# Vinegar in battery **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 31, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651 "2013-05-31T17:48:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robsp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Robsp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robsp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/1 "2013-05-31T17:48:39Z")
Okay, I’ve been nominated for Dumb\_\_\_ of the year. I accidentally grabbed distilled vinegar instead of water to top off the 6 month old battery in my car. I topped off 3 of the 6 battery cells before realizing it. I have read that distilled vinegar is actually 95% water, so I am wondering just how much battery damage to expect. If a shorter battery life is the only real result, then I can live with that. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/2 "2013-05-31T17:52:19Z")
Vinegar’s a weak acid, so it might not have hurt anything. I’d just wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/3 "2013-05-31T17:57:16Z")
that is a first for me , please keep us informed if anything happens with the battery. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/4 "2013-05-31T18:12:14Z")
I’m puzzled why a 6 month old battery needs topping up at all. Was the water/acid level that low? What kind of battery is this? ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/5 "2013-05-31T18:30:44Z")
A blunder, but surely harmless. You are correct that vinegar is 95% distilled water and 5% acetic acid. Acid in the battery is OK. Vinegar is not recommended but don’t expect anything bad to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Robsp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Robsp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robsp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/6 "2013-05-31T19:17:35Z")
The battery came from Advance Auto. Believe it was not totally full when purchased ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/7 "2013-05-31T20:28:16Z")
Robsp- I’m curious, what is your idea of “full”? Just asking because it shouldn’t be full as in full to the top. There has to be room for expansion and for the gas to escape. How low was the battery? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/8 "2013-05-31T20:54:04Z")
@TwinTurbo Correct, manuals say that the plates have to be convered. Most batteries used to have a star shaped opening to which level you should fill the water. Batteries also heat up and room for expansion is also necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Bradley\_Hastings](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@Bradley\_Hastings](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bradley_Hastings)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/9 "2018-09-22T19:57:56Z")
Do NOT use vinegar in a car battery. It is acetic acid and will react with the sulfuric acid in the battery and the lead terminals to form lead acetate. Not good. Only use distilled water for small amounts. Otherwise, buy battery acid tabs from an auto supply shop. To clean the outside electrodes, baking soda with just enough vinegar to form a paste can be used to clean them. I usually use sand-paper to clean those. ---
**Author:** ![Waterbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f07891/32.png) [@Waterbuff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Waterbuff)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/10 "2018-09-22T21:48:14Z")
> [@Bradley\_Hastings](#): > > It is acetic acid and will react with the sulfuric acid in the battery and the lead terminals to form lead acetate what’s the chemical reaction to form lead acetate with a (very?) small amount of acetic acid in excess sulfuric acid? _Car or automotive battery acid is 30-50% [sulfuric acid](https://www.thoughtco.com/acid-chemical-structures-gallery-4071297) (H2SO4) in water. Usually, the acid has a [mole](https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-mole-ratio-and-examples-605365) fraction of 29%-32% sulfuric acid, a density of 1.25–1.28 kg/L and concentration of 4.2–5 mol/L. Battery acid has a pH of approximately 0.8.​_ > **[What Is in Battery Acid? Sulfuric Acid Facts](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-battery-acid-603998)** > > This is a look at the chemical composition of battery acid or the liquid used in car or automotive batteries. OTOH, _Distilled white vinegar usually measures around pH 2.4, with a strength of 5%._ > **[PH Level Of Vinegar | Is Vinegar An Acid Or Base - Cultures For Health](https://culturesforhealth.com/blogs/learn/kombucha-testing-acidity-strength-vinegar)** > > Test the pH level of vinegar, a common kitchen condiment, with advice from Cultures For Health. In this guide, you will learn more about this popular cooking ingredient's acidity or base properties and if vinegar is neutral, acidic or base. Know the... ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/11 "2018-09-23T00:45:36Z")
The real trouble comes when you add baking soda to the battery… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/12 "2018-09-23T01:42:26Z")
OP if you are still there, tell us if the vinegar seemed to have done anything good or bad for your battery. I’m guessing it had little to no effect. This would have been a great question for the radio show … Tom: “Doesn’t anyone screen these calls???” … lol … ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vinegar-in-battery/79651/13 "2018-09-23T16:49:27Z")
Wet batteries should not be topped off. This bottle is made to properly fill a wet battery > **[Deka Battery Filler - 2-Quart Capacity Deka Accessories and Parts DW00318](https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Deka/DW00318.html?feed=npn&gclid=CjwKCAjw85zdBRB6EiwAov3Ris7p-CffF5O4HXT_t9kDN9mnGp8zYtchyjLYxsvinzYUV7gjiokG0hoCeFoQAvD_BwE)** > > This battery filler has an automatic shut-off spout that stops filling once your battery has reached the proper fluid level. Holds 2 quarts. Call 800-