Battery terminal grease yah or nay?

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Originally Posted By: cutter
Used white lithium from a squeeze tube. After a day, the white paste covering the both terminals turned a little pink. It's the same color since and no corrosion in a month. Seems good.

You sure thats safe to use? Cause I have some on me and also some brake anti seize lube if thats ok.



Sure, started up just fine this morning, it was pretty cold and I'm not dead.
 
You should mechanically clean lead terminal. Wire brush, sand paper, emery cloth, whatever. It's all fine.

You should not aggressively clean plated terminals. Using a steel wire brush or sandpaper is likely to scratch through the plating, which will lead to rapid corrosion. Even if you don't go through, you've increased the surface area and accelerated corrosion.

If you apply grease to the connection, make certain that it's waterproof and retards corrosion. Some greases attract water or otherwise promote corrosion. The suggestion above of using margarine, while likely made tongue-in-cheeck, is exactly wrong. Margarine has a high water content.

Dielectric or high voltage grease is pointless. It's fine to use, but the dielectric properties aren't going to help.

Some batteries are designed to be optionally used in an enclosed area (e.g. trunk) and have a vent port. They usually come with a vent tube. If so, use it. Even if mounted in an open engine compartment, the acid mist that comes out is best routed away from the battery terminals.
 
Originally Posted By: djb
The suggestion above of using margarine, while likely made tongue-in-cheeck, is exactly wrong. Margarine has a high water content.

The suggestion was indeed tongue-in-cheek, as were the suggestions for bear fat, nose grease, etc. I didn't know margarine had water in it.
 
I've been using petroleum jelly for quite a number of years now and never had a problem. The battery terminals on my Mazda look brand new with zero corrosion on them.
The 2003 Focus, I recently bought, has what looks like white grease on the terminals that Ford dealer applied. The terminals also look good with zero corrosion.
At the end of the day the product used probably matters very little, as long as it has some water repelling capabilities.
 
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Yes, of course you CAN put grease on before assembly. But why in the world introduce an insulator where electrical contact should be made??
Because it still can work? With reduced efficiency?
Put grease or paint on afterwards.


Absolutly NO paint!!!

Grease will improve contact whether it's used before or after assembly...


Back when TV had mechanical tuners with rotating contacts we'd grease them after cleaning, if perfect contact wasn't achieved they didn't work... Every time the channel was changed, a different set of contacts moved into place on the greasy contacts... The grease used had to be electrically neutral or the tuner would be thrown off frequency...


Wrong, wrong, and wrong!!
Absolutely no paint?:
It is the best way that I have found in 50+ years.
Grease improves contact?:
No. Just plain no.
TV tuners of old used grease?:
They had moving parts, Einstein. Battery terminals do not.


OK Sherlock, tell me a battery terminal doesn't move when it's tightened down...

I've greased terminals or used the spray corrosion preventive(my preferred these days) for well over 40 years, never had a issue...


Yes, you DID have an issue. You had reduced current flow due to your insulator grease, but are not smart enough to see that this is inevitable. The car still ran? So what?
And since you asked, a battery terminal should never move once installed.
People should not listen to you on any forum - you are dangerous.
 
I tend to spray on some lithium grease, not sure if that is the best product but I have never had problems with corroded terminals.

I live near the Thames Estuary were it is salt water. And my home in Scotland is also in a high salt environment.

There is so much salt in the air that every car my family has owned ends up furry under the bonnet, glad they started using engine covers in the UK. Hides all the fur!
 
I know alot of people that use a variety of lubes on the battery posts/terminals. I guess anything will work fine, hmmmm?

I use dielectric lube but, I know others that use petro jelly, brake lube, lith grease, felt washers, never-seize and a hoast of other lubes including the spray that is actually meant for the battery terminals.

We're all correct!
 
Wallyworld sells the felt washers and they last for years if the battery isn't leaking all over the top. Don't lean on the wrench when tightening the terminal bolts. Usually the leak starts in the terminal post where it emerges from the battery top. The Toyota terminal design where the cable can be detached from the clamp is a great idea. Just remember that grease between the terminal and post raises the resistance of the circuit. My personal favorite for cleaning contacts is Caaig Labs "DeOxit".
 
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