My car sits in the garage until the weekends and I'm leaving it hooked up to the CTEK Charger. Since the battery is in the passenger pod, I'm wondering if I should leave the windows down not knowing what battery gases will do to leather. I don't want to find out after the fact. Any input?

 

I have a C3 and I am wondering about the same question. I doubt that GM put sealed batteries in any C3. Apparently you have a regular battery in your C6. My simple logic suggests that if GM manufactured it with a regular battery that we would both be OK.

Of course, a sealed battery would be fine also. But is it necessary for either safety or saving the interior in some obtuse way?

 

It's a good question and one I've never seen on here before. I know of only one person who used to work for an actual batt. mfr., and he is Tim, "timd38." He also has a C6. If it were me, I'd ask him to come on here and respond. I am sure if he doesn't know the answer, he can easily (or more easily than me) find out.

 

I leave my car in the garage with windows down all the time.
Two weeks ago had dead battery, so reached in open doors and pulled the hood latch and replaced the battery.

 

GM put s vent tube on those batteries when the car was new so that it vents outside the cabin, if memory service me right. Sealed batteries still need to be vented. If you look at the new group size Optima batteries, they have a vent port in the side. The old sizes have vents on the top. Charging creates hydrogen gas and if a battery has issues that gas will build up and if the acid levels get below the plates it will blow up.

 

If you're only using a CTEK I doubt there is an issue. A good point though if a 'charger' is put on.

 

Great post and thanks for the info. I learned something from this about batteries and charging them.

 

Any charger can cause an over charge situation. If the car is sealed it will fill the cockpit with hydrogen gas. Is it common issue, no, but if the battery doesn't have a vent tube on it, I would leave a window cracked.

Before I retired, I looked at way to many batteries that had the tops blown off from being overcharged. Much larger issue in hot climates because the heat evaporates the electrolyte and then the acid level gets below the plates and when you start the car, the positive and negative plates arc and the battery blows up. There poly separator between the positive and negative, but as the battery ages, corrosion takes place and the grids can grow above separator.

Like I said earlier, is it a common issue, no, but it does happen.

 

Take this advice seriously. I opened the hood on a Honda car and told the owner to start it. The battery detonated covering me with acid. I was luck wearing glasses so my eyes were saved AND I just happened to be at a motorcycle shop where they had a battery emergency kit handy so I ended up with almost no body damage. I lost ALL my clothes. Just just fell apart hinting me just how potent that stuff is.