Walmart battery leaks 2 weeks old

[hydroxy]

Ok, my battery died 2 weeks ago, I went to Walmart and got the Yellow Maxx battery or whatever it is called.

I was under my ex today, installing my new horn and I noticed that part of the frame looked brown. I start to brush it off and notice that something had peeled away the paint. I immediatly suspect battery acid.

I then take off the Ford cover and the whole battery is 'wet'. I take out the battery and the battery holder and all underneath is corroded. I called my dad up and he said the same thing happened w/ his Yellow Maxx from Walmart and that it is just expelling extra water.


Now, I understand the physics of why it would expell the water (hot day, hot engine, lots of use etc etc) - BUT HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL???

Should I keep it or go back for another?

edit: what are the stats for the Optima Yellowtop batterys?

 

[96ExplorerXLT]

i think cold- 650 and normal like 750, but im not entirely sure...
i know the red tops are 950, 1050...

 

[jgilbs]

I thought most batteires sold nowadays were "sealed" or "maitnence-free" by logic, if it is not sealed, and is expelling water, when it cools down, you are going to need to remember to replace that water with distilled water. but u said it is leaking from the bottom. that sounds like a bad battery. i believe that most non-sealed batteries would have a port on the top or side to expel water from.

 

[keith h]

Is it possible that the system is over-charging and bubbling out acid?

 

[hydroxy]

I dont think it was leaking out of the bottom, it just spilled over the sides and pooled at the bottom of the battery holder and went out the drain hole.

I dont think that the alternator is over charging, since I had the other battery since I got the exploder in 2001 without any problems.

It just doesn't seem like it should happen.... if I hadn't checked under there till my next oil change, who knows how much metal it would have eaten through. Luckily I was able to toss a box of baking soda on there and stop the process.

 

[VOATMJ1]

I also have a Wal-Mart battery the yellow Max one in my Cadillac, and I have had it in there for 6 months with no problems. I just came off vacation in the southern part of Louisiana for 30 days, where temps reached 97 to 100 degrees nearly every day, and the battery stood those extreme temps just fine (read - no leaks). It also, (living in Iowa), withstood sub zero weather, (-20F) and started up just fine.

I still have the original factory Motorcraft battery in in my '00 Explorer, but when it finally goes, I will get another yellow Max battery from Wal-mart. It has been a tough champ in my Caddy in both extreme cold and extreme heat.

 

[flyboyerau]

I would take the battery back To Wal-Mart and go to a service station somewhere and pick up an Interstate Battery. The one for my 94 XLT was about 100 bucks three years ago. It goes through Phoenix, Arizona summers and Northern Arizona's below freezing winters without ever a problem! Even leaving the headlights on all day while at work!

 

[Bwana Bob]

Interstate Battery

I have had very good performance from the Interstate battery that I put in my Ex. I bought the "Mega-tron plus" and its been great. The previous NAPA battery was fair, and the original Motorcraft battery was awful because it boiled out acid onto the adjacent wiring (this is why Ford went to that stupid battery shield).

However, both the Interstate and the Wal-Mart MAXX battery are made by Johnson Controls, so I thought that the two would be equivalent.



Bob

 

[Bill Kemp]

I hate to state the obvious buy why not ask WalMart?