Car Battery Leaking: Acid Leak Types, Clean and How to Fix?

Most car owners only focus on how their car looks on the outside- a cool finish, a great paint job, and regular cleaning to make sure it shines as new even after decades. But it’s also important to get timely maintenance of your car’s internal vital components for optimal performance and longer runs. 

In today’s post, we’ll pay extra focus on car batteries, which need to be maintained and monitored constantly. 

Importance of car battery

Like the engine, your cars battery also shares mighty importance by providing the zap of electricity to light up every electric component in your vehicle. It also turns chemical energy into electrical energy that powers your vehicle and delivers voltage to its starter. It’s a suicide decision to undermine your car battery’s health as the battery supports and interacts with more parts in your car than you may think or know exist. Hence, if your battery gets damaged, it will severely backfire on other parts of your vehicle. 

If not monitored or poorly maintained, your car battery leaking can compromise your vehicle’s main functions or completely shut down your vehicle until you replace it with a new one, of course. 

Here’s the ultimate guide, which will tell you the possible reasons for car battery leaking problems and what are the steps you need to take when it happens. 

Reasons which mainly cause battery leakage 

Here’s the ultimate guide, which will tell you the possible reasons for car battery leaking and what are the steps you need to take when it happens. 

Overuse of a car battery

When your car gets old and overused with time, its battery sucks up all its chemicals which move the electricity from the battery’s terminals to every single electrical component of the vehicle. With time, the battery’s chemicals dry up, causing battery failure. The compromised battery functions can no longer fulfil the engine’s demands. This condition leads to leakage.

Battery overcharge

Do not overcharge your battery as it can cause battery leakage with time. Overcharging your vehicle’s alternator results in battery overcharge, resulting in battery leakage. 

Overfilling your battery

Everything in access will only make it worse. Regardless of the situation, refilling or recharging the battery is important. However, if you overdo it, adding too much water will expand the level of electrolyte, which will eventually cause harm to your car’s battery and cause battery leakage. 

How to fix a leaking car battery?

Here are the step-by-step instructions on DIY fixing your leaky car battery; points are outlined below- 

• Ensure that the battery posts are not capped before you start working on them 
• You need a plastic container. Transfer the electrolyte from the battery to the container. You need to be very careful here- the battery electrolytes are highly corrosive and can harm you. 
• Neutralize the sulfuric acid of the leaky battery into the container with the help of baking soda. 
• Sand the cracked region of your battery using sandpaper until you feel the smooth surface on the cracked region.
• Apply sealant to the cracked area and let it dry for two hours before touching it again. 
• You will need three cups of heated distilled water to recondition the electrolyte. The temperature of distilled water should be around 150F. 
• Now add one cup of Epsom salt to the distilled hot water and let it cool. This is the complete bathing process. 
• Fill the electrolyte with the icy-cold water, and refill the battery with the electrolyte which you have removed from the battery. 
• To avoid rust and corrosion on your car battery, thoroughly wipe up the water from the battery surface if you find it, and let it dry completely.
• Put new caps and ensure that the caps are tightened completely on the terminals. 

• Shake and charge the battery for at least 36 hours with the trickle charger for this final step in repairing a leaking automobile battery.
• If you see any signs of acid leakage from your car’s battery, you must immediately act. Have a service check of your battery so that you can detect the issue in time.

Frequently asked questions 

1. How to know if your car’s battery is leaking?

Answer: It’s not normal for a car battery to leak. However, there are some signs which will help you indicate the red flags-

• Cracks in the battery 
• Bubbling liquid seeping out from the cell caps 
• The battery appears distorted

2. Why do car batteries leak acid?

Answer: Several conditions can cause battery leaks, such as-

• If the battery is overcharged 
• Damage caused to the body of the battery 
• Extreme cold weather conditions

3. Do car batteries leak water?

Answer: Yes, car batteries contain a solution of acid and water. Batteries can leak water when you overfill them with distilled water which eventually causes battery leaks.

4. How to clean car battery leak?

Answer: The best way to deal with the car battery leak is to neutralize it first carefully by using mild acids, such as white vinegar or lemon juice. For stubborn leaks, you can try a toothbrush dipped in vinegar or lemon juice will do the trick.