Venting the Battery is Optional, Right?

[kayger12]

I had planned on replacing my battery next month. I've owned the car for a little over three years now and figured it was safe to assume that it had been in there a bit before I bought her.

Yesterday I went to start her after she had sat for a few days and she cranked noticeably weaker than usual.

Not being one to push my luck, I moved up my planned replacement and made a quick run to Advanced Auto for a battery.

This morning I headed out to the garage to switch them out. I pulled the old battery out and found to my surprise that the PO never hooked up the vent hose. The hose was laying off to the side of the battery and the elbow connector was still inside the sealed plastic pouch still taped to the side of the 3+ year old battery. :facepalm

The new battery is now properly installed. Can't make this stuff up.

[wsmeyer]

Doesn't surprise me in the least.

[wsmeyer]

Changing the oil is optional too right?

[fredo]

Maybe the PO didn't care because he was selling the car soon ?

[johnrando]

Good thing you found it. I guess it proves that not venting it isn't the worst thing in the world? :dunno (Not that I'd recommend it).

[kayger12]

Changing the oil is optional too right?

I hear it is on leased vehicles. :)


Maybe the PO didn't care because he was selling the car soon ?

Tough to tell. I bought it from a dealer. Weird.


Good thing you found it. I guess it proves that not venting it isn't the worst thing in the world? :dunno (Not that I'd recommend it).

I guess not. I was venting into the trunk well for 3 years. Probably had a little mini Hindenburg going on back there at times.

[danewilson77]

Changing the oil is optional too right?

The vent hose has never been hooked up in either BMW I've owned.

It will hurt nothing KG.

It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

The vent hose has never been hooked up in either BMW I've owned.

It will hurt nothing KG.

It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

Any insight you wish to offer? I always assumed they designed it that way for a reason. Overly cautious on their part?

[danewilson77]

Any insight you wish to offer? I always assumed they designed it that way for a reason. Overly cautious on their part?

I have no insight on this, other than the fact zero cars I have owned ever had a vent hose connected.

Honestly, I just don't think it matters.
Like you said, I think it's a "CYA" item.



It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

Roger that.

[kayger12]

So after some quick research, it appears that it is a safety measure most necessary if there is a malfunction with the charging system.

Under normal conditions, it doesn't appear to be an issue.

I also read that the vented gases can be corrosive to steel (exposure >30 years) so only an issue if you plan on keeping the car until we're 80... which I do :biggrin


It's a safety thing to prevent gas build-up inside the car which could cause an explosion. It has happened when someone installed a new battery without connecting the vent tube. I saw a 7 series that had a battery explosion under the back seat. Car was a mess and luckily nobody was sitting back there. Some folks have even noticed a peculiar smell without the vent tube. I've been told that under normal conditions when the battery/charging system is functioning properly there should be no problem. But!!! if something goes wrong and the vent is not there - look out!! The batteries that are designed for this model come with a venting port that requires a small 1/4 inch hose to be attached and vented to the outside. For example for installations in closed areas, Interstate Batteries will supply a free kit for attaching the port to the venting tube. Not sure if all their batteries have this port or not. I would recommend some type of venting system for safety reasons.

[johnrando]

Thx for the update. Yup, I'm def. Keeping mine as long as possible. I've had my Triumph for 20 years.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

[iZHP]

Always wondered about this. Last car did not have it connected, neither does this one.

[Johnmadd]

I also read that the vented gases can be corrosive to steel (exposure >30 years) so only an issue if you plan on keeping the car until we're 80... which I do :biggrin

I think this is the main reason imo, both of my e30's had huge rusted through holes under the battery through the bottom rear of the lower valance. I have noticed that is a very common spot on those cars and I really believe its from the vent tubes not being hooked up, and the e30's are less than 30 and have had holes for at least ten years. This is the main reason I always buy a sealed battery unless the vehicle has the battery mounted in the engine compartment. I would highly recommend having the vent tube hooked up. I can show you pics of what I'm referring to if your curious.

[kayger12]

I think this is the main reason imo, both of my e30's had huge rusted through holes under the battery through the bottom rear of the lower valance. I have noticed that is a very common spot on those cars and I really believe its from the vent tubes not being hooked up, and the e30's are less than 30 and have had holes for at least ten years. This is the main reason I always buy a sealed battery unless the vehicle has the battery mounted in the engine compartment. I would highly recommend having the vent tube hooked up. I can show you pics of what I'm referring to if your curious.

Great info, John.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[Vas]

My current car does not have a vent tube either. Aftermarket battery.

[echo46]

I had planned on replacing my battery next month. I've owned the car for a little over three years now and figured it was safe to assume that it had been in there a bit before I bought her.

Yesterday I went to start her after she had sat for a few days and she cranked noticeably weaker than usual.

Not being one to push my luck, I moved up my planned replacement and made a quick run to Advanced Auto for a battery.

This morning I headed out to the garage to switch them out. I pulled the old battery out and found to my surprise that the PO never hooked up the vent hose. The hose was laying off to the side of the battery and the elbow connector was still inside the sealed plastic pouch still taped to the side of the 3+ year old battery. :facepalm

The new battery is now properly installed. Can't make this stuff up.

I experienced the same thing when I replaced the battery on my ex ZHP. I was actually perplexed and looked it over for a while as I conjectured it must have been damaged. However, it just wasn't hooked up.

[dpark]

Replaced my OE BMW battery today and the numbskulls who did it (it was the 2nd battery in the car from 2012) didn't connect the vent tube! It was just dangling there at the bottom of the battery well. And the EXIDE battery did have a vent port to connect to.

The battery I put in was a Costco Interstate battery. Was the cheapest I could find and a 42 month full replacement warranty. Looked at Autozone/Duralast and EXIDE and OE BMW and all of them were more expensive. Costco's customer service is superb, so decided to save money and if anything goes wrong in 3.5 years, I know Costco will just give me a new one.

[Newjack]

Replaced my OE BMW battery today and the numbskulls who did it (it was the 2nd battery in the car from 2012) didn't connect the vent tube! It was just dangling there at the bottom of the battery well. And the EXIDE battery did have a vent port to connect to.

The battery I put in was a Costco Interstate battery. Was the cheapest I could find and a 42 month full replacement warranty. Looked at Autozone/Duralast and EXIDE and OE BMW and all of them were more expensive. Costco's customer service is superb, so decided to save money and if anything goes wrong in 3.5 years, I know Costco will just give me a new one.

That sucks man. Even when you get new batteries these days they don't often sell or include any parts to vent the battery which blows my mind. I had to replace my battery early in the year and I went with the H8-DLG which is so far a fantastic battery. If it's half as good as the 49-DL (R.I.P. in pepperoni) it will be just fine

[az3579]

I've never vented my battery. I always got really nervous about that fact, but I think I'm on my 3rd battery IIRC - never vented any of them and haven't had issues.
I don't even have any of the hardware to vent them, even if I wanted to. :(

[dpark]

Well, mine is vented now. Found the "plug" in the trash and put that in the negative side. pulled the existing elbow joint out of the old battery and stuck it in the new one and connected the hose. Who knows if it will make a diff? My current (BMW OE Exide) battery was not hooked up for 6 years and there was no damage to the compartment. But better safe than sorry. Didn't have to buy anything else, but did have to go back in and do it right.

[PetesZ]

https://www.lifewire.com/dangers-of-exploding-car-battery-534782

Batteries want to explode. Do the right thing and hook up the stupid vent tube.

Gas created. Hydrogen.

Acid created. Hydrogen sulfide

Better outside the car than in.