Re: Topping-off a battery (low Audi content)

[Elliott Potter <epotter@abraxis.com>]

>So, I notice that the electrolyte level in the battery in my '93 90CS
>is looking low (it no longer covers the plates).

Is this the Audi OE battery?

>Can I just fill'er up with distilled water, or do I need to use
>electrolyte? If the latter, where to obtain?

As long as you don't need to fill up too much, use distilled water.  
Note of course that this is counterintuitive, which is why you shouldn't
put too much in.  The liquid should be an electrolyte.  It's usually
sulfuric acid.  (in fact if you really wanted you could go to the store
and buy some; an auto parts store might have some that would be the
right concentration)  Tap water usually has electrolytes in it, from
phosphorus, chlorine, metals, etc.  Properly distilled water has no
electrolytes in it, which means that when you add distilled water, you
decrease the power of your battery (not voltage) so it's less effective,
especially on cold days.  If you're just adding a little, don't worry. 
If you add a lot, you might try an auto parts store to see if they have
battery acid.

>I'm hoping that if I take care of this now, it'll last a bit longer
>before stranding me... :-)

Mine stranded me about a year after I got the car.  I got a new one
under warranty, one of the maintenance-free types, and it has treated me
*perfectly* since then.  It's an Audi as well.

HTH

Elliott