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Information provided by Unique Battery & Electrical Service
 
1. How often should you check the water?
Once or twice every 3 months with a new battery. Once a week, if the battery is older than 1½ years.
 
2. How do you remove the battery cap to add the water?
Batteries have different types of caps. Some have caps you can unscrew with your fingers, some you need to use a coin to unscrew them and others you can pull off with your hand. See illustrations below.
 
 
3. Does it matter if you use Tap water or Distilled water?
Yes. You should use distilled water since it lacks the high mineral content present in tap water. Barbados' tap water contains high amounts of lime. The lime settles in the battery compartment causing the development of a lime cell within the battery and inhibits the proper operation of the lead acid cell.
 
4. How much water should you put in?
Some batteries have a low level and full level marking on the battery. However, some batteries do not have a marking indicating the level you should fill the water to. In such a case you should fill the battery where the water level is below the bottom of the battery cap, when the cap is replaced.
 
Battery Water Level Indicators
Battery with Text & line markings indicating the Upper
& Lower Level
Battery with 2 Horizontal Bands
indicating the Upper
& Lower Level

For Batteries without indicators,
water level should be below the bottom of the Battery cap
 
 
5. What happens if you over fill the battery?
If you put too much water is in the battery, when the car is started, the acid will spill. The reaction inside the battery when the car is started causes the water level to rise. If there is too much water in the battery, the rising water level from the reaction will cause the water to overflow. This causes valuable acid inside the battery to be lost. The acid is the conduit in which the electricity flows. The acid will cause corrosion if it comes in contact with metal.
 
Corrosion caused by battery acid spills
 
Be careful where you wash off the sediments cause by the corrosion since it will leave a stain. Big brown stains may not look to good in your garage.
 
Stain left in road
 
6. What happens if the water runs too low?
Two serious problems occur by running the water level too low. There is an increase in heat and a deterioration of battery plates. This restricts the battery from charging and destroys the battery plates. Just like overcharging this destruction can take place in a matter of 5 months.
 
 
Information provided courtesy of Unique Battery & Electrical Service
 
 
 
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