PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-564
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 564
NOVEMBER 1999
echanics, you can keep your vehicle’s batteries singing a happy tune by
following this score for three-part harmony:
1.
Make sure battery plates are covered with
electrolyte by adding distilled water when needed.
Without electrolyte—a mix of sulfuric acid and distilled water—there is no
chemical reaction with the cell plates. Without the reaction, there is no electric-
ity, and the battery discharges and dies.
More is not better when it comes
to adding water, though. Too much
water—like filling cells to the top—is
just as bad as too little. When the cell
is too full, electrolyte is flushed out
during charging. Then, the battery can’t
recharge itself, so it dies. Fill cells with
distilled water to within
1
/
4
inch of the
filler cap necks.
You can get six 1-gal bottles of distilled water with NSN 6810-
00-682-6867. Get one 5-gal bottle with NSN 6810-00-356-4936.
Don’t use non-distilled water unless you must. Impurities in non-distilled
water can disrupt the chemical reaction that provides electricity.
PS 564
3
PS 564
2
NOV 99
But, in a pinch, rainwater, air conditioner condensation or even tap water can
be used. Filter it through a clean cloth before using it, though.
Fill the battery using battery filler syringe, NSN 6140-00-808-7325. Carry a
supply of water in the gravity battery filler, NSN 6140-00-635-3824. Both items
are in the Common shop sets.
Even with the syringe you can over-
fill, so be careful.
Keep in mind that during hot weather
this water and electrolyte solution ex-
pands. If batteries were full at cooler
temps, they’ll be overfull when it’s
hot. You can remove water with the
syringe, too.
Run the engine for 20–30 minutes
after adding water in freezing tempera-
tures. The charging system will then
mix the water and electrolyte. A fully
charged battery won’t freeze even at temps as low as –90
°
F.
If you don’t mix the two, the water just sits on top and will start freezing
at 32
°
F.
Carry distilled water.
..
Fill batteries
with syringe
ALL
TOGETHER
NOW!
ME-
ME-ME-
MEEE!
LA-
LA-LA-
LAAA!
I CAN'T
DO MY PART
WITHOUT
PM!
FA-FA-
HACK KOFF
GAG
!
... in gravity filler
Fill cells to within
1
/
4
inch of filler cap neck
Lead-acid Batteries . . .
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