just touching the bottom of the filler tubes.

   • Most filler tubes accept a pair of slots in the side somewhere well-nigh the lesser of the tube. This causes the meniscus (the little scrap of liquid that bends upward near the edge of the tube) to have a distinctive eye-shape if the fluid is touching the filler tube, whereas there is no meniscus if the fluid is below the bottom of the filler tube.
   • The eye-shaped meniscus is designed as a signal to cease filling. Y'all may need to utilize a flashlight to see the fluid level and the presence or absence of the meniscus clearly.

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   Continue in heed that these levels are for lead-acid automotive batteries just. Yous should always follow the advice of your battery dealer or the battery manufacturer if it conflicts with the information provided in this article.

   • Also be aware that batteries for golf carts, floor cleaning machines, and nickel cadmium batteries especially may require other electrolyte levels.

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   Use just distilled water to fill the cells. Distilled water can be purchased at most grocery stores. If the electrolyte levels in the cells are low (plates are exposed), fill each cell to simply cover the plates. And then apply a bombardment charger to recharge the battery, or just drive the car for a few days in normal service. Only fill to the maximum safe level — merely touching the bottoms of the filler tubes — if the battery is fully charged.^[5]

   • Use a clean funnel, sports bottle, turkey baster, etc. to ensure control of the catamenia and accurateness of the final level when filling each port. Exist very careful to prevent whatever clay or cleaning agents from getting into the cells.
   • Using tap water, well water, filtered water, or anything but distilled water, will introduce minerals and chemicals (east.g. chlorine if information technology is urban center water) and other contaminates that will result in decreased battery life.^[6]

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   If the battery is weak or dead, avoid filling the cells fully. If y'all are adding h2o because the bombardment is weak or dead, information technology is better to fill it only enough to cover the plates (or leave it alone if it is at a normal level).^[seven]

   • When a weak or dead battery is charged the electrolyte level will ascension, therefore you should allow space for the level to ascension when y'all charge the battery. (This does not happen to a fully charged battery.)
   • Electrolyte levels tin can also rising if the battery gets hot.

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   Wipe up spills and close the ports. Ensure all areas are clean and free from clay or debris, then place cleaned port covers back onto the battery.

   • If you accidentally overfilled the battery but there is no overflow onto the height surface of the battery, the best thing to exercise is just to end filling and permit it be. If at that place was an overflow onto the superlative of the battery, recollect that the overflow is acidic — do not let information technology bear upon your skin or clothing.
   • Clean it with a rag or with paper towels by wiping abroad from the ports. Do not let the rag or paper towels become moisture enough to drip on other parts of the machine or anything. Rinse the rag or newspaper towel in a pail of water. Wear gloves—don't get the water on your hands.
   • After the job is done, discard the rinsed-out rag or paper towel in the regular trash. Pour the water downward a bleed, beingness careful not to splash the water around. You do not want to take a gamble that the residue of acid will go on something else. Finally, clean anything that the overflow contacted with a rag dampened with window cleaner.
   • Visually inspect whatever overfilled bombardment weekly for a calendar month to meet if there is any further overflow, and make clean any overflow equally described in a higher place if necessary.
   • The sulfuric acid lost from the battery by an adventitious overflow is probably a small enough amount as to be immaterial to the operation of the battery. It is best non to attempt to add acid to to replace the loss. (Too much acid shortens the life of the battery more than than too footling.)

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   Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles. The electrolyte in the battery is sulfuric acid, so it is extremely important that none of this liquid gets into your eyes, every bit information technology could crusade significant damage or fifty-fifty blindness.^[8]

   • Contact lenses afford you no protection and may complicate an accident. Ordinary glasses exercise not protect adequately due to the lack of side shields.
   • Therefore, information technology's essential to wear condom goggles, which can exist purchased at most hardware stores.

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   Protect your hands past wearing dispensable gloves. Choose a glove-type that tin stand upwards to sulfuric acid for at least a few minutes. These can be found at hardware stores.

   • Latex and vinyl gloves will not stand up to acid long. If you use latex or vinyl gloves, alter the glove immediately upon noticing a splash on information technology. Given fourth dimension, a splash of electrolyte will soak through the glove and burn down your skin.
   • Neoprene gloves offer protection for an hour or more, but are harder to detect at ordinary hardware stores. Nitrile is not the same as Neoprene. Nitrile gloves offer less protection from sulfuric acid than latex, and should not be used.

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   Protect your skin. Wearable old clothing with long sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes to encompass as much skin every bit possible. If any electrolyte splashes on your clothing the material will rot abroad in about a calendar week or two, leaving a hole, so wear old apparel that you tin can cede.

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   Know what to do if the electrolyte touches your skin. If any electrolyte splashes on your pare, immediately launder information technology with running h2o and soap.^[ix]

   • If you feel a burning or tingling awareness on your skin anywhere, you may have splashed a drib of electrolyte on yourself. It only takes a drop to cause a burn.
   • You may non be able to run across any redness or injury until it is too late, so if y'all suspect you may have splashed yourself, accept a break from your work and wash immediately rather than taking a hazard.
   • Dispose of all used gloves and rags when the task is done. Leaving these in contact with other materials could cause damage.

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• Be sure that your eyes are protected. Bombardment acid tin can bullheaded yous and is very corrosive.

• Habiliment safety glasses when checking and filling battery jail cell liquid levels.

• Continue all areas gratuitous and articulate of debris while servicing battery.

• If you practise not know what you're doing, have your car to a mechanic. Most auto-parts stores will perform this service free of charge.

• Utilize a one-inch wide plastic putty knife to pry off port covers. Plastic putty knives tin can exist purchased at most hardware stores or where house pigment is sold. Alternatively, a screwdriver with an insulated handle may be used, only when prying, exist careful not to accidentally touch the metal shaft of the screwdriver to any other metal. That could cause a spark which could ignite hydrogen gas inside the battery.

• Do non remove any bombardment port covers while the motorcar is running.

• Clean the bombardment. Dirt holds moisture and becomes slightly conductive, especially dirt exposed to acidic fumes from the battery. Current flowing over the exterior surfaces of the bombardment through clay promotes corrosion of nearby metallic.

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Things Y'all'll Need

• Rubber glasses
• Gloves. Neoprene is best. Latex or Vinyl are OK. Nitrile can't stand to battery acrid.
• Rags or paper toweling
• Distilled Water
• Sports bottle, turkey baster, or a funnel.
• Ammonia-based window cleaner
• Baking soda (optional--if heavy corrosion is nowadays on the battery terminals)
• One inch wide plastic putty pocketknife (optional) for prying off port covers, or advisedly employ a screwdriver with an insulated handle.

About This Article

Article Summary X

Before checking the h2o levels in your machine's bombardment, make sure to wear safety goggles and disposable gloves to protect your eyes and pare from the electrolytes in the battery. Then, clean off the dirt from the top of the battery and open the ports so you can check the fluid level in each cell. If the cells are not covered in an equal amount of fluid, y'all'll need to make full them with simply plenty water to cover the plates. Afterwards, wipe up whatever spills and place the port covers back onto the battery. For more communication from our Automotive reviewer, including how to arrange the fluid levels in your battery, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Check-Car-Battery-Water-Levels

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