True or False: You can add chemical solutions to a battery and bring it back to life.
True: However, I strongly discourage the use of additives.
Every few years a new product comes along claiming to perform miracles to your lead-acid batteries. If you’re experiencing poor performance, just add this potion to the batteries, and they’ll be as good as new.
One thing that can cause poor performance in batteries is “sulphation.” The acid in the electrolyte goes into the plates, converting lead oxide into lead sulphate. During recharge, this process is reversed. But if a battery is undercharged consistently, the lead sulphate remains in the plates and can become “permanent.” This reduces the battery’s capacity and shortens its life.
Additives can break up sulphation and seemingly bring bad batteries back to life. My experience has been that this is true. However, I strongly discourage the use of additives. Here's why:
- The benefit following the additive treatment is temporary. Most customers discontinue use when they realize that they’re still replacing batteries just as often as before using additives.
- Sulphation is only one thing that can go wrong. Additives don’t fix the other problems.
- A reconditioning of your batteries in a good battery shop is more effective and will costs less.
- Some additives have ingredients that can actually harm the lead grid and shorten the life of batteries.
- No major battery company uses additives. No major battery company authorizes the use of additives. YOU WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY.
So the best advice is to have a quality battery shop recondition your poor performing batteries. Or even better, avoid sulphation in the first place by proper charging.
