are Maintainance-Free Batteries really better?

[Olive Drab]

example: Delkor
or mas okay parin yung low-maintainance?

[Ungas]

M-F Batteries should not and never be recharged except for your alternator. It doesn't have the right exhaust holes for the fumes and heat. Some opt to open the sealed covers which voids its Maintenance-Free, and end up with ordinary batteries after.

On the other hand, you wont have to open six holes just to check its water level. An indicator tells when it needs to be changed. This is better for those drivers who just sit and drive; and don't-know-how-to-open-their-engine-hood people.

[pajerokid]

Id take maintenance free any day over their regular counterparts. Just make sure that you get the high-capacity ones. Im using the red motolite right now, forgot what its called, OK naman! I cant see why anyone would get the old skool batts.

[Ungas]

I believe those red ones are named Super Power M-F. Almost all batteries sold nowadays are M-F ones (the old classic refillable ones are still available). I think only the Outlast brand doesn't come up with an M-F yet.

BTW, those red ones are replaced by Motolite Gold. :D

[pajerokid]

Ah ok :D When i got them, they had the highest Capacity ratings. I also noticed, less yung sulfation sa mga terminals compared to the old type batts.

[OTEP]

And at the strange angles we operate our vehicles in, mas maganda ang MF kasi walang leak. Yung sa Besta ko dati nag-leak kinalawang ang fenderwell. Same case with vinj's Frontier.

[1badGTS-R]

MF ako, bukod sa performance ng battery it doesnt f*ck up the paint under the hood.

[shadow]

how about yun MF na motolite na tropicalized, anyone own or tried this one?

[roydok]

Yes, maintenance free batteries are definitely better. They are sealed better than low maintenance batteries resulting in less water loss and less corrosive precipitate formation. You can just drive and forget about them until of course they die down and needs replacement.

[fox2lima]

I hope marevive yung thread na to as I find it very useful and education. My question is, I bought a Dyna Power MF Calcium battery just this May 2016, this is the first MF battery which I used since I had my first car. I had it installed on a Corolla Small body. I noticed that the two small holes on its upper sides emit lots of precipitates/fumes. Not sure if the water coming out of the holes is acid, distilled water of the battery or just precipitates/fumes. Luckily it doesnt cause corrosion on the fender of the car where it was emitted as well as the relay box directly on its side. Is it really normal for such kind of battery to emit too much water? At first I thought it was my water reservoir which is spitting water then I just noticed that it was the battery. Do I need to have it replaced by the dealer since it is under warranty?

Yes, maintenance free batteries are definitely better. They are sealed better than low maintenance batteries resulting in less water loss and less corrosive precipitate formation. You can just drive and forget about them until of course they die down and needs replacement.

[dr. d]

I hope marevive yung thread na to as I find it very useful and education. My question is, I bought a Dyna Power MF Calcium battery just this May 2016, this is the first MF battery which I used since I had my first car. I had it installed on a Corolla Small body. I noticed that the two small holes on its upper sides emit lots of precipitates. Not sure if the water coming out of the holes is acid, distilled water of the battery or just precipitates. Luckily it doesnt cause corrosion on the fender of the car where it was emitted as well as the relay box directly on its side. Is it really normal for such kind of battery to emit too much water? At first I thought it was my water reservoir which is spitting water then I just noticed that it was the battery. Do I need to have it replaced by the dealer since it is under warranty?

my motolite maintenance-free battery doesn't spew out anything like that.
put a barrier between the battery and your fender, po. corrosion doesn't show itself until it's too late to protect the paint and metal.

errr... is it just possible, that "MF" on that battery is just a name, and doesn't really mean "maintenance-free" ?

[papi smith]

Baka ito ang reason...

From Silver calcium battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Silver calcium batteries generally require more charging voltage (14.4 to 14.8 V) and may not be functional in older vehicles because their power generating systems (alternators) give lower voltages than those of modern vehicles. This also may occur with static chargers, some of which fail to charge these batteries."

From Modern Battery Problems: Calcium/Calcium Premature End-of-Life - CTEK Battery Chargers

"The problem with Calcium/Calcium occurs when they are deep discharged. The reduced water loss on these batteries is gained by reducing the gassing during recharge. Unfortunately this gassing helps to mix the acid. As a result the Calcium/Calcium batteries very often experience stratification, i.e. uneven acid weight height wise. The acid weight could be 1.17 or lower at the top and 1.35 or higher in the bottom for a battery that seems fully charged. This could cause sulphation and grid corrosion, which leads to underused capacity and premature end-of-life."

[jackaroo]

I've tried an AC Delco MF battery which lasted for 3 years. Brought it to battery doctors to see if they could revive it and they did- still works as a spare battery. I have to keep it charged using a "battery tender", low amp, trickle charger.
But AC Delcos are expensive so i still use low maintenance types like GS or FB batt which last about 2 yrs.
IMO, if the vehicle is used in rough roads or has hard/tough suspension then a battery will deteriorate faster due to plate damage regardless of type- MF or Low maint.

[Olive Drab]

I've tried an AC Delco MF battery which lasted for 3 years. Brought it to battery doctors to see if they could revive it and they did- still works as a spare battery. I have to keep it charged using a "battery tender", low amp, trickle charger.
But AC Delcos are expensive so i still use low maintenance types like GS or FB batt which last about 2 yrs.
IMO, if the vehicle is used in rough roads or has hard/tough suspension then a battery will deteriorate faster due to plate damage regardless of type- MF or Low maint.

i think battery case should also have suspensions huh?

[kimpOy]

MF din gamit ko

[HBOY]

I still use L-F batteries sa MBs ko. .eheh. Super Power Macht (something like that ang pangalan. .ehehe. white siya..):P

[Dieseler]

Yung OUTLAST may Maintenance Free. I've been using that lately.

Ayaw ko na ng Motolite. I've been using a number of their batteries, and exactly right after the warranty period of 1year and 6 months, bibigay na sila. :?

[Olive Drab]

Yung OUTLAST may Maintenance Free. I've been using that lately.

Ayaw ko na ng Motolite. I've been using a number of their batteries, and exactly right after the warranty period of 1year and 6 months, bibigay na sila. :?

same here.
yung 10 months lang yung dati kong Motolite.
im using two Mega-power for my Jeep now and Delkor for the car.

[roydok]

Ako Motolite Gold MF gamit ko at two years na siya. 15 months ang warranty niya. Masubukan nga Outlast MF next time.

[Olive Drab]

Ako Motolite Gold MF gamit ko at two years na siya. 15 months ang warranty niya. Masubukan nga Outlast MF next time. :)

do you have comparative prices ng MF batteries? 3SMF.