One kind of paint to use is epoxy or polyurethane.  Not the stuff in 
the spray can, the expensive stuff with the accelerator mixed in.   I 
have epoxy primer on mine, impervious to the battery acid.

On Friday, May 28, 2004, at 14:51 US/Pacific, Calle Fallberg wrote:

> Hi John
>
> Battery acid kills all paint, be sure to wash the case out really good
> before ...... but you already thought of that, I�m sure
>
> If the battery�s cracked, get rid of it, it�ll continue to leak
> If not, check your alternator output !
> If the alternator overloads, the battery will start boiling much like 
> when
> you use the batt. charger and apart from the acid problem you�ll also 
> get
> explosive fumes comming out of there :-P
>
> I use a piece of an old rubber floor mat on top of my battery to 
> prevent
> shortcircuit against the lid and a plastic tray about an inch high 
> under it
> in case of a minor leak.
> The tray�s made from an old acidproof offshore batterybox with a 
> cutout for
> the fastener
>
> Calle
> -88 Volgon
> Mullhyttan, Sweden
>
>
Edward Lowe
Seattle, WA
82 Westy Diesel upgraded to 1.9lt. Turbo
85 Golf Diesel 1.6lt NA
92 Cabrio 1.8lt gas
97 Passat Tdi