battery acid resistant paint
 

Im installing a new battery tray in my 70 and was wondering if there is some kind of paint or a coating I can brush on to protect it from battery acid. I would also coat or paint the inner fender and the core support in the area that is usually affected by battery acid. I have tried the battery mat but it didnt help much. I could just paint it and hope it lasts another 40 years but I want to sleep at night and not have to worry about what the battery is doing to my truck.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

Your best bet is to buy a sealed battery or like a optima that is gel filled that do not have a tendency to leak.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

......or buy an aftermarket Stainless Steel battery tray, which is not impervious to acid, but certainly more resistant.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

I work on military vehicles for a living, and they still use the old style non-sealed batteries and they leak all over. We started using a product called OUTLAST, its made by Drummond. It is a rubberized coating and comes in a spray can. we use a zinc etching primer under it. It levels out pretty well, it kind of looks like rhino liner but smoother. It seems to stand up to the acid very well. we have had some trucks come in that we painted 2-3 yrs ago and the batteries were frozen and leaked acid all over. the coating prevented it from eating the battery box. I don't know where to get it, we get it through a vendor. If you use it, I recommend shaking the can for a full 10 minutes before spraying, its pretty thick.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

You can use POR-15 for the battery tray and just about everything else you don't want to rust out.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

I used POR on a battery box and it rusted out in a couple of years since the battery leaked.

Jim

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

What most often makes a battery leak? Bouncing around? Temp fluctuation? And does it leak out of the top or out of the side? Could a person seal some area better with something? Or is there some maintenance that a person could do...baking soda rinse now and then? I just got done blasting and painting mine so I would like to know...not sure I want to drop money on an optima yet. ;)

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

also insterested bump

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

anybody?

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

One, make sure the charging system is working right. Second, a good battery helps. It doesn't have to be an Optima battery either. I have seen these fail prematurely also. Make sure you have good grounds and good battery cables and connections. Yes, making sure the battery doesn't move around helps out tons also. I'm using a CS130 105A alternator out of a 94-98 something FWD V6. Its wired to a single stud terminal with the factory fusable links (98 camaro)

Batteries don't like heat, vibration nor voltage regulators that are faulty. Batteries typically begin to boil and the water and acid tend to go up thru the fill caps or vent.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

powdercoat the battery tray

charging system very important// ground wire connections are important part of electrical system that people dont pay attention to

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

I purchased a new re-pop tray - which was a bear to fit. Since I wanted to keep it new looking I purchased a batt-matt from LMC or similar vendor. So far it looks good in there. The batt-matt is a yellow felt piece that I'm guessing absorbs any acid that spills out.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

Buy a plastic battery tray to put under it, seal the bolt holes with silicone, no more rust problems.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

If you have linex bedliner near you they might spray it of 20 bucks or so

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

POR-15 the tray.
Keep an eye on the battery. Acid will eat thru ANYTHING if given enough time to do so.

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

SS tray or Optima is the best solution. The acid batteries will get core sup, fenders and even hood, so you need to protect more than the tray. If you powdercoat or cover a used tray or other parts, they will bleed acid back out from inside the seams. I hate battery acid and blake fluid!!!

Re: battery acid resistant paint
 

What battieries are you guys using? I've owned my truck since 1996 and it's only ever had wal-mart or autozone batteries in it and I've never had a leaker? It is obvious that it had leakers in the past, as I had to replace my inner fender and a section of the core support, but I did all that way back when I first got the truck.