old battery

[Smeeagain]

I know that batteries contain a nice liquid cocktail inside but the battery that has just come out of my car Bosch Silver S4 sounds like it it half full - liquid sloshing around all over the pace - is that normal ?

Smee

[X5Sport]

Completely, unless you have a modern 'gel' battery - which the latest Bosch ones tend to be - then the liquid 'sloshing' will be Sulphuric Acid...........nice!

When you're taking the battery to the tip for disposal, put it on a sheet of plastic, or in a plastic box, so there's no risk of anything getting on carpets or metalwork. The 'fur' that grows on batteries makes nice holes in things!!

[Smeeagain]

Thanks for the advice. I replaced the old battery as it was at east six years old and had drained a couple of times (but that may be separate battery drain issue that I'm looking into ongoing) - so if I want to keep the old battery for a while are there any storage/charging recommendations ?
How long could it be kept for

cheers

Smee

[X5Sport]

If it's that old and had to be refilled I wouldn't bother. Bosch batteries should have an expiry date after which they should not be sold printed on them, and more than about two to three years after that date is the probable end of life.

If it's good though, then as long as it's charged on a conditioner/charger (like the CTEK ones for example) and kept in the dry then it will probably only need looking at once every 6 months or so.

[Smeeagain]

Thanks - it hasn't been refilled (i thought they were totally sealed?) but the level sounds low as I can hear it sloshing around so much - turns out I have not only a starter that is draining too much current but it also a lazy starter which makes it even worse. new starter going in tomorrow. The battery was being replaced more as a 'good practice' exercise so it may have some life left in it

If push came to shove can I hook the old battery up to the new one with jump leads and jump start of two batteries at once ? I don't need to I'm just curious to know if it is possible?

Cheers

Smee

[X5Sport]

If the charge is low, then the liquid level will be low. The only right way to get the fluid level checked is when fully charged if I remember my 'wet battery' theory correctly. And you have to use a hydrometer too. Of course these maintenace free batteries mean that's more or less impossible to do now. Over time you will get evaporation and a sealed battery will lose fluid naturally. I guess if it's an old battery then the electrolyte level will be lower.

You can indeed connect both and use them in parallel. If you think about it that's what a jump start is (boosted by a car engine at times) And disconnect the -ve lead as soon as the car starts or your alternator will try to charge both batteries. It's OK for a few moments, but not for much longer. Older, simple cars without loads of electronics and gizmos were fine, but not these cars.