hey. one of our batteries is showing a small leak. i hadnt noticed, until i saw it corroded a piece of carpet where i had it stored. upor further inspection i noticed a small leak in the battery casing. is there a way to seal it? or do i need a new one? this one was very recent, and i excellent working condition, so i wouldnt want to replace it if it can be fixed. 

Auto parts stores will have an epoxy stick designed for use on sealing battery cases.  If you have lost very much of the electrolyte out of one of the cells though the battery won't be very long lived.

How new is it? Most have a 1yr warranty. Just take it in and exchange it for a new one. 

thanx, its about 2 years old so i think it has no warranty. and about the electrolite, can i add distilled water or is it another thing???

electrolyte is really just the sulfuric acid inside the battery which stays there. Adding distilled water only brings the level back down to normal. Once the electrolyte is gone, its gone. Essentially you COULD add more electrolyte as they do sell it but your better off getting a new battery as its not easy unless your a chemist

I didn't realize there were epoxy sticks to repair cracks in batteries.  I hope it's more effective than the stop leak gunk they've had for radiators.  In fact, when I was a kid, a cheap fix for small leaks in radiators was to break an egg, and then put the innards into the radiator.  It would cook, and eventually plug the leak when it passed over it.

 

Another trick that was used to quiet noisy rear ends and transmissions was to put sawdust in them.

 

All these "fixes" do is to mask a problem.  They only fix it temporarily.

 

The battery one causes me the most concern.  It's one thing to lose coolant or to have a noisy tranny, or rear end.  But sulfuric acid leaking into the bilge? 

I'd be inclined to suck it up, and buy a new battery, especially if it was the cranking battery.

thanx for the comments. 

 

i hadnt noticed the leak until i put the battery in a carpet, and when i moved it, it had corroded the carpet, a small hole. the battery was still working and everything so i guess it didnt loose much acid. i thought i could refill with distilled water, but now you mention the acid i think it would be better to get another one. i dont know (ad dont want to find out) wat the acid can do to the fiberglass.... maybe nothing, but im not sure... also, im pretty sure it would contaminate the water if, as mentioned, it gets in the bilge and eventually in the lake....

Replace it.

 

Last time I had a cracked battery- I took it back and they replaced it free of charge...   it was out of warranty as well.