Battery Venting
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
My Delco was changed after 6.5 years of use in my 06 and only then as a preventative maintenance measure; it was still functioning well, and no acid issues, but I thought I was pushing my luck and didn't want to get stranded. A Costco 100 month warranty battery now resides under the hood and is doing great. No need to blow a lot of money on batteries in my humble opinion. Optimas have as many detractors as supporters on this forum. Do a search and you will find out.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
This is BS batteries have been venting in all sorts of steel body cars forever with little to no evidence of corrosion on the sheet metal near the battery. All Corvettes are plastic with little metal near the battery location. Delco side post batteries developed an issue with the positive battery post falling out some time in the 90s. I had it happen on my 91 Bravada when the vehicle was about 5 years old. Drove into an oil change shop and didn't drive out. Post fell out of the battery while the oil was being changed. Acid burned the paint off the sheet metal and the paint and almost got the guy working under the car. Three years later the positive post fell out of the battery in my 99 Tahoe luckily that was covered under the 3 year warranty. Never had an issue with either battery in my 97 and 03 C5s. Kept each car 6 years and had to replace the batteries due to age not leaking. If a battery started leaking in a C5 that could cause major headaches since the wiring harness, ECM other modules and vacuum lines were below the battery. GM hasn't used a side post battery in a Vette since the 03 model year and the stock battery in 03 was a Delco Gel Type.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 34
Believe what you like! Tech adviser or otherwise! 
Nature of the beast for the two typical common battery types C6 uses:
Side post terminal battery having additional handicaps, since internally, they are at the position, exposed to constant internal acid bath, added problem if case develops cracks around terminal post. Non the less, whether side or top post, if battery is lead acid type, it will produce acidic gas, gas will vent indiscriminately into surrounding areas without preference or prejudice to do what acid does, in form of vapor or liquid.
Gel type typically vent internally.
---
BS???
Nature of the beast for the two typical common battery types C6 uses:
Side post terminal battery having additional handicaps, since internally, they are at the position, exposed to constant internal acid bath, added problem if case develops cracks around terminal post. Non the less, whether side or top post, if battery is lead acid type, it will produce acidic gas, gas will vent indiscriminately into surrounding areas without preference or prejudice to do what acid does, in form of vapor or liquid.
Gel type typically vent internally.
---
BS???
