Cleaning Battery Terminals February 17, 2018, 12:36:48 pm First, I have a question regarding corrosion at the terminals. I've never had it on the 6V Trojans and can't recall having it on the OEM chassis or OEM car battery. However, in the last few years, I replaced both the LD and car batteries with a "maintenance free" battery from WalMart. Both of these have corrosion on the positive terminals despite spraying them with something to stop that. Is it something about these batteries that causes this or something else.What is the best and hopefully least messy way to clean these? What should I use to prevent this? I was spraying on some red stuff previously. Don't have the brand or name at the moment. I'm not crazy about the idea of using baking soda and water as I don't want to rinse that stuff down inside the engine compartment so I think I need to take the batteries out to clean them. Of course, I need to clean the end of the battery cable as well.Jim
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #1 – February 17, 2018, 12:49:35 pm Jim,Back in my VW days, I used to carry a battery post cleaning tool along with me. Fits in the tool box nicely and fairly inexpensive.Basically a wire brush of sorts. One end is capped that has the cable cleaning brush. The other end fits over the battery terminals and you simply twist it to remove the corrosion.After the corrosion is cleared away, it’s probably advisable to use something to neutralize the acid that has settled near the posts and on the cable. Here’s a pic of what I used. It’s available on Amazon or at a car parts store. About $10.Good luck.Kent
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #2 – February 17, 2018, 01:06:16 pm Kent got it right.The top of the battery can be cleaned with a solution of water and baking soda, brush it on and let it bubble, then rinse with fresh water.After cleaning the post and the inside of the battery terminal, butter the the post and terminal with dielectric grease.You can also use anti corrosion washers that are placed on the posts. They are available at any auto parts store..Amazon.com: Battery Anti Corrosion Washers (2 Red & 2 Black): AutomotiveLarry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #3 – February 17, 2018, 01:08:51 pm Kent got it right with the battery brush.The top of the battery can be cleaned with a solution of water and baking soda, brush it on and let it bubble, then rinse with fresh water.After cleaning the post and the inside of the battery terminal, butter the the post and terminal with dielectric grease.You can also use anti corrosion washers that are placed on the posts. They are available at any auto parts store..Amazon.com: Battery Anti Corrosion Washers (2 Red & 2 Black): AutomotiveLarry 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #4 – February 17, 2018, 02:39:46 pm Posted before - Soak a paper towel in soupy mix of baking soda. Lay it on the battery. No corrosion. None. I do this on the house batteries. 1 Likes
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #5 – February 17, 2018, 03:54:46 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 17, 2018, 01:06:16 pmKent got it right.The top of the battery can be cleaned with a solution of water and baking soda, brush it on and let it bubble, then rinse with fresh water.After cleaning the post and the inside of the battery terminal, butter the the post and terminal with dielectric grease.You can also use anti corrosion washers that are placed on the posts. They are available at any auto parts store..Amazon.com: Battery Anti Corrosion Washers (2 Red & 2 Black): AutomotiveLarryInitially, I had applied the grease on the post prior to reattaching. Then a couple of years after we put the new batt in the Subaru it wouldn't start when we were leaving a business. Got it jumped and drove to a Les Schwab. The guy there told me the mistake was putting grease on the post and then attaching the cable.I will pick up some of those washers.Jim As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #6 – February 17, 2018, 03:56:41 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - February 17, 2018, 02:39:46 pmPosted before - Soak a paper towel in soupy mix of baking soda. Lay it on the battery. No corrosion. None. I do this on the house batteries.Yeah, I did a search but didn't help. At the risk of asking a question that has been asked before. Do you mean cover the entire top and leave it on there? How long, rinse it off after?Jim
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #7 – February 17, 2018, 05:02:17 pm Quote from: Jim & Gayle - February 17, 2018, 03:54:46 pmInitially, I had applied the grease on the post prior to reattaching. Then a couple of years after we put the new batt in the Subaru it wouldn't start when we were leaving a business. Got it jumped and drove to a Les Schwab. The guy there told me the mistake was putting grease on the post and then attaching the cable.I will pick up some of those washers.JimJust some clarification, Jim. Were you using dielectric grease?
Re: Cleaning Battery Terminals Reply #8 – February 17, 2018, 06:19:26 pm Quote from: HiLola - February 17, 2018, 05:02:17 pmJust some clarification, Jim. Were you using dielectric grease?I wasn't. It was the spray on red stuff which is probably a petroleum jelly. Obviously, the dielectric should not have a problem.Jim 1 Likes
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Topic: Cleaning Battery Terminals (Read 163 times)
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