# NW Suburban Chicago - Where can I get battery acid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107 "2008-04-20T12:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/1 "2008-04-20T12:52:47Z")
My husband bought a new battery for the lawn mower last season. The battery came without acid! Where the hell do I get battery acid? I’ve looked on a number of sites and can’t find it. I will wait exactly one more week and if that fuckin’ lawnmower isn’t up and running, I’m buying a battery that will do the job. Or I’ll hire a fuckin’ lawn service. I’m “this close” to killing over the annual “I don’t give a fuck about the yard/But I Do!” argument. Can someone help me find someone who deals acid? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/2 "2008-04-20T13:30:25Z")
Look in the phone book for ‘Batteries-Automotive, Truck, and Tractor’. One of those outfits should be able to supply your needs. I’m guessing you’ve tried the local NAPA store? ETA: That sounds bizarre that the battery he bought wasn’t prefilled. Are you sure it didn’t leak, or was knocked over-allowed to drain, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/3 "2008-04-20T13:44:07Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Look in the phone book for ‘Batteries-Automotive, Truck, and Tractor’. One of those outfits should be able to supply your needs. I’m guessing you’ve tried the local NAPA store? ETA: That sounds bizarre that the battery he bought wasn’t prefilled. Are you sure it didn’t leak, or was knocked over-allowed to drain, etc.? [/QUOTE] Thanks for the NAPA tip. I’ll try that. He tells me that they are usually shipped empty and contain a separate “bag” or packet of acid. Most of what I’m seeing on line are “sealed” units. We have a White lawn mower. I guess they’re more famous for farm equipment than lawn mowers. We’ve had it a good 18 years, and it’s given us little trouble. But this annual battery bullshit argument has me at the end of my rope. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/4 "2008-04-20T13:47:26Z")
Just checked out the NAPA site and they don’t have battery acid. I had no idea this would be such a chore!!! ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/5 "2008-04-20T13:50:16Z")
**Kalhoun** , I saw the “NW Suburban Chicago” part of your thread title, and thought, dang, now THAT’S a GQ question I should be able to answer! I click on it, and it’s about frickin’ battery acid. Foiled again. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/6 "2008-04-20T14:13:16Z")
Try looking for electrolyte at a parts store. Small batteries, motorcycle, lawn tractor, etc., are often shipped dry. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/7 "2008-04-20T14:20:26Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] Try looking for electrolyte at a parts store. Small batteries, motorcycle, lawn tractor, etc., are often shipped dry. [/QUOTE] That being the case, I wonder why the store Mr. Kalhoun bought the battery from didn’t give him all the necessary components to make the thing work. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/8 "2008-04-20T15:04:39Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Just checked out the NAPA site and they don’t have battery acid. I had no idea this would be such a chore!!! [/QUOTE] NAPA stores carry a lot of merchandise not shown on their website. I called the NAPA store near me and they carry it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/9 "2008-04-20T15:35:47Z")
Yeah, NAPA’s website sucks. If you go there in person you should be ok. My first stop would be where you purchased the batttery and ask them why they sold you half a battery in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Them](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/10 "2008-04-20T15:45:44Z")
Battery acid=sulfuric acid. Sort of; dunno what the exact H2SO4/H2O ratio is supposed to be. Anyway, when diluting, ALWAYS ADD THE ACID TO WATER, NOT THE OTHER WAY. Obey this. Your eyeballs’ continued existence will be evidence you did it right. And sulfuric acid is sulfuric acid. Sounds like you got ripped off by whoever sold you the mower, but it’s a small ripoff (if it’s not just some mistake). A hardware store will have what you need, or be able to get it. A lawnmower battery won’t need much. And the crew at the hardware store can give you directions on dilution, or even do it for you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/11 "2008-04-20T16:27:13Z")
I’ve bought batteries and acid at Wal-Mart, but I’m not sure if they are sold separately. I also had to buy a battery for a backup sump pump at Home Depot, and again, the acid was in a separate “bag in a box”, but probably came as a kit. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/12 "2008-04-20T16:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] That being the case, I wonder why the store Mr. Kalhoun bought the battery from didn’t give him all the necessary components to make the thing work. [/QUOTE] I’m still trying to decide if this was a packing error or merchant stupidity or what. Oh…and you can bet he’s got the receipt from a garden hose he bought 14 years ago, but…nope – no battery receipt to be found. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/13 "2008-04-20T17:40:25Z")
Advance Auto Parts sells quarts of acid on the same end cap as motorcycle batterys. What is the group number of your battery? This is listed on the label. If it was a 1-1 or a 1-3, they have flat terminals with bolt holes, the ones we sell are sold wet and ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/14 "2008-04-20T17:48:30Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Thanks for the NAPA tip. I’ll try that. He tells me that they are usually shipped empty and contain a separate “bag” or packet of acid. Most of what I’m seeing on line are “sealed” units. We have a White lawn mower. I guess they’re more famous for farm equipment than lawn mowers. We’ve had it a good 18 years, and it’s given us little trouble. But this annual battery bullshit argument has me at the end of my rope. [/QUOTE] I’m curious as to why this is an annual event. Lead acid batteries typically last longer than that, unless you let them go to deep discharge, freeze them, or subject them to other forms of abuse. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/15 "2008-04-21T00:35:33Z")
I’m pretty sure I bought some for my old man at the NAPA in Des Plaines on Oakton. It was probably 10 years ago so phone first. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/16 "2008-04-21T01:47:44Z")
Is there a [Batteries Plus](http://www.batteriesplus.com/store_locator/state/IL.aspx) near you? There’s one down the street from me and I’ve always wondered how well a business that deals only in batteries might fare, but from the sounds of it I’d say it’s the sort of business you need 🙂 (if NAPA doesn’t work out) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/17 "2008-04-21T10:32:40Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] I’m curious as to why this is an annual event. Lead acid batteries typically last longer than that, unless you let them go to deep discharge, freeze them, or subject them to other forms of abuse. [/QUOTE] The acid isn’t an annual event. Mr. K removes the battery at the end of the season and hooks it up to one of those cyclic charger thingies. He also has to change the oil, blah, blah, blah…which I’m sure is why we’ve had the mower for so long. But his hot rod stuff always seems to take precedence over my need to cut the grass (or my need to do anything, actually), so we are at odds until he gets it up and running. Our old battery pretty much gave up the ghost last season, so he bought this new one (but didn’t actually get it to the usable state…due to his preoccupation with his car). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/18 "2008-04-21T10:36:24Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Is there a [Batteries Plus](http://www.batteriesplus.com/store_locator/state/IL.aspx) near you? There’s one down the street from me and I’ve always wondered how well a business that deals only in batteries might fare, but from the sounds of it I’d say it’s the sort of business you need 🙂 (if NAPA doesn’t work out) [/QUOTE] Yes, there is one not too far away. We’re going to check it out. The website was useless, but I’m hoping they’ve got it. Being a battery specialty shop and all. But hey…it wouldn’t be the first time a specialty store didn’t have their specialty item. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nw-suburban-chicago-where-can-i-get-battery-acid/446107/19 "2008-04-21T10:45:41Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Yes, there is one not too far away. We’re going to check it out. The website was useless, but I’m hoping they’ve got it. Being a battery specialty shop and all. But hey…it wouldn’t be the first time a specialty store didn’t have their specialty item. [/QUOTE] Take the empty battery with you. Trust me.