Flooded battery it is, then. Is the outer cloth cover very important?
I removed the fabric cover and replaced it with VW's hard plastic battery cover. If the battery sleeve was cheaper, I'd buy one. The H5 sized version is desirable to many owners who don't have one already installed, so you can sell the smaller and put the money towards the larger size.
Is it very important? We've collectively gone a lot of years without using them...
Dave at the Mk7 forums (and elsewhere) has the following in his battery upgrade thread:
Battery Heat Shield
According to the VAG ERWIN Self-study guide, guide No.504 “Vehicle Batteries- Design & Function”, the engine bay is considered a high temperature place for the battery. This can adversely affect the durability of the battery due to:- “Corrosion of the positive grid, water consumption, & self-discharge increase.”. They also state that AGM batteries must retain the heat shields they have been installed with as they are more susceptible to heat damage. Conversely if your car wasn’t fitted with an AGM battery there is a chance that it won’t have the required heat shields & you will have to retro-fit them.
The heat shields for the battery in the Mk7 Golf is Item No.12, the black fabric type cover around the battery (actually a fiberglass sleeve), & Item No.13, the dark grey polystyrene slab fitted to the underside of the battery tray. These two items are not the best low-emissivity materials, i.e. shiny metal foils, & will absorb heat compared to them. However, they will provide a physical barrier to heat from the engine affecting the battery in summer & will insulate the battery in winter to stop cold temperatures affecting it. I added extra heat shielding to my battery, see below in "Further considerations on fitting".
Disclaimer:- This info is for community usage. I am NOT affiliated to, or sponsored by, any company/individual to promote them or their products. Companies/individuals may NOT use my name, photos, or threads/technical guides, for financial or personal gain (fraudulent misrepresentation). Part 1...
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