Originally Posted by Ferdman

spree17, I would leave the battery water level as-is, but check the battery periodically to confirm that it's not leaking water/electrolyte. Batteries require routine maintenance, that is checking/maintaining the water level every few months to keep them functioning properly. Just because the plates were exposed doesn't necessarily mean the battery will need replacing soon. You might want to inspect the cable connections at the battery to make sure the battery posts and the inside of the cable clamps are clean, and the connections tight. A slight amount of corrosion can cause problems. Optima batteries, on the otherhand, are sealed and require no maintenance.