Karen, > With the Olds just sitting and getting the occasional > start, what does that do to battery life?
With a lead - liquid acid battery, it kills it. It sets the battery up for lead sulfation in a short period of time. The trickle charger battery maintainer Bruce Roe has talked about is the only way to protect a battery in a vehicle that isn't on the road over a long period of time. That device prolongs battery life by providing electron flow activity internally in the battery, interrupting the formation of lead sulfate (chemical reduction reaction between the lead and the sulfuric acid in the battery) with hydrogen produced as a by product. > I'm in a most-of-the-year hot climate, and I have had > to fill the cells a few times a year. That's from evaporation of both water and acid. > Just wondering if I'm doing any avoidable damage. It's the name-of-the-game with a liquid acid battery. > Any advice on what CCAs I should look for in the > future (A/C with 350). The only way to prevent it is to switch to gel cell battery technology and buy an Optima battery. Gel cell batteries are not susceptible to sulfation like liquid lead-acid batteries are. Gel cell batteries will hold charge for years while a liquid lead-acid battery can loose charge in 2 months and go dead. An Optima battery will cost you a minimum of $150.00. There was a price increase about 6 months ago. The best, and correct, Optima battery to buy for any of our cars is a RedTop Optima Part # 8004-003, Model # 34/78, CA1000, CCA 800. This Optima battery is the one I use in my 5 vehicles, starting about 5 years ago for the first one, which was in Thunder. About 3 months ago, I installed one of these batteries in Pat's 2002 Toyota 4-Runner. I had to reverse the battery and extend the battery cables, since Toyota has the reverse of GM for polarity position on the battery, just like Ford, but it was more that worth it. Pat now has a battery that will outlast the life of her 4-Runner. Costco has a RedTop Optima with 20% less power for about $120.00. I do not recommend that battery. I would stick with the one I mentioned. above. In Tucson, there are only 2 places to get Optima batteries, either Costco or 2 of the local speed shops. That means one must install the battery themselves or find someone willing to install it. Optima's are normally setup for GM battery installation, so it's a drop in for a GM. Milton Schick 1964 442 Cutlass [EMAIL PROTECTED]
