Is it normal for volt meter to go up to the white line between 13 and 18 V ? I assume that is just about 15.5 V ?

This occurs for the first 10-15 min of driving after the car has sat for a few hours or more. If started more frequently it goes up about 1/8 inch past 13, so about 14V and stays there.

I have just put in a new battery because the old one would not charge anymore. (5 year old original battery 97 Z28)
Would 15.5V for the first 10-15 min be too high for the alt, or battery? Too high voltage can boil up the water and ruin the battery? Before my last battery finally died both my headlights died at the same time, and I wonder if that was because of higher then normal voltage.

Maybe there is a drain while the car is off? Or is all this normal or coincidence?

Any suggestions appreciated
thanx
-Trevor

 

My car, when I first start it seems to run higher voltage for a few minutes, this is presumable to restore whatever juice was used to get the car started and such as well as the alternator being cold, then after the alternator comes up to operating temp it settles down and does ok. I don't think it would cause you any problems.

 

For some reason my voltage seems to be quite high, usually right around 16 or 16.5. I don't know why but so far so good.