Battery Terminal Corrosion

[c3po]

I pulled back the flexible rubber that is covering my battery terminal where it connects to the battery and there was some corrosion so I just wiped it off.

How do I totally clean this off, I have a few ideas since it has been awhile, this is not the screw in type but the top post type of battery, this was on the positive side cable on the battery.

1) Pour some Coca-Cola, and the carbonization eats the corrosion

2) Baking soda and water with a toothbrush

Is it best to disconnect the battery before I do this cleaning, if I disconnect the battery, since this is a 2004 Mercury Marauder will I set off a code in the computer.

 

[Herz]

Use diet coke, and baking soda seperately. But both will work, I put some grease on it or a penny near the terminals.

Also go to NAPA, buy a brass brush and brush it all down good. Brass wont hurt the maleable metal the terminals are made off.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: defektes
Use diet coke, and baking soda seperately


So the Diet Coke is better then regular Coke on the battery terminal, that's good, I do not like Diet Coke, sorry Diet Coke Lovers.

What kind of grease do you put on the battery terminals.

I believe that I have a brass brush at home.

 

[SuperDave456]

Note: WEAR PROTECTIVE GOGGLES!

I have made a baking soda slurry and dropped a severely corroded terminal in there, it bubbled for 15 minutes before it stopped.

If you are using a brush, any kind of brush, you can potentially get some of that junk in your eye. I have gotten some of the crystallized corrosion on my hands and face before and it burns, I wouldn't want it in my eyes.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Note: WEAR PROTECTIVE GOGGLES!


Thanks for the tip, I have some Protective Goggles, you never know when some junk can go flying.

 

[Herz]

I use just regular balljoint grease that I use to lube the zerks on my truck. A light film usually will help. You can get the stuff for battery terminals and sparkplug cables but it is really expensive for small amounts. Not worth it for a battery IMO.

The reason I suggest diet coke is that it is my personal preference not to put sugar anywhere near my engine where it will leave a residue and get stickey

Oh and dont smoke near the battery, and protective goggles are always smart when working near a battery.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: defektes

The reason I suggest diet coke is that it is my personal preference not to put sugar anywhere near my engine where it will leave a residue and get stickey thumbsup


That makes alot of sense about sugar leaving a residue.

So, covering the terminal with a light film of ball joint grease keeps the corrosion away, how often does this need to be done.

 

[daves66nova]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Note: WEAR PROTECTIVE GOGGLES!

I have made a baking soda slurry and dropped a severely corroded terminal in there, it bubbled for 15 minutes before it stopped.

But doesn't this get drawn into the battery cable,under the insulation?

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: c3po
Originally Posted By: defektes

The reason I suggest diet coke is that it is my personal preference not to put sugar anywhere near my engine where it will leave a residue and get stickey thumbsup


That makes alot of sense about sugar leaving a residue.

So, covering the terminal with a light film of ball joint grease keeps the corrosion away, how often does this need to be done.



I used petroleum jelly, works really well.

Just clean the terminal really well, clamp the cables and coat the terminal with grease or petroleum jelly, a thin coat is enough, don't glob it up, I coated the negative terminal close to 2 years ago and there is absolutely no corrosion and petroleum jelly is still there.

 

[demarpaint]

Club soda works too. Like others said wear gloves and goggles, blow out remaining soda with compressed air. Grease, Dielectric grease, or petroleum jelly is fine. HTH