Topic: Charging / using Autolite battery

[sdgrant]

Many years ago, I had a custom tar-top battery made by the manufacturer of the Autolite aftermarket battery. I never had the battery filled or charged, always pulling out the off-the-shelf "modern" battery and putting in the dead (but correct) Autolite tar-top after driving to shows.

I will be attending the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance next month at Trump National golf course (about 4 miles away), and I know from previous events that they do a technical inspection as part of the judging to ensure everything works - engine, lights, wipers, radio, etc. I think it would not look right if I had to put in the off-the-shelf battery for tech inspection, then swap in the Autolite for the rest of the judging.

I had an aftermarket Autolite in a previous car that spit acid through the red caps onto the underside of the hood, effectively ruining the hood. With the almost unattainable 1st generation hood on my current Pace Car, that would be a disaster.

Should I have my unused Autolite tar-top battery filled and charged, then use it just for inspection, hoping it will "behave" and not spew acid like the previous one? I have no current issues with my generator or the charging system.

[Bob Gaines]

Many years ago, I had a custom tar-top battery made by the manufacturer of the Autolite aftermarket battery. I never had the battery filled or charged, always pulling out the off-the-shelf "modern" battery and putting in the dead (but correct) Autolite tar-top after driving to shows.

I will be attending the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance next month at Trump National golf course (about 4 miles away), and I know from previous events that they do a technical inspection as part of the judging to ensure everything works - engine, lights, wipers, radio, etc. I think it would not look right if I had to put in the off-the-shelf battery for tech inspection, then swap in the Autolite for the rest of the judging.

I had an aftermarket Autolite in a previous car that spit acid through the red caps onto the underside of the hood, effectively ruining the hood. With the almost unattainable 1st generation hood on my current Pace Car, that would be a disaster.

Should I have my unused Autolite tar-top battery filled and charged, then use it just for inspection, hoping it will "behave" and not spew acid like the previous one? I have no current issues with my generator or the charging system.

My vote would be to fluidize the repro battery since you do not want to switch out batteries. If you don't trust it switch out with a regular batt for the times the more correct looking tar top is not needed . Keep the repro tar top on a good batt tender for the down time . Once it dies 4 or so years from the time you charge it first (as long as you keep it on the tender in between shoes) it will be no worse then how you use it now as uncharged. 

[CharlesTurner]

The same place that sells the repro tar-top Autolite makes a maintenance-free version that will not leak or spill.  If I was you, I'd order a new one to have in the car, they will last several years as long as they're charged properly.

[67gta289]

Not sure what the core supplier is of the no leak or spill version, but I was at my brother in law's house yesterday looking at his Cobra kit car (289 with Autolite tear drop style alternator) and his 2 year old Optima red top sprung a leak and made a mess on the tray and area below.  Don't know the root cause yet.  Bummer.