Quite often, novice motorists are concerned about the question of what distilled water is and why it should be added to a car battery at any time of the year. However, some people point out that distillate can do more harm than good, although this information has not been proven.
It is worth trying to figure out what will happen to the battery if ordinary tap water is poured into it, and how much distilled water will have to be poured for the unit to work properly. Professional drivers who are well versed in all the intricacies of the composition of electrochemical fluids in the battery.
Distilled water is a part of the electrolyte, without which it is impossible to prepare an electrochemical type liquid, since it can create a composition of the required density and add useful properties. In the event that this water is not added to the battery, the unit will not work as correctly as possible.
The fact is that the electrolyte consists of thirty percent sulfuric acid and sixty-five percent distillate. Of course, it is clear that acid in its pure form would simply corrode the lead plates and would disable car battery. It is distilled water that helps to significantly reduce the concentration of sulfuric acid, allowing the battery to work properly.
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According to the school chemistry course, one can understand that distilled water is the purest substance in which there are no impurities and salts. It is worth noting that tap water should not be poured into the battery instead of distilled water, since it is far from ideal. In such a liquid, there are not only a lot of impurities and salts, but also a dangerous element - chlorine.
In the event that you fill in tap water instead of distilled water, then impurities will settle on lead plates, and the battery capacity will decrease significantly. This means that tap water is detrimental to the battery, and pouring it into the unit means completely destroying it.
How to calculate the amount of water added
To ensure the correct operation of the car battery, it is worth understanding how much distilled water you need to fill in. According to the technical documentation, the ratio of acid to distillate is no more than 1:2. To clarify how much to add distilled water to a car battery, it is worth understanding how much acid is in it.
Why is it important to correctly calculate the amount of water added:
- there should be a lot of acid, since it is consumed when the battery is discharged, contributing to a drop in the electrolyte level and the appearance of salts on lead plates;
- in the event that the battery is charging, the level of distilled water drops, increasing the density of the acid, so the density of most batteries is 1.27 g / cm3;
- if there is not as much acid as necessary, then the electrolyte will turn into ice at a low level of air temperature;
- in the event that you add more acid at home than water, it will destroy the plates.
The ratio of acid to water, like 1 to 2, was experimentally derived many years ago, therefore it is strictly forbidden to change it in any direction. Each car owner must know how much distilled water is in the battery in order to top it up with his own hands in a timely manner to the required level.
Rules for adding distillate to the battery
You should familiarize yourself with the rules for adding distillate using the video in order to add distilled water to the battery correctly and not harm the vehicle:
In order to add distilled water correctly, you should determine what level of electrolyte is in the battery using a special tube with a diameter of at least five millimeters.
To achieve the required level of electrolyte, you should draw distillate into a twenty-cc syringe and add five or ten milliliters of liquid to each section of the battery.
After the distilled water is topped up, the battery will have to be charged at least four times without covering the caps of the cans in order to restore capacity. Then the covers are closed, and the battery settles for about twelve hours.
Do not forget what safety precautions should be used in the process, so you need to stock up on goggles and gloves, and do not get close to open sources of fire.
So that when the electrolyte boils away, its density does not increase significantly, it is necessary to add distilled water to the battery in a timely manner. How to add distilled water to the battery? Let's consider this process in more detail.
Features of pouring distillate
Before proceeding with the process of filling the distillate (electrolyte), the battery must be prepared. It must be turned off, removed, installed on a flat surface, cleaned of dust and dirt. Cleaning the battery is a must, since even the smallest particles of dirt, if ingested, can lead to its complete failure. The easiest way to clean the battery is with a solution of ordinary baking soda.
Inside the power source there are special marks indicating the minimum and maximum levels for the distillate.
To prevent dirt from getting into the battery, use a regular syringe to fill with distilled water. It will allow you to pour the liquid not only absolutely hygienically, but also as accurately as possible.
After filling, close the battery and replace it.
- Never add fluid immediately after you have turned off the engine. He needs to stand for at least six to eight hours. Only after the “rest” can the battery be opened and the filling process started.
- After filling with water, it is also impossible to immediately put the device into operation. Wait at least until the morning of the next day, otherwise boiling is possible, which will lead to fatal consequences.
- Refilling with distillate will not make the device new, but will simply improve its functioning a little. If the battery has already used up its resource, then it is better to replace it with a new one.
- Before putting the battery into operation, check the amount of liquid inside. You can start its operation only if the water level is within the normal range.
- And in no case do not use ordinary water for refilling, but only special distilled water, purchased in special. stores in closed containers. When pouring ordinary water, the plates will be destroyed and the battery will completely fail.
- Filling water into the battery must be done at room temperature in a closed room.
An electrolyte is a solution of water and sulfuric acid, and it is he who is poured into battery(AB). During battery operation, water decomposes into oxygen and hydrogen, which escapes through the vents. Therefore, the electrolyte level, due to the decomposition of water, will decrease and the driver periodically needs to add distilled water to the battery.
Before doing this, you need thoroughly clean the AB cover from dust and dirt, which may contain droplets of sulfuric acid. This is done so that dust and dirt do not get inside the AB cans and on your clothes.
Now, most ABs are produced in transparent cases, and it is very easy to determine in which jars it is necessary to add distilled water. Moreover, the minimum and maximum marks of the electrolyte being poured are applied to the battery case. For the convenience of adding water, you can use a medical syringe. The electrolyte level must be maintained 1-1.5 cm above the location of the plates. In no case should you fill in distilled water, more than the required rate.
After you have topped up the battery with distilled water, you will need to measure the density of the electrolyte. But you can’t do this right away, because your measurements will be inaccurate, due to the fact that the mixing of liquids is slow. It's best to do it the next day. pre-charged battery. The density of the electrolyte, when operating a car in the middle part of the Russian strip, should be 1.27 g / cc, in the south - 1.25 g / cc, in the north 1.29 g / cc. We measure it using a hydrometer.
On maintenance-free batteries, there is no access to battery banks. But the Russians found a way out here too. Add distilled water to such AB steel using a syringe with a needle, piercing a hole opposite the can where it should be added. You can determine the need for topping up by the color of the indicator. If it is white, then you need to add distilled water to this jar.
Very often I am asked a question about a car battery, namely why does it need distilled water? Why is it poured at all, what is the benefit or harm from it? Why, say, do not pour the usual from the tap, what will happen? YES, and in general how much it needs to be poured. As you can see, despite the simplicity of the design, there are just a lot of questions, and they are all related to this liquid. To be honest, people who are a little versed in the composition of the electrochemical battery fluid will not ask such questions, but for beginners such information will be very useful, so read on ...
Let's start with a little definition.
- this is an obligatory part of an electrochemical liquid, simply an electrolyte, which performs a very important role, namely, it creates the composition of the desired density and properties. If there were no water in the composition, then the battery would not work as it should.
What does it mean? YES, everything is simple - the electrolyte consists of 35% and 65% distilled water. If you pour just sulfuric acid, then its "mad" concentration would simply melt everything (albeit not immediately, but it would do it for sure). Water lowers the concentration to the desired limit, then the acid begins to work in creation, not destruction. Also, with this ratio, the processes of accumulation of electricity in the electrolyte begin to occur during charging. Which then allows this charge to be spent.
What is distilled water?
But really, what is it? To be honest, this is a question of the 6th - 7th grade of a comprehensive school, where they begin to delve deeply into physics and chemistry.
It is nothing but simply "H2O" - that is, the pure composition of water, only two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen. There are no impurities and salts - absolute purity.
If you answer the question - why it is impossible to fill the battery with ordinary tap water, then the answer is very simple:
The composition that flows from the tap with us can hardly be called a “distiller”, because it contains not only the notorious H2O, but also a bunch of all sorts of impurities, and especially salts, lime (in low concentrations), chlorine, etc.
If it is poured into the battery, then these impurities will inevitably settle on the lead plates of the battery, which will lead to a decrease in battery capacity. Thus, ordinary water will simply destroy your battery, so you can not pour it.
Why exactly this ratio?
Now many may ask the question - why such a ratio of acid and distilled water? TO is one mass fraction of acid and two mass fractions of water.
This is done for several reasons:
- There should be enough acid, because when the battery is discharged, it is consumed, the density of the electrolyte drops - salts are released onto the plates. And when charging, on the contrary, water is consumed, the density of the acid increases. If there is not enough acid, then the charge-discharge process will not be as effective. Therefore, now the density of many batteries is approximately 1.27 g / cm3.
- If there is not enough acid, then the electrolyte will simply freeze at sub-zero temperatures. A discharged battery can turn into ice already at -3, -5 degrees.
- If you pour a lot of acid, much more (for example, 2 mass fractions, and water one mass fraction), then it can adversely affect the plates. More salts will settle, and also such a concentration will destroy the plates faster.
This combination was derived empirically, through a fairly large number of tests.
Why is water poured into the battery, and not electrolyte?
Everything is also simple - during operation, the battery warms up (heating also occurs in the summer, in the heat), while charging, the banks can boil. At these moments, distilled water escapes from the battery - after all, this is its normal state (evaporation when heated, it just turns into steam). But the acid remains, it is not "volatile" - accordingly, the concentration of acid increases, and the concentration of water falls. Density can increase up to 1.4 g/cm3. In order to bring the electrolyte inside the battery to a normal state, you need to replenish this evaporated water, so we add it, the acid is in the right proportion.
If you add electrolyte, then you just mix, say - 1.4 and 1.27 (which you purchased) and you get about 1.33 g / cm3 - which is already a lot! Remember about the precipitation of salts and the destruction of the plates.
So you need to add distilled water, for the desired density, and not an electrolyte! When mixed, it forms the density necessary for work.
Remember this rule! In fairness, water was added only to serviced batteries, because the evaporation there is simply huge. But maintenance-free batteries do not require such careful attention, because there it is in a closed hermetic case - the liquid evaporates, rises and then precipitates again - the cycle is closed.
How much water to add to the battery?
As we have already figured out, if a maintenance-free battery is practically not much, you can ride for at least five years and never look into it - this is normal! But if your battery is serviceable, that is, the plugs are unscrewed from above, you need to constantly monitor the level.
How much distilled water to add is a difficult question - after all, in each individual case, it will have its own value. It can fluctuate from, because the larger the battery, the more electrolyte in it, which means water, you need to add more.
I advise you to always have a liter bottle in the car (on my old cars it took me 1.5 - 2 months - in summer, in winter for 3 - 4 months) - remember if the electrolyte level has dropped and your cans are bare, this is a critical condition, you need to urgently understand the level in order to close the platinum. Otherwise, they may heat up and crumble.
Short video what level should be.
A car is not a living organism, but capricious. Everyone knows that bad gasoline or diesel fuel, antifreeze and oil cannot be poured into it. But he also needs the right water - distilled! We figure out how to use it to the maximum benefit for your iron horse.
Many are perplexed when looking at bottles with a clear liquid marked "GOST 6709-72": they say, it's just water, how can it be so expensive? You can't even drink it!
Only now, distilled water is not ordinary water, but purified by distillation through a distiller. It contains a minimum of impurities and has a low electrical conductivity. That is why it is indispensable when servicing a car, and you do not need to save on it.
We offer four ways to use distilled water:
1. Add distilled water to batteries
Adding water to the battery when the electrolyte boils away is an ordinary, but very responsible procedure. Only distilled water should be used as a diluent, otherwise the battery life will be reduced by more than 2-3 times.
The liquid that the battery is filled with is a solution of sulfuric acid with additives, expensive and complex components such as self-discharge inhibitors, barium and strontium salts. These electrolyte additives keep parts pristine and ensure stable battery performance.
Ordinary water contains salts of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and other impurities - almost half of the periodic table! If you add it to the battery, the delicate chemical balance will be disturbed. The electrode plates will be covered with a coating, the battery will begin to “play pranks” - it will not charge well and not hold current. This will cause launch problems.
2. Dilute antifreeze with distilled water when the coolant level drops
Surely you have noticed that over time, the level of coolant in the cooling system drops, although there are no leaks in it. This happens because water evaporates from antifreeze. Up to 1 liter of coolant can disappear from the cooling system in a year. The difference between the minimum and maximum antifreeze level is usually only 0.5 liters!
The lower the coolant level, the greater the risk of air getting into the top of the radiator, the heater core, and the cooling ducts. At a critical moment, the engine will start to overheat, and as a result, the risk of breakdown will increase by an order of magnitude. Therefore, if there are no leaks in the cooling system, and the fluid level has dropped, add distilled water to restore the concentration of antifreeze. Finding distilled water is much easier than finding the right coolant. In addition, in this case, you do not need to think about the compatibility of antifreezes, and in the end it will turn out cheaper.
By the way, car mechanics use distilled water to rinse the cooling system when replacing antifreeze. This simple procedure prevents the formation of scale and other harmful deposits. And cleanliness in the cooling system is a guarantee that there will be no problems in the operation of the engine.
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3. Use distilled water instead of windshield washer
The manuals of the leading automakers say in black and white that only distilled water can be poured into the washer reservoir. Otherwise, limescale, sediment and even mud will appear in the washer system. Over time, these contaminants will clog the nozzles of the sprayers and disrupt their operation.
Distilled water as a washer fluid can be used both in the solo version and diluted with concentrated washer fluids (both summer and winter), which cope much better with dirt or insect traces.
4. Use distilled water at home
White limescale on black fabric after ironing a perfectly clean item is a common problem for those who pour ordinary tap water into the iron. Filtration and boiling with impurities in tap water can not cope. Pour distilled water into the irons, and then you will not be afraid of any unpleasant surprises. It can also be poured into the individual heating system in a private house - it is also sensitive to harmful deposits.
Distilled water is also recommended by manufacturers of electric fireplaces, in which the flame effect is formed using light and water vapor. Like car systems, such devices are very demanding on the quality of the liquid and will work much longer if distilled water is poured into them.
