Plastic Battery Vent - What is this for?

The battery duct is to cool the battery for reliability only! As stated from the Mazda Tech manuals!

It is not to flush or vent gases!

I removed mine along time ago befoer I go the Optima and there was no problems at all.

[quote author=dmention7 link=topic=67587.msg1170520#msg1170520 date=1169841583]
[quote author=AzMz3 link=topic=67587.msg1170398#msg1170398 date=1169836993]
It is not to flush or vent gases!
[/quote]

lol... this seems to be kind of a sore spot with you, eh?
[/quote]

No not at all, just trying to keep false info from spreading since I have the manuals in front of me!

[quote author=dmention7 link=topic=67587.msg1171370#msg1171370 date=1169877657]
Well, to be perfectly fair, it's not false info. An improperly-charged battery canvery well release hydrogen gas, and hydrogen gas is extremely flammable, and a vent will flush the battery case of any gases that may have otherwise accumulated.

Just because a service manual doesn't explicitly state something, doesn't make it false.
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And just because you assume something doesn't make it true. As anal as these car makers are about all of the unnessecary parts and lables for them if it was to flush gases I'm sure them would have listed it!

[quote author=dmention7 link=topic=67587.msg1172875#msg1172875 date=1170002051]
But I'm not just "assuming" that batteries can release hydrogen... it's a fact. Unlikely, yeah, but still a real possibility.
[/quote]

As stated you are assunming that is the case. There are some cars that don't have air ducts and enclosed batteries.....where is your theory there.

Anyone can assume what it is made for but having what it is actually made for in writing by the people that made it is alot more believable than your assumptions!

[quote author=dmention7 link=topic=67587.msg1173119#msg1173119 date=1170012150]
[quote author=AzMz3 link=topic=67587.msg1172887#msg1172887 date=1170002707]
There are some cars that don't have air ducts and enclosed batteries.....where is your theory there.
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If the battery isn't enclosed, then there would be no place for hydrogen to build up--engine bays are pretty well ventilated. I could just as well turn that around and say "If that vent is there to cool the battery, then what about the cars with no ducts or covers?" Read a little further to see why I'm not going to use that argument.


[quote author=AzMz3 link=topic=67587.msg1172887#msg1172887 date=1170002707]
Anyone can assume what it is made for but having what it is actually made for in writing by the people that made it is alot more believable than your assumptions!
[/quote]

"My" assumptions, eh? Sorry, I'll stop assuming about the physical reality of the chemical reactions that occur when charging a car battery, and only believe what a manual tells me. Honestly, man, that manual is not the comprehensive, end-all resource for every detail of every function of every part of this vehicle. If it tells me something, I'll believe it. But not at the complete exclusion of things it doesn't tell me.


To be honest, it seems like you're just trying to be argumentative here. If the vent cools the battery by flushing the airspace inside the compartment, then it will also dissipate any hydrogen that may accumulate. Those functions are mutually inclusive! Where's the problem? Or are you trying to tell me that there is no possibility of a battery releasing hydrogen? If so, show me some proof and I'll shut up.


I'm not telling anyone what to do with that vent. I never even said that removing the vent was necessarily a bad thing. If you wanna take it off--fine, there's more than likely no problem at all. But what the hell's so wrong with trying to inform people of a potential concern? It's not like I'm pulling this stuff out of my ass; I'm just reporting the facts here.


Anyways, I've said my peace--I gave the info I wanted to give, and I think I made the point I wanted to make. People can make of it what they will.
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First part was suppose to read there are some batteries that are enclosed!

Glad you got that out!

And as stated the duct is for cooling the battery for reliability per Mazda!