Batteries boiling - Luxury Coach Lifestyles
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-12-2012, 01:56 PM   #1
rheavn
Senior Member
 
rheavn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 433
Default Batteries boiling

My two wet cell starting batteries have been boiling water out as the coach sits in the garage hooked up to power. Charger shows charging in float mode. Volt meter verifies batteries receiving float charge. My batteries have always started the coach without fail. They are just starting year eight so I assumed they needed replacement. I checked each cell with a hydrometer and they tested still good. As I was removing the caps I noticed a slight woosh, like the batteries were under pressure. I left the caps loose for a few days and no more water boiling out. I cleaned the battery caps in a baking soda solution. The batteries no longer boil water out with the caps back in place. It was a very simple solution, although in messing with automotive stuff for close to fifty years I have never cleaned battery caps before. Maybe my experience will help some one in the future.
__________________

__________________
Steve
Newell
rheavn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2012, 03:49 PM   #2
tuga
Senior Member
 
tuga's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houma, LA
Posts: 886
Default

Eight year old starting batteries! What kind are they?

I usually get 4 years out of mine. I have whatever brand Newell uses, I think they were Interstates.

Sounds like you had some blockage in your caps; although I have never heard of that. My biggest problem with batteries has been the corrision that builds up on the posts. My '93 had that problem but the '99 hasn't so far and it has been 6 years on the house AGMs.
__________________

__________________
Tuga & Karen Gaidry
1999 Newell 45 w/2 slides
Coach #512
2005 Pilot
tuga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2012, 04:16 PM   #3
rheavn
Senior Member
 
rheavn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 433
Default

Tuga,
My starting batteries are "NAPA Commercial" 8Ds, although I don't think the brand is the key. When I sold my Country Coach it drove out with a eight year old starting battery that was a Pro-Guide. Pro-Guide is the brand my battery shop sells.

I have totally stopped the battery post corrosion issue by liberally coating all posts & clamps with grease.
__________________
Steve
Newell
rheavn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 11:23 AM   #4
truk4u
Member
 
truk4u's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 35
Default

Tuga,

When those house batteries go south, be sure to call me with Karen's CC number!
__________________
Tom
02 Prevost Marathon H
https://www.trans-specialists.net
https://www.lifelinebatteries.com
truk4u is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 02:32 PM   #5
tuga
Senior Member
 
tuga's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houma, LA
Posts: 886
Default

Thanks for the grease tip Steve. I guess that is why some shops use that red spray (I don't like it because it makes a mess). I think I'll try the grease trick.

Truk,

I'd rather use JDUB's CC.
__________________
Tuga & Karen Gaidry
1999 Newell 45 w/2 slides
Coach #512
2005 Pilot
tuga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 11:03 PM   #6
prairieschooner
Senior Member
 
prairieschooner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
Default

Tuga,
The Grease trick is from older mechanics use (my Grandfather taught me that trick). It was very effective when using Grease with Lead in it, not available in California. The Red stuff works well but you need to get it in the liquid form and not the spray can.
sorry but I am 'old school" on some things and usually a purist.
__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
prairieschooner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2012, 12:14 PM   #7
HoosierDaddy
Senior Member
 
HoosierDaddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 424
Default

Tried RedStuff....Went back to good-ol-grease. If you have to remove a battery cable and reattach the grease continues to protect,,RedStuff wont once the initial "seal" is broken.
__________________
1993 Newell 45'#316, 1976 Trans Am 455, 1967 GTO, 1953 Chevrolet 3105 (panel truck),1952 Chevrolet 3600,1969 Airstream Overlander. Always fixing something!
HoosierDaddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2012, 05:15 PM   #8
express1
Senior Member
 
express1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: south louisiana
Posts: 654
Default

I'm with you Tuga, 8 years!!! I hardly have anything that even runs on batteries that is 8 years old, much less getting 8 years of life out of just the batteries.........After thinking about it...... other than my Newell, that just might be the only thing!!!!
gotta love it!
__________________

express1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Clogged Waste Tank prestadude Plumbing | Fixtures, Tanks and Water Systems 25 05-14-2013 04:21 PM
Driving in High Wind, How Have Your Newell's Reacted? MarkofSJC General Technical Discussion 12 01-27-2012 02:28 AM
allison 4060 tranny encantotom Major Mechanicals 8 01-03-2012 11:05 PM
House Batteries tuga Charging Systems, Electrical & Solar 17 08-28-2010 04:23 AM
Why a Newell? proparty General Technical Discussion 0 08-25-2006 07:20 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Newell Coach Corporation or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×