MAINTENANCE
33
The electrolyte in a storage battery is an acid solution which can cause severe burns to the skin and eyes.
Treat all electrolyte spills to the body and eyes with extended flushing with clear water. Contact a physician
immediately.
Any electrolyte spills should be neutralized with a solution of 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) dissolved in 1 quart (1 liters) of water and flushed with water.
Always wear a safety shield or approved safety goggles when adding water or charging
batteries.
Battery Cleaning
To prevent battery damage, be sure that all battery caps are tightly installed.
To reduce the possibility of damage to vehicle or floor, neutralize acid before rinsing battery.
To reduce the possibility of damage to electrical components while cleaning, do not use a pressure washer.
Cleaning should take place per the Periodic Service Schedule.
When cleaning the outside of the batteries and terminals, do not use a water hose without first spraying the batteries
with a solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water to neutralize any acid deposits. Use of a water hose
without first neutralizing the acid will move the acid from the top of the batteries to another area of the vehicle or stor-
age facility, where it will attack the metal structure or the concrete/asphalt floor. After hosing down the batteries, a res-
idue will be left on the batteries which is conductive and will contribute to the discharge of the batteries.
NOTICE: To reduce the possibility of battery explosion that could result in severe injury or death, do not use
metallic spray wand to clean battery and keep all smoking materials, open flame or sparks away
from the battery.
The correct cleaning technique is to spray the top and sides of the bat-
teries with a solution of baking soda and water. This solution is best
applied with plastic spray bottle. The solution should consist of 2 tea-
spoons (10 ml) of baking soda mixed with1 quart (1 liter) of clear water.
In addition to the batteries special attention should be paid to metallic
components adjacent to the batteries, these should also be sprayed with
the baking soda solution.
Allow the solution to set for at least three minutes; use a soft bristle
brush or cloth to wipe the tops of the batteries in order to remove any
residue that could cause the self-discharge of the battery. Rinse the
entire area with low pressure clear water. All of the items required for
complete battery cleaning and watering are contained in the Battery
Maintenance Kit (P/N 25587-G01).
Cleaning should take place once a month or more often under extreme
conditions. After batteries are clean and dry, the terminals should be
coated with a commercially available protectant. Aerosol containers of
battery terminal protectant must be used with extreme care. Insu-
late the metal container to prevent the can from contacting the bat-
tery terminals.
1 quart
(1 liter)
Clear Water
2 Teaspoons
(10 ml)
Sodium
Bicarbonate
(Baking Soda)
Plastic
Spray
Bottle
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