Quick Question re: battery
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 19,257
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From: San Diego, CA
I'm not sure, Julius. What exactly are you trying to accomplish/prevent? Doesn't seem like taking out the battery would help or hurt anything. 
In fact, I'd almost think that it is better to leave the battery in the car, and start the engine every month or so and let it run for a few minutes?
In fact, I'd almost think that it is better to leave the battery in the car, and start the engine every month or so and let it run for a few minutes?
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Come see me after class.
Julius, there is no need whatsoever to take the battery out of the car. None. It's not gonna get cold enough (or hot enough) to damage the cells in the battery. Batteries (especially the maintenance-free ones) can easily take a Rhode Island winter.
I would recommend leaving the battery in the car. Taking it out accomplishes nothing. If you're trying to prevent it from being discharged, simply disconnect the ground to prevent any electrical loading. Although if you're discharging the load prematurely, then you have bigger problems.
If you leave it in the car, you don't have to start it up every few weeks. In fact, it's better if you do NOT start it to simply start it. If you don't let the engine warm up to operating temperature, then drive it (under load) for a few minutes, any condensation that collected inside the engine will not have enough time to evaporate out the exhaust. Running a cold engine for a few minutes (<10) at idle actually hurts the car. There's little oil being circulated, and that's not good. Also, with that condensation (yes, water does get in there), you could cause come cavitation erosion on your cylinders.
This is especially dangerous on the F20C because it has a wet-deck cooling system. If you run it cold, you could create some scale or possibly warp/crack your heads.
Granted, this is only an extreme example. 95% you're not goingt o have any problems, but don't just start it to start it. Even if you rev it up a little, if there's no load on the engine, you will have piston slap and rod knock, as the oil has not yet reached optimum viscocity. If you're going to start it, drive it.
But back to the battery... The battery can take the cold weather, but go ahead and take it out if you want. If it's not because of the cold, but because you want to prevent any current draw from draining the battery, then all you have to do is break the circuit - disconnect the gruond.
I would recommend leaving the battery in the car. Taking it out accomplishes nothing. If you're trying to prevent it from being discharged, simply disconnect the ground to prevent any electrical loading. Although if you're discharging the load prematurely, then you have bigger problems.
If you leave it in the car, you don't have to start it up every few weeks. In fact, it's better if you do NOT start it to simply start it. If you don't let the engine warm up to operating temperature, then drive it (under load) for a few minutes, any condensation that collected inside the engine will not have enough time to evaporate out the exhaust. Running a cold engine for a few minutes (<10) at idle actually hurts the car. There's little oil being circulated, and that's not good. Also, with that condensation (yes, water does get in there), you could cause come cavitation erosion on your cylinders.
This is especially dangerous on the F20C because it has a wet-deck cooling system. If you run it cold, you could create some scale or possibly warp/crack your heads.
Granted, this is only an extreme example. 95% you're not goingt o have any problems, but don't just start it to start it. Even if you rev it up a little, if there's no load on the engine, you will have piston slap and rod knock, as the oil has not yet reached optimum viscocity. If you're going to start it, drive it.
But back to the battery... The battery can take the cold weather, but go ahead and take it out if you want. If it's not because of the cold, but because you want to prevent any current draw from draining the battery, then all you have to do is break the circuit - disconnect the gruond.
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Originally posted by alexf20c
Julius, there is no need whatsoever to take the battery out of the car. None. It's not gonna get cold enough (or hot enough) to damage the cells in the battery. Batteries (especially the maintenance-free ones) can easily take a Rhode Island winter.
I would recommend leaving the battery in the car. Taking it out accomplishes nothing. If you're trying to prevent it from being discharged, simply disconnect the ground to prevent any electrical loading. Although if you're discharging the load prematurely, then you have bigger problems.
If you leave it in the car, you don't have to start it up every few weeks. In fact, it's better if you do NOT start it to simply start it. If you don't let the engine warm up to operating temperature, then drive it (under load) for a few minutes, any condensation that collected inside the engine will not have enough time to evaporate out the exhaust. Running a cold engine for a few minutes (<10) at idle actually hurts the car. There's little oil being circulated, and that's not good. Also, with that condensation (yes, water does get in there), you could cause come cavitation erosion on your cylinders.
This is especially dangerous on the F20C because it has a wet-deck cooling system. If you run it cold, you could create some scale or possibly warp/crack your heads.
Granted, this is only an extreme example. 95% you're not goingt o have any problems, but don't just start it to start it. Even if you rev it up a little, if there's no load on the engine, you will have piston slap and rod knock, as the oil has not yet reached optimum viscocity. If you're going to start it, drive it.
But back to the battery... The battery can take the cold weather, but go ahead and take it out if you want. If it's not because of the cold, but because you want to prevent any current draw from draining the battery, then all you have to do is break the circuit - disconnect the gruond.
Julius, there is no need whatsoever to take the battery out of the car. None. It's not gonna get cold enough (or hot enough) to damage the cells in the battery. Batteries (especially the maintenance-free ones) can easily take a Rhode Island winter.
I would recommend leaving the battery in the car. Taking it out accomplishes nothing. If you're trying to prevent it from being discharged, simply disconnect the ground to prevent any electrical loading. Although if you're discharging the load prematurely, then you have bigger problems.
If you leave it in the car, you don't have to start it up every few weeks. In fact, it's better if you do NOT start it to simply start it. If you don't let the engine warm up to operating temperature, then drive it (under load) for a few minutes, any condensation that collected inside the engine will not have enough time to evaporate out the exhaust. Running a cold engine for a few minutes (<10) at idle actually hurts the car. There's little oil being circulated, and that's not good. Also, with that condensation (yes, water does get in there), you could cause come cavitation erosion on your cylinders.
This is especially dangerous on the F20C because it has a wet-deck cooling system. If you run it cold, you could create some scale or possibly warp/crack your heads.
Granted, this is only an extreme example. 95% you're not goingt o have any problems, but don't just start it to start it. Even if you rev it up a little, if there's no load on the engine, you will have piston slap and rod knock, as the oil has not yet reached optimum viscocity. If you're going to start it, drive it.
But back to the battery... The battery can take the cold weather, but go ahead and take it out if you want. If it's not because of the cold, but because you want to prevent any current draw from draining the battery, then all you have to do is break the circuit - disconnect the gruond.
Thanks for the info... although I did find this on the net
"There is a condition that affects the capacity of the battery called sulfation. It is a layer that is built up on the plates from long periods of discharge caused by a reaction between the lead plates and the sulfuric acid. A quick charge will not remove it, however a long trickle charge can partially restore it. "
But then again he says it's long period of time. I'm only storing this for about 5 months.
