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What is distilled water?

Help! I just added tap water to my car battery instead of distilled water. What should I do?

  • I added about 3/4 of an inch to top it off with tap water instead of distilled water. Should I try to suction it out and add distilled water? Thanks!

  • Answer:

    To getcha tissues ready....what a stupid and potentially dangerous answer. You don't know if the person asking is wise enough to see the "humor". To the asker...unless you have exceptionally hard water, a small amount of tap water won't hurt the battery.

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LEAVE IT! It will not hurt anything. Former Battery Company Rep.

HerbS

It really depends on your water hardness and chemical content. If your city over-chlorinates the water or uses amonia as a form of water treatment, this could be bad. Also, if your local water hardness is over 20 grains per gallon currently, or just over 450ppm of dissolved solids, then the extra minerals that aren't water could cause some issues also...if not, I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck.

driftslave

In the 40 years that I've been driving and maintaining my own vehicles I've never used distilled water, and I don't know anyone who ever did, except my Dad. My batteries last as long as anybody else's. That's one of those rules that the manufacturers make up to void the warranty so you can't get compensation if the battery goes bad too early. If your water is good enough to drink, then it's good enough for the battery.

nachtmann2

Well I don't think that little bit of tap water is going to hurt anything. If you want to get the longest life from your battery it is best to use distilled water. In the old days gas stations had water bottles sitting next to the pump with distilled water in them. That way customers could fill up their batteries if needed.

bj

Don't sweat it. WHile distilled water is better, that much tap water won't hurt

pjbthree

no... water is water it will work either way.... it is a car not a baby

houston g

I've done that many times and never had a problem. Don't worry about it.

scubamasterme

it should not make a difference

heythere

no it doesnt make a difference! for me i always use tap water ...

Mario Dominguez

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