Leaking batteries?

[CHPMustang]

Any ya'll experience leaking batteries with your Powerstrokes?

Today I returned a new pair I picked up this past October for a replacement set.The stock Motorcraft set that came with the truck never bled a drop.

They seemed to start leaking in December on our trip to Utah,was it the cold weather or altitude that caused it to happen?

 

[Fire1]

My Interstates ooze all over the tops all the time.

 

[RSG]

Where's your leak? I've pulled both (original) batteries 3 times lately, and each time I find moisture on the bottom of the driver side battery. No evidence of leakage from up top, so I don't know if it is condensation (it sits in the middle of the air intake plenum now but it would require the battery to be colder than the air dew point for condensation to happen) ... or a leak. The batteries are 5+ years old.

 

[FordMastertech]

Make sure to check your charging system output voltage, it should be around 14 to 14.4 volts after the glow plugs shut off.
FMT

 

[CHPMustang]

Make sure to check your charging system output voltage, it should be around 14 to 14.4 volts after the glow plugs shut off.
FMT

Yeah the fluid seems to be coming from the vent caps and possible a post on each.
The battery acid is corroding the battery cable clamps pretty bad,might have to price a new set sometime in the near future.
I'll check the output voltage Tim and post back

 

[dzl_x_4x4]

FWIW: I had the same thing happen to my last batteries. When I took it in to Ford, it was the altenator had fried and was over-charging the batteries. But I have noticed that my new Batt's and Alt. (from Ford) is starting to do the same thing. I probably should take it back in, I am getting corrosion on the terminals and the AFE Stg II.

 

[CHPMustang]

We're so far so good on the new batteries but they drop below 12volts on startup versus the ones I returned which stayed above 12v on start up.

Maybe these new batteries need to be put on a deep charge for a whole night?

Current alternator output voltage is 14.36 volts during engine idle.

 

[RSG]

My "radar doo-dad" is a default voltmeter, so I watch it on startup just out of habit. I consistently go below 12V on startup. Now bear in mind these are original MC batteries on a '02, but they've been behavin' this way since '04. After start it runs 11.5 to 13, then after a few minutes it bounces to 14-14.5. No corrosion, just the wetness under driver side battery.

for what it's worth!

 

[CHPMustang]

I've never been the truck battery guru but what exactly causes the acid to leak out the top if the alternator isn't overcharging and the acid isn't overfull?

Acid vapors turning to liquid state at the caps/posts?
My new set is now doing it

The 5 year old stock batteries never leaked at all

 

[Crumm]

The 5 year old stock batteries never leaked at all

My original batteries have never leaked a drop either. I pulled them out of the 96' a couple of years ago and put them in my 75' and they are still dry as a bone and running strong. The new replacement Motorcrafts I installed in the 96' are wet on top and have been since a few days after I installed them. Maybe the original equipment has better seals on the caps ? Just guessing in the dark