Lucas "sealed" battery maintenance

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grewth

Active Member
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150
Got a Lucas battery on my 88 Diesel, bought from a local agricultural equipment store.
Came with no instructions whatsoever, just a receipt with "2 years guarantee " scrawled on it.
Well that was about four years ago, now it's starting to struggle on cold mornings.
I'm wondering if I should pop the so called "sealed " cell bungs and check the electrolyte level.
For a supposedly "sealed " battery, it's been venting acidic vapour in small quantities since I fitted it, as witnessed by the furry white corrosion on the clamp down frame.
To my mind, if acid laden vapour has been getting out, then the electrolyte level must have dropped a bit.
I'm wondering if a top up with de-ionised water might coax it through one more winter ?
Anyone got any wisdom to share ?
 
A four year old battery that has a 2 year guarantee.. fitted to a diesel.. personally I'd just get a new one, but no harm in checking the levels. Any damage has already been done though, in my opinion
 
No harm in checking level. Getting the plates covered again if level low may extend life.
I would check the output of your alternator. Anything more than 14v and that starts frying battery with the sort of symptoms you have.
 
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I'm honestly not sure if I'm suffering battery failure or just the consequences of running short journeys with lights, wipers, heater fan all operating most of the time.
Fitting a (Smiths) voltage indicator in the very near future, I think that will give me a better understanding of what is happening out on the road rather than a random check across the battery terminals while I rev the engine.
 
Short journeys with everything on won't help.
Are you on a dynamo or alternator? What's the output amps and volts? What type of battery to have now, sealed calcium?
 
kermit_rr said:
Short journeys with everything on won't help.
Are you on a dynamo or alternator? What's the output amps and volts? What type of battery to have now, sealed calcium?
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Lucas 16ACR Alternator I think, expertly rebuilt by myself using the finest Chinesium diode pack, regulator, and brushes.
Don't knock it, it's been 100% reliable for the last five years.
Battery is a standard Lucas unit probably intended for tractor use.
 
I'm not knocking it but while it's more power than a dynamo, it's only ~30amps.
10A for lights, a few amps each for heater fan, wipers etc means you're not using more than you take, but you're not throwing any large amount at the battery.
If the alternator has a set point of 13.6v and you've got a modern sealed calcium battery then you'll never charge it properly.
It's probably on its way out, just get a new one
 
lynall said:
Scrap it and save your time and effort.
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I'm only going to go as far as pulling the filler plugs and topping up the cells as required.
If that doesn't do anything I won't be bothering with magic pills or potions.

Thinking I'm going to make a small slide hammer at work with a self tapping screw at the business end.
Should pull those plugs after drilling a small pilot hole in them, no damage to the battery case
I'm sure that my employers won't mind me doing this on their time using their materials.
Especially as they won't know anything about it
 
Do check the voltage out put of your alternator, re my post above. Some years ago a mate's car was going through battery's every few months I tested his alternator at usual driving revs and it was putting out 18 to 22v!
My Landy like yours is usually on short trips and in winter batt gets low even with 65 amp alternator.
I simply put the battery charger on it to top up every few weeks.
 
I’d be getting a new battery. A battery with a two year guarantee which is already four years old is on borrowed time in my experience. You may stretch it to last this winter but for peace of mind, I’d replace it. Mine failed several times until I replaced it with a much bigger capacity one.
 
They are kind of an essential bit of any vehicle, and your one is at the end of its life.
Why are you messing around with it?
Just get a new one.
 
Four years is a pretty short lifespan for any battery but as @Knappster says above a small batt will not last.
However OP says batt came from an Agri store and probably type 663/664 batt. I usually get at least 10 years use from them.
 
tottot said:
Four years is a pretty short lifespan for any battery but as @Knappster says above a small batt will not last.
However OP says batt came from an Agri store and probably type 663/664 batt. I usually get at least 10 years use from them.
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663/664 seems to ring a bell.
It's certainly a great big bugger.
Tomorrow I'll take a good look.
I extended my original 2A battery tray to series three diesel size shortly after purchasing the vehicle.
I used to consider that Yuasa made the best batteries available, the battery on my Grandfather's Honda Civic was still good after 12 years.
But sadly the Yuasa I bought a while ago lasted just three and a half years.
Made in China now, not Japan
 
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