Aux Battery Leaks

GMCWAYNE · February 1, 2007

I have asked this on other forums and haven't got a satisfactory answer yet. My truck has the aux battery option. I noticed one day that it had been leaking acid out of the vent caps. I removed it and the tray and cleaned up all remaining acid. When I took the caps off I noticed that the acid level was right to the top on the negative end of the battery and a little less acid in each hole till the positive end which was just above the plates. The battery is fine takes a charge and holds it well.

What could of caused the leaking? Will an alternator overcharging cause it to leak like this? The battery is oriented with the negative end toward the rear of truck. Would parking uphill every day cause this? I wouldn't think so but just a thought.

I need to get this figured out as I am planning on pulling a fifth wheel and right now I don't have 12V to the trailer plug to charge the fifth wheel batteries.

Any Help?

dewfpo · February 2, 2007

I have asked this on other forums and haven't got a satisfactory answer yet. My truck has the aux battery option. I noticed one day that it had been leaking acid out of the vent caps. I removed it and the tray and cleaned up all remaining acid. When I took the caps off I noticed that the acid level was right to the top on the negative end of the battery and a little less acid in each hole till the positive end which was just above the plates. The battery is fine takes a charge and holds it well.
What could of caused the leaking? Will an alternator overcharging cause it to leak like this? The battery is oriented with the negative end toward the rear of truck. Would parking uphill every day cause this? I wouldn't think so but just a thought.

I need to get this figured out as I am planning on pulling a fifth wheel and right now I don't have 12V to the trailer plug to charge the fifth wheel batteries.

Any Help?

If you had an overcharging condition, you would most likely see it in your main battery as well. You could check that by throwing a voltmeter on either battery while theengine is running. Should show anywhere from 13.8V to 14.7 volts.

Are the water levels in the aux. battery at the correct level (bottom of the hole)? How steep of a hill? The fluid could just be leaking out of the caps based on the orientation of the aux. battery and the steepness of the hill. The main battery is oriented 90 degrees to your aux. battery so the slope wouldn't be a problem.

DEWFPO

davegee · February 2, 2007

Factory batteries should be sealed Delco's.....I have ditched all my "old school" (refillable) batteries for sealed style or Optima's, for the same reason as you have experienced. Worst one was in my 1969 Camaro SS convertible! That cost me some new sheetmetal/battery tray rework.

The Delco'sare not perfect, but USUALLY they avoid these problems.

GMCWAYNE · February 2, 2007

Thanks Guys

These batteries are everstarts from walmart. I have measured the voltage before just because it looked a bit high on the guage in the cab. Measured normal to me. I checked the stud for the fuse in the panel under the hood, where you are supposed to have a 30 amp for 12V to the camper. There are no contacts there for the fuse, so I am assuming that since mine has the dual battery option that I will need to have it installed if I want 12V at the plug.

Maybe I'll redo the battery tray to make it sit in the same orientation as the main battery and see how that goes.

Wayne