Dark electrolyte in the battery: what to do with black or turbid electrolyte
The electrolyte is a major component in a car battery device, allowing the batteries to accumulate and hold an electric charge. The color of the electrolyte in the battery is an indicator of the state of this fluid, while allowing to diagnose the battery.
Normal electrolyte in sections (so-called "banks") transparent and clean, indicating normal battery operation and no problems with charging from the generator or external charger. If the electrolyte in the battery is black or when charging the battery, the electrolyte becomes cloudy, then it indicates that, that the battery will not work properly or has failed.
However, in some cases it is possible to restore the battery. To do this, you need to know, What shall I do, if the electrolyte in the battery has darkened. Next we will consider, why the battery has a cloudy electrolyte or liquid changes color to black. Special attention will also be paid to issues, how to bring such a battery back to life.
Dirty electrolyte in the battery or the liquid has turned black: main reasons
Let's start with that, that the electrolyte is actually a mixture of distilled water and sulfuric acid. In new batteries, such a mixture must first be light and transparent, since it does not contain any dyes, additives and other impurities.
If the battery is in good condition, properly charged and operated, then no color changes or opacity occurs. In those cases, when the battery has a cloudy electrolyte in one jar, then faults appeared in only one section. If changes are noticed at once in all sections, then the problem affected the whole battery.
Let's add, that usually blackening of the electrolyte can be observed in maintenance-free batteries after opening the case. This is not surprising, as batteries of the specified type are calculated for a certain service life, then they are replaced. In other words, the owner does not have access to the electrolyte, that is, it is not possible to change the fluid in the jars, to measure the density of the electrolyte in the battery, top up with water or the electrolyte itself, etc.. P.
We will note still, that some drivers drill holes in the body of maintenance-free batteries to gain access to the sections. pay attention, it is not recommended to perform such manipulations without extreme necessity, as further it will be necessary to seal reliably openings.
As for maintenance-free batteries, they structurally have special filler plugs. For those, who intends to self-service the battery, this is an advantage, as the right approach allows you to significantly extend the life of the product.
so, consider a list of the most common causes, after which the electrolyte turned black, the color turned gray, there was turbidity:
- In some cases, especially if the battery is old and needs constant maintenance, dirt can get inside the sections. Dirt gets in then, when the traffic jams cracked, threads for their screwing in the case and on stoppers are worn out, etc.. d.
- The use of ordinary water instead of distilled or the purchase of distilled water of low quality leads to the active formation of various deposits during battery charging. The point is, that the turbidity or discoloration of the electrolyte is due to the presence of various impurities.
- Attention should also be paid to the electrolyte itself, which may be of poor quality. For this reason, it is recommended to buy electrolyte in tested places, stop your choice on well-known manufacturers.
Note, that in all the above cases the problem can be solved by replacing the blackened or turbid liquid with fresh. In other words, it will be enough to replace the electrolyte in the battery and charge the battery, taking into account all the requirements and recommendations for replacement and charging. You can then use the battery again.
We also recommend reading the article about it, how to replace the electrolyte in the battery. In this article you will learn about the features and nuances of the procedure for replacing the electrolyte in the garage.
Now let's look at more serious reasons, which can quickly disable the battery, if the driver does not take timely action.
- The battery is recharging, the battery is overheating. Usually, excessive heating is a common cause, that the electrolyte begins to change color. With that in mind, that the battery on many cars is in the hood space and noticeably heats up, any malfunctions of the relay-regulator or other deviations in the operation of the generator, as well as possible malfunctions or incorrectly set parameters on the external memory, may cause blackening of the fluid inside the battery case.
Moreover, recharging actively affects the plates inside the battery, there is their destruction. The situation is complicated by that, that recharging causes strong heating of the plates, thereby raising the temperature of the electrolyte.
- No less detrimental effect on the battery and a strong discharge of the battery. In the case of a deep critical discharge is also the destruction and scattering of the plates, the color of the electrolyte changes in parallel.
We will add, what if the battery froze when the temperature dropped, then this may indicate a significant decrease in electrolyte density and deep discharge of the battery. The point is, that when the density of the acid in the jars drops, the amount of water increases, which in the cold just freezes. The formation of ice inside the battery often mechanically damages the plates and the body itself. For this reason, a cloudy electrolyte may be observed after defrosting the battery.
By the way, turbidity as a result of shedding of plates and is a sign of their destruction. If easier, sprinkled with lead, which makes the liquid cloudy, performs staining of the electrolyte in gray or black. It's not hard to guess, that in the situation, when one jar in the battery has a black electrolyte, the reason in the plates of this section. Next you need to understand, which led to this, from overcharging or undercharging to damage, which arose from blows, vibrations, etc.. P.
Note, that in the hood space or other place, which is designed to install the battery (on some cars, manufacturers constructively place the battery in the trunk or transfer to the car), the battery should be properly installed on a special site and securely fasten the fasteners.
This prevents the battery from shifting during active acceleration and braking, avoid hitting the battery case on the walls of the site, etc.. P. In other words, from that, as a fixed battery, also depends on the preservation of its body and plates.
Dark electrolyte in the battery: what to do in this case
First of all, it is necessary to visually assess the state of the electrolyte, that is, what color is the liquid (gray, black or just muddy). Next you need to pay attention to that, whether there was a color change in one jar, several or all.
Now let's look at the situation, when a black electrolyte is detected in the battery, what to do in case of turbidity or discoloration of the liquid to gray, etc.. P. First of all, turbid electrolyte in all sections without exception may indicate this, that previously used poor quality water or acid. In this case, electrolyte replacement will help.
To do this, drain the old electrolyte from the battery, then pour fresh solution. If no further darkening or turbidity is observed during operation, then it means, that these actions helped keep the battery in good condition.
The gray color of the electrolyte in all banks of the battery suggests that, that you need to try to charge such a battery first, since the crystallization of salts of sulfuric acid. This is caused by a strong discharge of the battery. If the charge did not help, then you can try to rinse the jars and replace the electrolyte, then cyclically charge the battery with weak currents, alternating charge-discharge.
Significant turbidity and blackening of the electrolyte in one section is the reason for replacing the electrolyte only in it. At the beginning you need to measure the voltage in this bank. The evidence on the mark is close 2.1 is evidence of that, that there is still a chance to restore the battery.
If there is no voltage or the figure on the bank is minimal (does not exceed 0.5 V), and the total voltage at the battery terminals is close 10.5, then there is a high probability of complete shedding of the jars. In other words, lead from the plates painted the electrolyte black, precipitated.
We also recommend reading the article about it, What shall I do, if the electrolyte in the battery is frozen. In this article you will learn about the causes of freezing fluid in the battery case, as well as ways to defrost and restore the battery.
The problem is, that the lead precipitate causes the plates to close. It turns out, the section is not working, there is no voltage on it. In this case, you can try to change the electrolyte, but it is better to immediately prepare to replace the battery.
It is important to consider, that large-scale scattering of plates will not allow to return necessary working capacity of the battery even taking into account refueling of fresh electrolyte. This statement is true as for one non-working section, and to the general destruction of plates in all banks of the accumulator.
Let's summarize
As you can see, turbid or gray electrolyte is not always a sign of final failure of the battery without the possibility of its recovery. In this case, you need a comprehensive approach to maintenance, that is, rinse the sections, pour fresh electrolyte level, adjust the density. Next, you need to properly charge the battery.
If there is blackening of the electrolyte in one or more banks, and low or no voltage, then it speaks of active shedding of plates. For a number of reasons, it is best not to waste time trying to recover such a battery, since even if positive results are achieved, there is no certainty, that the device will continue to operate normally for a long time (especially in low temperatures).
It turns out, if the gray electrolyte is not yet so critical, black electrolyte in banks is already a good reason, to dispose of the existing battery and purchase a new battery. Also note, that if there are problems with the generator in the car or when setting up charging from the memory, the battery is charged incorrectly, then the new battery will fail fairly quickly.
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