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> Optima Batteries, Who says they don't leak?
D1A3
post Sep 10 2006, 08:14 PM
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From Optima's Website regarding RedTop Batteries (http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive.html)

"OPTIMA batteries withstand the high underhood temperatures associated with these Performance vehicles. The sealed cells make the battery spill-proof, even if you install it on its side! This prevents external gassing and leaking which can damage engine components and limit battery performance."

Well, I disagree and here are the pics to prove it...

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--Jason
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davep
post Sep 10 2006, 08:19 PM
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Are you positively certain that came from inside the battery?
If so, what voltage are you feeding that battery? Are you sure?
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J P Stein
post Sep 10 2006, 08:20 PM
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The only way I got one to "leak" was by overcharging it.....17.5 volts worth. That got it hot enuff to boil.
It actually spewed green shittage out the vents up on to the trunk lid....that is acid, BTW. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I was glad it wasn't in the engine room.
I got a new one FOC.
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PRS914-6
post Sep 10 2006, 08:22 PM
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Could the muffler underneath have raised the temp of the battery excessively? Is the muffler heat shield still installed?
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D1A3
post Sep 10 2006, 08:32 PM
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The car is actually ShadyGrady's here on the board. I broke two motor mounts Friday night on my car during the SEC2006 drive and he let me continue with his track car...

The pics were taken that night when we arrived in Helen, GA (1.5 hour drive). We suspected an overcharge, but it is still being investigated. Fortunately Lewis Broyles brought a spare battery with him when he brought my car up the next morning, so Grady was able to run his car on the SEC drive.

I always here "Optima Batteries DO NOT leak." Well, in some cases they do...

BTW: Battery acid was all over the trunk lid too. We know it was acid becuase the battery was soaked and the fumes were horrible.

--Jason
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iamchappy
post Sep 10 2006, 08:42 PM
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Lotus 65 was over the other night and showed me his red top that had spit all over his engine compartment.
I never had this happen with mine.
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SGB
post Sep 10 2006, 09:28 PM
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something to watch out for...
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So.Cal.914
post Sep 10 2006, 09:54 PM
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Murphy's law says "Anything designed not to leak.....will." Optima is the lesser

of two evils. You could put in a acid resistant battery box.
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anthony
post Sep 10 2006, 11:03 PM
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The optima's do have vent holes but they don't vent vapors like normal batteries unless overcharged. It's more like they are leak resistant rather than leak-proof.
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lotus_65
post Sep 11 2006, 05:26 AM
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it could be that my mount was loose and the battery rocked on the tray some. that's about the only thing i could come up with for a reason... anyway, glad to hear i'm not the only one.
paul
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Phoenix-MN
post Sep 11 2006, 06:19 AM
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I had a red top mounted on its side in my 911 - IT LEAKED! I changed the mounting location and set it up-right. No problems since.
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robby750
post Sep 11 2006, 06:21 AM
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QUOTE(anthony @ Sep 11 2006, 01:03 AM) *

The optima's do have vent holes but they don't vent vapors like normal batteries unless overcharged. It's more like they are leak resistant rather than leak-proof.

Leak resistant means it will still leak,,,, but it doesn't want to.
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smdubovsky
post Sep 11 2006, 07:07 AM
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We manufacture specialty battery chargers (www.morningstarcorp.com). The optima is a gel battery. The electrolyte is absorbed in a glass matt (often called AGM - Absorbed Glass Mat) I believe the two black pucks in the top corners are vents. I've never disassembled one of ours, but most batteries have them. If you overcharge the battery (or overheat it, but I have no direct experience there) it will outgass. If there happens to be gel in the way of the vents, it will blow the gel out. It shouldn't vent unless there is a problem though. They are just there to keep the case from exploding (which is REALLY messy).

SMD
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davep
post Sep 11 2006, 03:22 PM
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I agree. I used to head the battery charger manufacturing here some years back. I also have to design lead-acid batteries into some of our products. Heat kills batteries. The heat may be internal from overcharging, or external, say from the exhaust system. Basically, that battery is in the wrong place to start with, it is exposed to too much heat I believe. Overcharging may also be a factor.
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JPB
post Sep 11 2006, 03:41 PM
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I looked at who wrote that flier and saw it was the past owner of Marlboro. Ya know, the dude who died of lung cancer.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) Feel energized with Marlboro and Optima!
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D1A3
post Sep 11 2006, 09:42 PM
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Top view. You can really see where the leakage occurred through the vents. Also, the battery had a sticker on the side that says "Non Spillable."

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bd1308
post Sep 12 2006, 07:37 AM
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Yeah as in it's gel filled, not taht it'll survive nuclear fallout.

There's a difference between non spillable and leak free.

b
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sgomes
post Sep 12 2006, 08:08 AM
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Semantics. Those are used extensively in electric cars. They don't leak if you don't mistreat them. If you are planning to mistreat it then put it in a poly. box.
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jonwatts
post Sep 12 2006, 08:54 AM
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I thought one of the selling points of the gel cells was that you could mount them in any position? Looks like that is not true, huh?
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bd1308
post Sep 12 2006, 11:36 PM
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depends on how 'jelly' the jel is...

b
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