orchidskip,
I have seen batteries off-gas when overcharged. This usually takes the form of a mist that collects on the battery exterior and sometimes coats the immediate area with a white corrosive coating.
Conventional batteries have vents in the caps while maintenance free batteries have a small vent somewhere in the case ( I think). If your battery is actually drooling liquid, I would check for a cracked case. In the few instances I have seen where the battery was being overcharged, it was never actual liquid, but a corrosive mist/coating.
Stuart
