can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must?
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ottawa/London, ON, Canada
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (piggydog)
You can put old coffee if you wish, but seriously, can you not afford distilled water? You can get it at any grocery store for cheap.
The reason why distilled water should be used is because it is pure. Tap water contains chemicals and minerals which contaminate the battery, and alter the chemical composition of the electrolyte. This shortens the life span of your battery.
The reason why distilled water should be used is because it is pure. Tap water contains chemicals and minerals which contaminate the battery, and alter the chemical composition of the electrolyte. This shortens the life span of your battery.
#4
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: la, ca, us
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (maks)
LOL I can afford it but the battery won't start and I'm lazy about biking down the road and carrying a gallon of water back.
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ottawa/London, ON, Canada
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (piggydog)
Haha gotcha,
The battery is completely dry? That seems rather strange, perhaps all it needs is to be charged up.
The battery is completely dry? That seems rather strange, perhaps all it needs is to be charged up.
#7
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SLC, ut, 84118
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (piggydog)
haha.. ya but how new is the battery.. generally speaking the battery's life will greatly decrease when you add non-distilled water..
maks is right....
maks is right....
Trending Topics
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: DFW, USA
Posts: 5,695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (piggydog)
I've put regular water into my battery and it's still starting up my car just fine
#10
Re: can I put regular drinking water in a battery or is distilled a must? (hot_97_lude)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hot_97_lude »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just boil some water to make it distilled. just let it cool down b4 u use it.... </TD></TR></TABLE>
Distilling water is more complicated than just boiling it.
If it stays in the same container, those contaminants just get back into the water. You need to collect the steam and move it to a clean container.
Distilling water is more complicated than just boiling it.
If it stays in the same container, those contaminants just get back into the water. You need to collect the steam and move it to a clean container.
#12
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: la, ca, us
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (khalal538)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khalal538 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how do you put water into a battery? do you have to open up the battery?</TD></TR></TABLE>
yes the top should have some caps of some sort
yes the top should have some caps of some sort
#13
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: chicago, il, us
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (piggydog)
i never new they still made those lololol dude how old are u ...... just get an optima its gell filled ...no more worries lol funny.i love honda tech
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ottawa/London, ON, Canada
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (hu)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hu »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not use battery acid?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Under normal use, electrolyte is lost because water evaporates but the acid remains in the battery. Adding acid will change the chemical composition of the electrolyte... hence reducing battery life.
Chem. Eng. Class FTW!
edit: You only need to add acid if lets say... you drop the battery sideways, and it spills out.
Under normal use, electrolyte is lost because water evaporates but the acid remains in the battery. Adding acid will change the chemical composition of the electrolyte... hence reducing battery life.
Chem. Eng. Class FTW!
edit: You only need to add acid if lets say... you drop the battery sideways, and it spills out.
#16
Ok, to answer some of questions and complete errors in this thread.
First, boiling water will sanitize it, however all your electrolites in the tap water including any metalic ions from either the pan or your pipes, floride, chlorine, ect will remain and it higher concentrations.
Distilled water is "made" by normal water is heated in a closed container and the top of the container is cooled. As the water evaporates (and only the water evaporates) rises, then it condensates on the cold top. Then this is collected. If you have a distillerly for making some home brew could be used for this, but it is only a dollar a gallon at the store.
The electrolye will evaporte, however as the battery strength goes down, it evaporates much faster. If it gets to the point where its dry, your going to need a new battery pretty soon and adding DISTILLED water is just a quick fix.
As I noted above, tap water has several electrolytes. When you add salts or ions into an acidic solution, it will change the acidity level, and chances are it will nuetralize it.
First, boiling water will sanitize it, however all your electrolites in the tap water including any metalic ions from either the pan or your pipes, floride, chlorine, ect will remain and it higher concentrations.
Distilled water is "made" by normal water is heated in a closed container and the top of the container is cooled. As the water evaporates (and only the water evaporates) rises, then it condensates on the cold top. Then this is collected. If you have a distillerly for making some home brew could be used for this, but it is only a dollar a gallon at the store.
The electrolye will evaporte, however as the battery strength goes down, it evaporates much faster. If it gets to the point where its dry, your going to need a new battery pretty soon and adding DISTILLED water is just a quick fix.
As I noted above, tap water has several electrolytes. When you add salts or ions into an acidic solution, it will change the acidity level, and chances are it will nuetralize it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gsr.sedan
Acura Integra
14
02-11-2004 12:19 PM