I use dielectric grease on both +/- posts/terminals and also keep maintainers on the batteries which helps keep the corrosion build-up on the terminals to a minimum, if any.
Do you believe in that red battery anti corrosion spray?
- Thread starter The motor guy
- Start date
I prefer an AGM battery. No mess with grease or spray
My dad likes the red spray, but to me its just a mess to deal with. I bought a 20pk of the felt washers a long time ago so every top post battery I put in gets them. I don't really know if they help or not, but they make me feel better and I like having all the easy positive/negative identifiers I can to keep me from doing something dumb... haha
I use Ideal Noalox. It's for aluminum wire connections, but works fine to prevent corrosion on battery terminals.
I don't get the mess - I just do a quick spray on each terminal, wipe off excess if there is any, done. pssh pssh done. To be fair, I haven't seen a corroded battery on any of my vehicles in a long time so likely no need for it...old habit.
Never had any corrosion on any battery, I use whatever grease I have handy.
I don't believe in any anti-corrosion battery specific product. Anything that seals the terminals from the elements will do the job. I typically use any spray lube within reach... WD-40 and PB Blaster have both worked great for me. Spray paint and smeared grease will work fine too. I suggest someone try chicken fat and let us know what happens in the summertime.
WD-40 is mostly solvents that will evaporate. I got some on concrete and a day later there was no stain at all.
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- Mar 8, 2022
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I keep an eye on the battery connections and clean them up if they show signs of corrosion. I think some of the issue is salt spray during winter driving. I either coat with grease or the red spray. The red spray is quite a bit less messy and does seem to help, at least it has in my case.
I used a self leveling silicone grease one time and it got between the terminal and post and made cranking intermittent. We had a special low temp flowing grease, melted at about 125F and more like a wax. We used at work on battery terminals on the production line if they were to be stored. It's good for car battery and ground points in the car. Petroleum jelly works great too.
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- Nov 29, 2009
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- 9,527
I was about to mention this. All this crap on top of the terminals, you would think it would get in between. Had this issue with a backpack blower where I put silicone grease inside the sparkplug boot. It wouldn't want to restart when hot. Although I do believe it had a vapor lock issue too, that silicone in the sparkplug boot was the dumbest thing I could have ever done. It had a spark plug boot on the pic on the package too lmao
I've never had a problem putting silicone grease in a sparkplug boot. The terminal inside the sparkplug boot will push the silicone grease right out of the way when it snaps onto the top of the sparkplug.
That is, unless it's loose. Then you know what you do about that? Fix it so it's not loose.
I use dielectric grease or the white lithium spray once the terminals are tight.
As others mentioned, if the battery is not leaking, it really is not needed, but you don't know if/when a battery will leak.
Unlike all the pro's on this board, I check my battery "whenever". I look at it when doing oil changes for obvious corrosion, may stick the charger on it for a few hours every 6 months or so, but that is it.
My brother in laws F150 had a slightly leaking battery. When I found it, it was a corroded mess.
Cleaned it all up (wire brush, soaked it in baking soda/water several times).
Reinstalled it, coated it with white lithium spray grease and had no issue with it for 3 years (sold truck).
As others mentioned, if the battery is not leaking, it really is not needed, but you don't know if/when a battery will leak.
Unlike all the pro's on this board, I check my battery "whenever". I look at it when doing oil changes for obvious corrosion, may stick the charger on it for a few hours every 6 months or so, but that is it.
My brother in laws F150 had a slightly leaking battery. When I found it, it was a corroded mess.
Cleaned it all up (wire brush, soaked it in baking soda/water several times).
Reinstalled it, coated it with white lithium spray grease and had no issue with it for 3 years (sold truck).
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- Dec 11, 2020
- Messages
- 387
Yeah, man, been using it for 10 years, NEVER had a corrosion problem. It's not expensive and a can will last you a long time
On flooded batteries, I use the felt washers.
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2024
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- 7
You realize dielectric grease means non conductive right ?
Yes. The grease is displaced when the terminal is tightened. If the terminal and clamp are not making metal-to-metal contact then anything in between including air will be a dielectric.
We’ve gone over this many times on here. Technical information from a reputable grease manufacturer has been posted. Silicone dielectric grease applied to the terminals prior to attachment of the clamp will not inhibit conduction.
