Here's a short quiz.
- With respect to lead acid batteries, "maintenance free" means:
a) Maintenance is done by the seller at no additional cost. b) There is no maintenance procedure that can extend the life of the battery. c) Even if there were such a procedure, the battery has been designed in a way that makes it impossible, in order to cut manufacturing costs. d) Even if there were such a procedure, the battery has been designed in a way that makes it impossible, in order to sell you a new battery on a shorter schedule.
The question I'm really getting at is whether or not "sealed" batteries ever run low on electrolyte like "capped" batteries do. If they do, it seems like the battery would have an artificially short lifetime if it is not possible to add fluid as necessary.