Dear Tom and Ray:

I have an old style battery in my 85 Bonneville. When it needs water, would it be of any benefit to add leftover battery acid from another battery instead of distilled water?
Wally

RAY: Gee, Wally. This is one of the wackiest ideas I've heard in a long time. It ranks up there with my brother's idea for the "car-boat-plane-bicycle."

TOM: I wouldn't mess with the battery, Wally. If you make the acid concentration too high, you'll actually dissolve the lead plates in the battery. And then all you'll have is a big plastic tub of acid, which, to the best of my knowledge, does not make any electricity.

RAY: Stick to water, Wally. As you suggest, distilled water is best, but most municipal tap water is fine, too.