Optima RedTop steaming after drive

[96Firebird]

Just installed a new clutch and hydraulics over the weekend, so I'm trying to get the break-in period over with as quick as possible. I drove the car today, about 40 miles total, and heard a hissing sound when I got home. Popped the hood and saw steam coming out of my Optima RedTop battery. The battery died in storage over the winter, so I stuck it on a trickle charger when I got it back into the garage and have been driving it for about a week since then.

I've been reading around, and getting mixed reports. Some say the battery is shot, others say the alternator is overcharging, and some saying it is the fault of a bad voltage regulator.

Where should I start? I don't want to buy a new battery and ruin it because the fault lies elsewhere. Hoping to get a multimeter on it tonight to see what it reads off as well as with the car running.

 

[master_shake_]

did you measure the voltage of the battery when the car is running.

 

[96Firebird]

Measured the voltage with a multimeter tonight, 12.3V with the car off, 13.8V with the car on. Tried revving and holding the car around 2k RPMs, stayed at 13.8V. So I guess the battery is shot...

 

[LTC8K6]

The battery died in storage over the winter, so I stuck it on a trickle charger

Why wasn't the trickle charger on it over the winter?

 

[96Firebird]

Had a bit of an unplanned winter storage situation. After the clutch problems in September, I garaged it on a charger until December, when I was forced to move out of the house I was rented due to mold issues. My dad didn't have space in his barn, so I limped it to the place where my roommate was going to store his boat. No electrical hookup there, and I couldn't take the battery with me because the guy had to move my car into the spot the next day.

Oh well, time for a new battery. Now to find a decent one with both side terminals and top posts...

 

[eng2d2]

The battery just died from being in the storage not hookup to anything?

 

[96Firebird]

I think the battery more died from being charged with the wrong charger after it was dead. The guy who stored my car had to charge it to move it out front the day before I got it out, and then I had to charge it when it sat in my garage for about a month.

The RedTops are AGM batteries, and are prone to being overcharged if the wrong charger is used. I have no idea what the storage guy used, and I used a cheapo Black and Decker trickle charger in the garage. I didn't think anything would happen, but it looks like I was wrong.

Still looking around for a dual-post battery, they are not as common as I'd hoped...

 

[eng2d2]

I disconnect my battery for the winter and connect it back during spring and car starts right up.

 

[LTC8K6]

I disconnect my battery for the winter and connect it back during spring and car starts right up.

Batteries self discharge, and you risk sulfation as well.

I think the rate is something like 5% per week.

You should not leave your lead acid battery sit for long periods.

 

[DaTT]

I disconnect my battery for the winter and connect it back during spring and car starts right up.

When I stored my Mustang for the winter, I never disconnected the battery and it always started right up.

Although, once a month I would start it and run it up to operating temp....maybe a drive around the block.

 

[Pulsar]

Batteries self discharge, and you risk sulfation as well.

I think the rate is something like 5% per week.

You should not leave your lead acid battery sit for long periods.

5% per month. Disconnecting it and letting it sit over the winter is just fine.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Heck I just leave my random brand label missing battery in my car hooked up all winter and it starts first time

I call it the zombie battery as 2 winters ago it died after sitting for a couple months. Put it on a charger that spring and it took a couple hours before it even started to charge. But ever since then it has never failed to start the car even after sitting still hooked up for 4+ months and enduring many subzero nights. No idea why but hey I won't complain

 

[LTC8K6]

5% per month. Disconnecting it and letting it sit over the winter is just fine.

It varies greatly, according to condition, temperatures, and SOC. Temperature and SOC being large factors.

You don't want to store a flooded lead acid battery unless it is fully charged.
You don't want it to freeze.
You don't want to store it in a heated garage.

The self discharge rate goes up with the temperature.

The specific type of lead acid battery makes a difference, too.

A lower SOC makes the battery a prime candidate for sulfation.