Rejuvenating old batteries

[Mackman]

Lots of u-tube videos out there of guys rejuvenating dead batteries. Anyone had any luck breathing new live into old batteries, and does it last? What methods did you use?

 

[davek]

 

[Rishi]

I have an old friend obsessed with this idea, and over the years, I've never seen him get more than a few weeks of (daily use) life from a lifeless battery. There have been many urban legends and modern-day youtube videos on this topic.

Considering the lead content in lead-acid batteries, they are a pain to dispose of. If there were some miracle cure for failing batteries, it should be common knowledge by this time, in our effort to make the environment better.

 

[ruffcut]

Git ya a new one an be done! Like was said, if it worked, no one would be buyin new batteries!

 

[Lefty71]

Anyone tight with corner store used car dealer?? Ask them what their battery suppliers do.... i had an old guy tell me just a few years ago he only paid $10 to renew them.... most new over the counter brand name ones were $100 then.

 

[Runner 68]

 

[dostroupe]

I boiled my lawnmower battery in the spring of '23, just to see if it works. I got on it Sunday to chop up some leaves and had to boost it off. So, 2 1/2 summers, not to bad. I boiled it with my big battery charger set to starting amps, 200amps I think. I'll be buying a new one in the spring.

 

[AR67GTX]

A little off topic but when my batteries get up in age I will usually pop the caps or plates off and finding some or all cells low on water, top off the cells with distilled water hoping to get another 6 months or so out of it. This seems to be what most references suggest you do. However my experience seems to be that this just speeds up the battery failure. I checked my wife’s 4-1/2 year old battery in her car a couple weeks ago - still starting fine - and all the cells were low. Filled them up with distilled water and a week later she went out to start it and it was suddenly down to 10 volts static, which doesn’t work well with modern, electronics laden cars. So I guess I’ll just leave them alone in the future to die a natural death.

 

[YY1]

Let me see if I got this.....

A used car dealer routinely "reconditioned" batteries using methods that have been known to last "a few months, tops"??

Can't say I'm the least bit surprised.

 

[RJRENTON]

Git ya a new one an be done! Like was said, if it worked, no one would be buyin new batteries!

My philosophy.......the battery gets one chance NOT to start the car......then it gets REPLACED, with an equal or one with more amp hours / more Cold Cranking Amps capacity. Just quit "fiddlily ******* around" AND BUY a new battery......it's just not worth the hassle coaxing an old dead battery one more time.....it'll let you down at the least opportune time......just my opinion of course.....
BOB RENTON

 

[Runner 68]

My philosophy.......the battery gets one chance NOT to start the car......then it gets REPLACED, with an equal or one with more amp hours / more Cold Cranking Amps capacity. Just quit "fiddlily ******* around" AND BUY a new battery......it's just not worth the hassle coaxing an old dead battery one more time.....it'll let you down at the least opportune time......just my opinion of course.....
BOB RENTON

Bravo. Well stated Bob. Couldn't agree more.