White solid substance on battery after standing?

[nikobe]

My bike’s alarm drains the battery like nothing else when the bike is standing, so mostly I have the battery out of the bike or on the oximiser. Recently, due to the bad weather I haven’t been using the bike much. I had charged the battery after my last ride and then left it standing for a couple of months. The other day I went back to the battery to stick it in the bike and noticed something odd.

The battery is one of those where the fluid needs to be added initially and then a plastic cover is secured over the top of the reservoir.

What I noticed is around the edges of the cover, there was a build up of some kind of white solid substance that looked a bit like sea salt after evaporation of sea water. I wiped it off and checked the battery which was charged fine.

Should I be worrying about this substance? Does it mean that my battery fluid is evaporating. Does the fluid ever need topping up?

My previous battery was fully sealed so I have little experience of this kind.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Cheers

N

[Guest]

Not sure what it's called but it was a common occurance on some of my older cars - I believe all you need to do is clean it off and apply vaseline to the terminals to prevent/reduce the likelihood of its return.

NB - If my memory serves me right you should wear rubber gloves/avoid skin contact with the white stuff.

[duane69]

apply vaseline

If my memory serves me right you should wear rubber gloves/avoid skin contact with the white stuff.

somebody had too

[Guest]

Mind in the gutter - bit like that PPF bloke, whoever he is!

[Guest]

The white stuff is Lead sulfate, corrosion of the terminal, as said clean off, (don't inhale) and apply some vaseline, and make sure your terminals are tight.

anywhere else on the battery, and its an acid leak,

bad example of terminal corrosion...

 

[duane69]

Tell you what if I ever need anything fixing your the man for it Simon

[nikobe]

Thanks for the replies guys. It wasn't round the terminals, but round the edge of the "cap/cover" over the reservoir.

Oh well, it wasn't much and hasn't happened again, so I'll just wipe it off again if it happens again.

Hopefully my battery won't degrate too much. I've heard some people say that optimisers such as the oximiser might dry out the battery over time. Is this true?

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies guys. It wasn't round the terminals, but round the edge of the "cap/cover" over the reservoir.

Oh well, it wasn't much and hasn't happened again, so I'll just wipe it off again if it happens again.

Hopefully my battery won't degrate too much. I've heard some people say that optimisers such as the oximiser might dry out the battery over time. Is this true?

if it was round the cap, then its acid,

haven't heard anything negative about the optimate range,.

[Colin the Bear]

All liquid filled batteries use electrolite and need topping up with deionised water from time to time. A battery in constant use will use it more quickly. Make the battery part of your fluid check routine. The crystals or powder that forms is corrosive and will burn skin and clothing. Holey wranglers