What does a leaking Lifepo4 prismatic cell smell like?

had a weird smell in my battery box, smelled like strong glue or something. Also, had a lot of a greasy like fluid in the case.

Like a solvent. Sweet ether, starting fluid, carb cleaner, or strong solvent based glue.

Greasy fluid is also how leaking electrolyte is described.

Sound like you probably do have a leak. I'm sure we'd all like to see some pics if you feel like sharing, but you don't have to.

Leaking without bloating implies some kind of mechanical failure. Case damage, terminal torque, terminal stress, or faulty seal from the factory.

hwy17 said:

Like a solvent. Sweet ether, starting fluid, carb cleaner, or strong solvent based glue.

Greasy fluid is also how leaking electrolyte is described.

Sound like you probably do have a leak. I'm sure we'd all like to see some pics if you feel like sharing, but you don't have to.

Leaking without bloating implies some kind of mechanical failure. Case damage, terminal torque, terminal stress, or faulty seal from the factory.

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Hi, thanks for the quick response! Sorry i don't have pictures, i was busy cleaning the box with gloves and a mask on, the fluid was everywhere. Also some lite rust on a couple of the terminal lugs. I'm pretty sure i found the cell with the issue, it was not hard like the other cells, it was almost like popping a soda can in and out, all the other cells are solid. It also weighed 10 grams less then the next lightest cell. No visible damage to the cell so not sure why it was leaking.

@hwy17 i actually also have another cell that i guess may have "terminal torque" when i loosen or tight the bolts it pivots about a 1/8". i guess i should dump that one too?

Yup, sounds like ya got it.
Wear rubber gloves, and clean up or discard anything contaminated with it.
I had one cell dump from an overcharge situation.
Do you know what caused your dump?

Supervstech said:

Yup, sounds like ya got it.
Wear rubber gloves, and clean up or discard anything contaminated with it.
I had one cell dump from an overcharge situation.
Do you know what caused your dump?

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thank you. No not sure what caused it, the cell looked like it was in good shape.

I can also confirm it smells like Ether.

KnewB said:

i actually also have another cell that i guess may have "terminal torque" when i loosen or tight the bolts it pivots about a 1/8". i guess i should dump that one too?

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I did that to a 100ah cell in my server rack battery, but I didn't get any smell or leak so I am still using it. Mine moved once though, not every time.

hwy17 said:

I did that to a 100ah cell in my server rack battery, but I didn't get any smell or leak so I am still using it. Mine moved once though, not every time.

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anyway to test if its compromised? would leaving it up side down suffice as a test?

KnewB said:

anyway to test if its compromised? would leaving it up side down suffice as a test?

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I think that a smell test is best, but you could put it on its side in a bucket and check for oily residue after some hours, yes.

It's not a settled issue though, and when I asked the community about my torquing event the advice was basically just "yikes" lol.