Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Take a look at this photo. Is my battery sulfating?

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...e/P9010001.jpg

#3, #5, and #6 caps are wet, there is splatter on top of the battery, luckily no where else. I took #3 off, looks like the electrolyte is bubbling.

About 2 months ago, this was happening as a result of a voltage regulator that was overcharging. Whenever the engine was running for a while, this is what the top of my battery looked like.

I replaced the regulator and the overcharge condition was repaired. Top of the battery remained dry all the time.

NOW without the engine running, this is what the top of my battery looks like.

The battery is approximately 4-5 years old. Is it time for another? Any reviews on the maintenance free batteries?

Thanks.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Absolutely buy the maintenance-free unit. I have had the Mopar maint-free repro version in my Charger for 5 years now with no problems. (and no venting acid onto the paint either.)

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

You can't tell from looking at it if it has sulfated.
What's happening to your battery is the cap air filters are clogged.This doesn't mean the battery has sulfated.It happens on some of them and is completely routine.Pull off all the caps and gently insert a tooth pick or ice pick down into the small cap air hole until it snaps out a small white semi soft plastic pourous disc filter out of each one.
Put all 5 filters in a dish and sprinkle in alot of baking soda & fill up with water.Put something on top of them to hold them down under the baking soda/water solution.They will suds up a bit but thats normal.Let em soak overnight.Pick up each one & run cold water through them on both sides until they let water flow through them.Make sure you neutralized them w/baking soda cause your gonna blow through each one on both ends until air passes through them freely.Preferably outside away from anything.
Set them on a paper towel and let air dry overnight.Wipe the inside of the caps out too with a paper towel.
Push the filters back into the bottom of each cap until you feel/hear a "click" and reinstall them on the battery.
This is common routine maintence to any WET battery per Delco's instructions back in the day.
I would also check each level of your cells while your at it,to be a within 1/4 inch from the top of each cell with a splintered popsicle stick marked off with a pencil showing 1/4"...but no more then a 1/4.
Also,use a battery hydrometer to make sure the cells are all at full power,using Distilled water only if needed.
If any cell is below 1/4 for an extended period of time,there's a very good chance it has begun to sulfate and is dieing.
I've been through 3 WET R-59's,constantly maintaining them for a total of 14 years of life out of all of them altogether,before I bought the new maintence free SR-59 last year.I know some who have gotten 7 years or more of life from a WET battery,others 3 or less but I know I'll never buy a WET battery again.

BTW-That "Danger Poison" battery terminal label is vastly gaining on the "Caution Fan" sticker and upside down Cowl Ind. rubber seal as the number one most seen incorrect item on otherwise correctly restored vehicles.That label was included to meet todays shipping codes when shipping a caustic battery in a box over the counter and was not put on the vehicle at the assembly line originally.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Thanks for pointing that out https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif I will add that one to my list now, I believe the cowl seal thing is about 33% up side down from what I have seen in the last few years. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Mike

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

It would be real nice to post a pic for those who dont know
that their seal is upside down.That way all would know.
PJ

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

I'll work on that https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Mike

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

This site and the members are great! Thanks! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

I think it's time to get my stars.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

More than worth the $$$ https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

[ QUOTE ]
It would be real nice to post a pic for those who dont know
that their seal is upside down.That way all would know.
PJ

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok P.J.
Here are two up side down.

The first has the Bonus Fan Sticker https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif Nice radiator hose too https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ke/7740282.jpg


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../609445_21.jpg

And Two correctly installed

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/IMG_0431.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ike/94cc_3.jpg

Mike

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Thanks Mike for the pics
I did not know that it was even possible to put them on backwards I quess now it can be done
PJ

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

My NOS seal slants inward conically. I don't think it is installed wrong, (at least if it is, I can't see how) but I can't figure out how to make it shape kind of like a nuclear power plant cooling tower.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

I had the same seal you're talking about on my Z11. It was an NOS GM seal that tilted inwards instead of folding outwards. I was harassed all the time by poeple telling me it was upside down. I would even take it off and show them the mounting flange on the bottom to prove it was mounted correctly. I believe the problem was that GM went to a newer version of the seal in recent years that was markedly different than the original style.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...8/fpart/1/vc/1

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Tommorrow I will try and post some pictures of my cowl seal I removed from my Black Camaro last winter, and what I did to " Train" it to open up. It is a nice little trick you can use next winter when you put Baby away. If you live in AZ or CA you may be SOL https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif
Check back later for resto tip 101.5

Mike https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Try the RediPulse by http://www.pulsetech.net/ on any battery: http://helios.pulsetech.net/cgi/hsrun.ex...mp;Itno=735X260

I did OEM alternators and batteries before and we used their battery testers, which is how I found out about the company. The science behind it is sound. It actually works.
The Delco in my BB was dead; it was 4-5 years old. This pulled it back and it's still in the car 4 years later.... Same with other batteries.
If the plates are too thin, when it removes the sulfates, a plates can break (you lose a cell and the voltage drops 2 volts). I've only had this happen with one brand of batteries (twice). Not the fault of the device, just a cheap battery design.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Buy the reproduction gel battery. I had a wet cell battery the puked out a bunch of acid a few years ago and unfortunately I didn't find it for a couple of days. Needless to say there was paint damage. Not worth keeping a wet cell in a restored car's engine compartment. Just my $.02 worth.

I didn't know about the battery cap maintenance that was referred to earlier.

Phil Woj.

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

Ok, her goes. In response to NJ Steve and Unreal about NOS GM cowl induction seals slanting inwards. like this picture from Steves post




http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...l/dc1b3ced.jpg




For the record, and this discussion, all referance is to a "GM" seal that is correctly installed and....GLUED IN PLACE...
I do not know if the same problem exists with other seals like Soft Seal. Anyway they look alot different and are harder.
I have never been able to figure out why some original cowl seals seem to look so good. Most likley the new GM seals we are getting now are a little different from assembly seals.
The following are a few steps I took on several cars I messed with, including mine.
I found it necessary to "Train" the seal. If it is a new project, you can do this to your seal and let it sit untill Baby is ready to drive or show. Or do this before putting her up for the year.

The square edge of that GM seal is ment to lock around the outside edge of the metal base.
That is the part the sticks out like a sore thumb when they are installed "Up side down", and usually there will be a Caution Fan Sticker nearby https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif
The picture below is the underside of the base.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0004.jpg

Make sure the seal is gluded in place well, all 360* of it. If you used rattle can bombs https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif you may have trouble with the trim cement eating up your paint. I like the black trim addhesive.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0001.jpg

Let the glue set for a few days if it is a new seal.
Next start pulling the top of the seal to the outer edge and fold it over on itself. Like in the picture. Grab enough of the seal when pulling on it, I tore one once by pinching just the lip.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0005.jpg

Next, clamp the seal so it does not pop back off, be carefull if you use tape, use low tack stuff or wipe the good stuff across your pants.
A helper might work too. Good way to get the little lady involved https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif Good luck with that.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0006.jpg

Work, pull and fold the seal like this all the way around. and check it over to make sure it has not started to slip back on you. You should now be able to remove the clamp or tape. The seal should stay folded over.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0007.jpg



This what it should look like from the top.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...12cowl0009.jpg

Now you can leave it dwell like this for X amount of time. May need to repeat this a few times.
Anyone else have any other tricks pleas chime in.

Mike

Re: Reproduction Delco Energizer
 

We went through all of this seal mumbo-jumbo recently on dad's LS6...first one we got felt like real rubber, but it was so stiff the hood wouldn't close...so we grabbed the flimsy *softer* foam feeling that's been on our Camaro for 10+ years, and it worked like a charm...so we got to looking, and a couple places offer 3 different seals, varying in the degree of "stiffness"...we ordered a GM seal from the local dealer, and it's the softer foamier type, and works like a charm.