Why Is My Car Battery Leaking Acid?

When you notice your car battery leaking acid, it’s important to have the problem addressed as soon as possible. A leaking car battery can cause all kinds of problems beyond just vehicle safety hazards: it may damage your driveway or garage floor as well. 

At Andy Mohr Buick GMC, we want to give you a quick rundown of reasons why your car battery may be leaking acid. If you live near Fishers, Indianapolis, or Noblesville, give us a call and schedule service to have your battery repaired or replaced!

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Extreme Cold Weather 

Anyone who has lived through Indiana winters can attest to the cold and frigid weather they bring. Those conditions aren’t always the most fun to drive in, and they can cause damage to your car battery as well. In extreme cold, the battery acid can freeze up and cause the body of the battery to expand. 

If you’ve ever seen a water pipe burst in cold weather, you probably know what happens next. The ever-expanding body puts pressure on the cells and can cause the battery to leak acid. If you want to keep this from happening, you can try keeping your car in a warm garage, or you can remove your battery and store it indoors during sub-zero weather. 

 

An Overcharged Battery 

Overcharging your battery is another possible way you might cause it to leak. When you charge a battery well past the point required, gases can build up and the battery may burst. An exploding battery may be the worst possible scenario, but you may get leakage or even boil most of the acid out of the battery well. 

The best way to avoid this is by using smart battery chargers that can recognize when your battery is fully charged and give signals to show you that this is the case. Then, you can remove the charger without fear of overcharging.

 

Still Using An Old Battery  

There’s no hard and fast rule for this, but the longer a car battery is in use, the more unreliable and leak-prone it can become. That’s why its important to have regular battery tests at your service appointments. If your battery is weak or leaking, your technician will know and can install a new battery for you. 

How long do car batteries last? About four years on average—although lithium-ion batteries in hybrid cars often last quite a bit longer than that. It’s important to stay on top of battery maintenance, and a reliable technician will help you get the most out of your battery before replacing it.

 

Car Battery Leaking Acid? Schedule Service At Andy Mohr Buick GMC 

If you think your car battery is leaking acid, don’t wait around. Whether it’s a bloated battery case or the smell of rotten eggs, never ignore the signs. Also, the sulfuric acid in batteries is poisonous and flammable, so you may want to avoid poking around under the hood yourself.

Schedule a service appointment at Andy Mohr Buick GMC, your one-stop shop for auto repair near Fishers, Indianapolis, and Noblesville. We’ll help you diagnose your problem, find a great solution, and show you how to keep it from happening again!