The Ford Barn

29 Tudor · 06-20-2014, 05:02 PM

I suspect this will start a controversy and that is definitely NOT my purpose. I post this because I KNOW it works from personal experience as well as the experience of many others that have done it ... starting with Thomas Edison.

Years ago, the storage batteries that were placed along the railroad tracks to power the signals had "Edison Oil" floating on the top of the acid to provide a blanket that prevented evaporation. In fact, you used to be able to find "Edison Oil Bottles" scattered in the woods near where battery operated signals used to be installed. I have a couple myself. I researched this some years ago for use in the 6 volt deep cycle batteries used for house power in my motorhome and found the oil was in fact, heavy mineral oil.

At that time, I went to a chemist that worked in our company and asked him if there would be any reaction between mineral oil and sulfuric acid. He smiled and quickly said, "No, why do you ask?" When I explained what I was considering he said as a young man, he had worked in his dad's shop and virtually all the trucks they worked on had mineral oil in the battery on top of the acid. He said there was no corrosion and rarely had to add water.

For a number of years, there was a company called "Thermoil" that sold lead acid batteries with the oil installed as delivered. Now, they no longer sell batteries but still sell the oil and in fact, on their webpage, make a case against using mineral oil "if you discharge the batteries below 50%". I'm not quite sure why that makes a difference but I will say that for years, I have used it in my 6 volt house batteries on my motorhome and I have NO corrosion and only add a small amount of water maybe once a year.

With the oil blanket on top of the acid, when the battery is charged, there is no violent bubbling in the cells but rather, bubbles that slowly rise through the oil blanket and gently break at the surface. I believe the acid carried in the bubbles slowly condenses to the bottom of the bubble and, since the oil is lighter than the acid, it settles back into the acid below.

If you are having to deal with corrosion under the floor boards of your "A", it might be worth a look.

Steve

06-20-2014, 05:02 PM	#1
29 Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Magnolia, TX Posts: 161	Stopping Corrosion on Battery Terminals I suspect this will start a controversy and that is definitely NOT my purpose. I post this because I KNOW it works from personal experience as well as the experience of many others that have done it ... starting with Thomas Edison. Years ago, the storage batteries that were placed along the railroad tracks to power the signals had "Edison Oil" floating on the top of the acid to provide a blanket that prevented evaporation. In fact, you used to be able to find "Edison Oil Bottles" scattered in the woods near where battery operated signals used to be installed. I have a couple myself. I researched this some years ago for use in the 6 volt deep cycle batteries used for house power in my motorhome and found the oil was in fact, heavy mineral oil. At that time, I went to a chemist that worked in our company and asked him if there would be any reaction between mineral oil and sulfuric acid. He smiled and quickly said, "No, why do you ask?" When I explained what I was considering he said as a young man, he had worked in his dad's shop and virtually all the trucks they worked on had mineral oil in the battery on top of the acid. He said there was no corrosion and rarely had to add water. For a number of years, there was a company called "Thermoil" that sold lead acid batteries with the oil installed as delivered. Now, they no longer sell batteries but still sell the oil and in fact, on their webpage, make a case against using mineral oil "if you discharge the batteries below 50%". I'm not quite sure why that makes a difference but I will say that for years, I have used it in my 6 volt house batteries on my motorhome and I have NO corrosion and only add a small amount of water maybe once a year. With the oil blanket on top of the acid, when the battery is charged, there is no violent bubbling in the cells but rather, bubbles that slowly rise through the oil blanket and gently break at the surface. I believe the acid carried in the bubbles slowly condenses to the bottom of the bubble and, since the oil is lighter than the acid, it settles back into the acid below. If you are having to deal with corrosion under the floor boards of your "A", it might be worth a look. Steve Last edited by 29 Tudor; 06-20-2014 at 05:30 PM.