2015 Kawasaki MULE PRO-FXT Owners Manual - Page 150

2015 Kawasaki MULE PRO-FXT Manual

Page 150 highlights

MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT 149 installed in the battery for initial service. It is not necessary to check the battery electrolyte level or add distilled water. However, in order to maximize battery life and ensure that it will provide the power needed to start your vehicle you must properly maintain the battery's charge. When used regularly, the charging system in your vehicle helps keep the battery fully charged. If your vehicle is only used occasionally or for short periods of time, the battery is more likely to discharge. Due to their internal composition, batteries continually self discharge. The discharge rate depends on the type of battery and ambient temperature. As temperatures rise, so does the discharge rate. Every 15°C (59°F) doubles the rate. Electrical accessories, such as digital clocks and computer memory, also draw current from the battery even when the key is switched off. Combine such "key-off" draws with hot temperature, and a battery can go from fully charged to completely discharged in a matter of days. Self-discharge Temperature 40°C (104°F) 25°C (77°F) 0°C (32°F) Approx. Number of Days From 100% Charged to 100% discharged Lead-Antimony Battery 100 Days 200 Days 550 Days Lead-Calcium Battery 300 Days 600 Days 950 Days Current Drain Days from 100% DischargCharged to 50% ing Ampere Discharged 7 mA 10 mA 15 mA 20 mA 30 mA 60 Days 42 Days 28 Days 21 Days 14 Days Days from 100% Charged to 100% Discharged 119 Days 83 Days 56 Days 42 Days 28 Days In extremely cold weather the fluid in an inadequately charged battery can easily freeze, which can crack the case and buckle the plates. A fully charged battery can withstand sub-freezing temperatures with no damage. Battery Sulfation A common cause of battery failure is sulfation. Sulfation occurs when the battery is left in a discharged condition for an extended time. Sulfate is a normal by product of the chemical reactions within a battery. But when continuous discharge allows the sulfate to crystallize in the cells, the battery plates become permanently damaged and will not hold a charge. Battery failure due to sulfation is not warrantable. Battery Maintenance It is the owner's responsibility to keep the battery fully charged. Failure to do so can lead to battery failure and leave you stranded. j

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
  • 162
  • 163
  • 164
  • 165
  • 166
  • 167
  • 168
  • 169
  • 170
  • 171
  • 172
  • 173
  • 174
  • 175
  • 176

MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
149
j
installed in the battery for initial service. It is not nec-
essary to check the battery electrolyte level or add
distilled water.
However, in order to maximize battery life and en-
sure that it will provide the power needed to start
your vehicle you must properly maintain the battery’s
charge. When used regularly, the charging system
in your vehicle helps keep the battery fully charged.
If your vehicle is only used occasionally or for short
periods of time, the battery is more likely to dis-
charge.
Due to their internal composition, batteries contin-
ually self discharge.
The discharge rate depends
on the type of battery and ambient temperature. As
temperatures rise, so does the discharge rate. Ev-
ery 15°C (59°F) doubles the rate.
Electrical accessories, such as digital clocks and
computer memory, also draw current from the bat-
tery even when the key is switched off.
Combine
such “key-off” draws with hot temperature, and a
battery can go from fully charged to completely dis-
charged in a matter of days.
Self-discharge
Approx. Number of Days From
100% Charged to 100% discharged
Temperature
Lead-Antimony
Battery
Lead-Calcium
Battery
40°C (104°F)
100 Days
300 Days
25°C (77°F)
200 Days
600 Days
0°C (32°F)
550 Days
950 Days
Current Drain
Discharg-
ing Ampere
Days from 100%
Charged to 50%
Discharged
Days from 100%
Charged to 100%
Discharged
7 mA
60 Days
119 Days
10 mA
42 Days
83 Days
15 mA
28 Days
56 Days
20 mA
21 Days
42 Days
30 mA
14 Days
28 Days
In extremely cold weather the fluid in an inade-
quately charged battery can easily freeze, which
can crack the case and buckle the plates.
A fully
charged battery can withstand sub-freezing temper-
atures with no damage.
Battery Sulfation
A common cause of battery failure is sulfation.
Sulfation occurs when the battery is left in a dis-
charged condition for an extended time. Sulfate is a
normal by product of the chemical reactions within a
battery. But when continuous discharge allows the
sulfate to crystallize in the cells, the battery plates
become permanently damaged and will not hold a
charge. Battery failure due to sulfation is not war-
rantable.
Battery Maintenance
It is the owner’s responsibility to keep the battery
fully charged. Failure to do so can lead to battery
failure and leave you stranded.