2. Battery terminals should be cleaned regularly and coated with Vaseline. The top of the battery must be kept clean and dry. This will prevent corrosion and partial discharge of the battery.
3. Once every three months, remove the battery and inspect its mounting bolts, clamp plate, pad, and wires for signs of corrosion (white loose deposits). All traces of corrosion must be removed, corroded areas cleaned with ammonia and covered with anti-corrosion paint.
4. Inspect the battery case for cracks at the same frequency. Any cracks found should be cleaned and sealed with a special compound. If significant electrolyte leaks from the "can" through a crack, you will need to fill the can with fresh electrolyte (see below). Cracks in the top of the battery often appear when water is added to it in the winter after a trip, rather than before. In this case, the water does not mix with the electrolyte, freezes and ruptures the battery casing.
5. Frequent need to add water to the battery (in the absence of cracks on its body) indicates that the battery is overcharged, and therefore the voltage regulator needs to be checked.
6. Every three months, check the density of the electrolyte using a hydrometer, which will allow you to assess the battery charge and the condition of the electrolyte. If the density of the electrolyte in different cans differs from each other by more than 0.025, this may be caused by one of the following reasons:
- a. loss of electrolyte due to leakage or spillage, whereby the electrolyte deficiency was compensated for not by electrolyte, but by clean water;
- b. internal short circuit caused by deformation of the battery plates. In this case, the battery will most likely fail in the very near future.
Below is the specific gravity of the electrolyte in a fully charged and fully discharged battery at different temperatures:
| Fully charged battery | Electrolyte temperature | A completely discharged battery |
| 1,259 | 43°C | 1,089 |
| 1,263 | 38°C | 1,093 |
| 1,267 | 32°C | 1,097 |
| 1,271 | 27°C | 1,101 |
| 1,275 | 21°C | 1,105 |
| 1,279 | 16°C | 1,109 |
| 1,283 | 10°C | 1,113 |
| 1,287 | 4°C | 1,117 |
| 1,295 | -7°C | 1,126 |
| 1,303 | -18°C | 1,133 |
| 1,311 | -29°C | 1,142 |
Sealed batteries (all models)
1. The latest models use sealed batteries. In addition, a sealed battery can be used as a replacement for an old open-type battery.
2. If a sealed battery has a means for checking the electrolyte level, this should be done annually (or at the frequency indicated on the battery case). Even if the manufacturer does not require checking the electrolyte level, we recommend doing so from time to time.
3. On all types of batteries, it is necessary to keep the terminals and clamps clean and take regular measures to prevent corrosion.