The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Battery corrosion

So I went out to start my truck and no juice, I looked under the hood to find my ground cable end a big cotton ball, I took it off and cleaned it up but then I found my neg. post on the battery in very bad state half dissolved, what do I need to do to eliminate this problem? Thank you

Most FLAPS sell red and green pads to go between the cable and battery to prevent this. There pretty cheap too, $5-6 bucks I think.

I've tried the pads ( should be less than $2.00) and the gel (comes in tubes like rtv) but one of my cars still does the corrosion. There has to be something causing it but I haven't figured it out yet.

A solution of baking soda and water will do the clean-up part in a jiffy. After they're clean and tight I take a little wheel bearing greese and put a light coating on both terminals. Seems to cure the problem.

Todd - if it was so bad the battery terminal was half gone, then the first thing you need to do is regular inspection and preventive maintenance - that didn't happen in a week or 2 .... keep the terminals clean and tight, look at them every time you pop the hood - as Waldo suggests, a light coat of grease on the terminals will prevent it [I use Vaseline] IF the cables are kept tight

Bill

I have used a can of Coke to clean them but it's sticky and must be flushed off. Sort of makes me wonder what it does to your stomach.

The best grease to use around battery connections is a conductive ant-oxidant grease such as:

Description of NAPA product:

(Conductive) Anti-Seize Compound & Lubricant, 4 oz

NAPA Part: BK 7652569
Product Line: Balkamp

Features_&_Benefits

Premium Quality Copper Anti-Seize & Thread Lubricant That May Be Used to Prevent Seizing, Corrosion & Galling Where High Temperature Conditions Exist, Contains High Percentage Of Micro-Fine Copper Flakes, Provides Good Electrical Conductivity

I also use the red/green felt circles around the base of the posts, and a black version of a battery mat under the battery.

Ok, thank you all for the information very much, I will get it cleaned up and coated and the battery pads as well, I never took of the terminals for inspection from when I bought the truck so I'm not sure of the condition of the battery from the time I bought it, and on the cokacola to clean the battery, yes cocacola is very bad stuff, It will dissolve a 1oz. piece of meat in 4 days.

Some things that can cause corrosion are excess gassing of the batt caused by a sulphated batt or a charging system to hot. I have seen posts broken loose from the case that allowed acid/gas come up around the post. Get the mess cleaned up and coat the term with permatex gasket sealer,makes it a [censored] to use jumpers tho.

If you're going to use carbonic acid to clean battery terminals (the reason Coke works) why not just use Club Soda? No sugar to get sticky that way! I prefer a very strong solution of Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) and a stiff-bristle scrub brush which neutralizes the acid that gets out of the cell vents and coats the top of the battery. Just don't get any down inside!
Jerry

Ok, thank you all for the info on cleaning the battery it really is nice to have a place to go for help.

Agreed, usually a sign of a dieing battery.

I found out that usually the problem is that because the battery terminal and the cable they cause a reaction and crystalise, and was advised to clean and grease the post and cable end OR like the new cars clean the pieces and spray with clear paint.



I agree with Tinys quotations, like for instance, if you are not mentally handicapped are you just tarded?

This issue of battery post corrosion has always stumped me. Over the years I've tired everything suggested and some work pretty well but in the end the corrosion returns.

It almost seems like it is prone to do it or not, cause here's the thing I can't figure out.
My wife's last two cars have never had a corrosion problem, never took the battery post clamp off, except when getting a new battery.
Now my 05 tractor has had the corrosion problem since it was new and I'm always cleaning the post.

There is one difference....My wife's cars have the post clamp that is like a thin strap around the post as opposed to the old style heavy lead type, which leads me to wonder if the clamp type has any thing to do with corrosion build-up.

Have you guys noticed this ?

Dan

My newew truck has the thin metal clamps and it corrodes, I don't believe it's the clamps so much as the battery condition.

as some of you know, I work at an autoparts store that still does starting and charging repairs. we allso sell hundreds of batteries per month, Delco, Exide and some Interstate. A Delco almost never corrodes but a cheap Exide will sweat or corrode while in stock. Now that I have seen the difference I buy nothing but Delco.

My '65 Chev had a tendancy to get furry posts and I'd clean it, brush it out, reconnect and spray with a light oil. Without fail a couple months later it was furry again.
I did the wheel grease bit, but with a penny stuck on each posts as sacrificial material that took the brunt of the abuse.

However,... In more recent years I found a wonderfull product while working in the Navy (we're alllllll about corrosion prevention in the Navy), MIL-PRF-81309 type 3,an aerosol corrosion compound that's made specificly for electronic components. Works good on metal surfaces of all types too, we'd use it to protect the wheels on our cars while we were on deployment.
You can buy the stuff on the Drillspot website. Like I said, very handy for all kinds of things, but it will keep all of your electrical connections clean and in good shape.