Dear Tom and Ray:

I have an old style battery in my 85 Bonneville. When it needs water, would it be of any benefit to add leftover battery acid from another battery instead of distilled water? Wally

Ray: Gee, Wally. This is one of the wackiest ideas I've heard in a long time. It ranks up there with my brother's idea for the "car-boat-plane-bicycle."

Tom: I wouldn't mess with the battery, Wally. If you make the acid concentration too high, you'll actually dissolve the lead plates in the battery. And then all you'll have is a big plastic tub of acid, which, to the best of my knowledge, does not make any electricity.

Ray: Stick to water, Wally. As you suggest, distilled water is best, but most municipal tap water is fine, too.

Spending a little money now on "preventive maintenance" can save you big bucks down the road. Find out how by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1994 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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