Stopping battery terminal corrosion

JoggingGuy · Apr 7, 2004

I have a number of lead-acid golf cart batteries that I use to store power in my solar system in the shed. To protect the terminals, I mix a lot of baking soda into a container of petroleum jelly and use that to protect the terminals. Works great and I haven't had a single corroded terminal.

But this combo doesn't work as well on my cars and truck because the petroleum jelly melts from the underhood heat and runs off the terminal.

The battery terminal on my truck was corroding again, so on a whim I tried mixing the baking soda with some Schaeffers #221 #2 instead and used that. That combo works great and is unaffected by the heat

Bio-T · Apr 7, 2004

On all NON-Maintenance free batteries that I have to add water to I use a product that works great for low water evaporation and 0 terminal corrosion. Works great in golf cart style, lawn mower, and boat batteries, and automotive non-maint. free:

http://thermoil.com/

Gary Allan · Apr 7, 2004

The corrosion is from ion migration conducted between the POS and NEG terminals. If you can clean the space between them and spray it with a hardening silcone spray it should not corrode. Naturally dirt will eventually provide a path between the two posts, so this would be a periodic "to do".

427Z06 · Apr 7, 2004

There may be better or cheaper ways to do it, but I've always used something like CRC Battery Terminal Protector with good results. 7.5 oz can has lasted more years than I care to remember.

cryptokid · Apr 7, 2004

i found an optima once, its in my car now and its so **** nice to not ever have corrosion. when this bettery fails (if ever?) i will purchase an optima again just for the ease of use and zero maintence requirement.

digitaldrifter91 · Apr 7, 2004

i use a non corrosive terminal cap...but then the negitive sometimes gets some corrosion so i compensated with this anti corrosion stuff for the battery. its a red color.

you just put it on the terminal and no worries.

T-Keith · Apr 7, 2004

I've used the NO-CO[sp] spray available at Walmart, in conjuction with the NO-CO soaked foam washers. Work great in conjuction with some anti-siezed on the hold down bolt.

-T

Bogatyr · Apr 7, 2004

I just use a dab of di-electric grease as well as those Christmas colored terminal felt washers. Makes me feel like it's Christmas all year round...
Bogatyr

TheTanSedan · Apr 8, 2004

NO-ALOX and OX-GARD are both sold at the home centers for electrical connections. Makes for both a cooler AND more conductive connection.

Cheap. A single tube will about last a lifetime because so little is needed. Wire brush the terminals, apply either, and work it in. Make and tighten connection, wipe off excess leaving a light film.

I have a six-year old battery in one car and have NEVER seen corrosion on it. I also use it on lamps and other vehicle connectors for the same reason. Di-Electric is great in some cases, but not in others.

I've tried all the auto parts and marine supply stuff and nothing is better, IMO, (other than greaseable marine terminals [zerk-fitted]).

jsharp · Apr 8, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by T-Keith:
I've used the NO-CO[sp] spray available at Walmart, in conjuction with the NO-CO soaked foam washers. Work great in conjuction with some anti-siezed on the hold down bolt.

-T

Exactly the same here and I've had good results. Cheap and effective...

JoggingGuy · Apr 9, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by cryptokid:
i found an optima once, its in my car now and its so **** nice to not ever have corrosion. when this bettery fails (if ever?) i will purchase an optima again just for the ease of use and zero maintence requirement.

Same here. Optimas are cheap enough now (especially at Sams club) that I will probably put one in the truck when this battery goes bad. And since it's a 4 year old original battery, I might be doing this sooner than later

Pablo · Apr 9, 2004

I find those cheapa$$ silly red- green Na-bicarb soaked (Christmas colored

) felt washers to work great with zero hassle...so with this and cleanliness I have zero issues with the 8 YEAR OLD Interstate on the older Volvo.

Yours sounds like a great solution...I just hate the grease on terminals thing.

SHOZ · Apr 9, 2004

I use Odyssey batteries. Much better than the Optimas. Completely sealed and small in size too.

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/

wwillson · Apr 9, 2004

Believe it or not, but I've found that WD-40 works as well as anything out there...

seotaji · Apr 13, 2004

mix di-electric grease with baking soda.

works well.

and someone suggested felt washers for flair.
i can agree with that

kansaisubaru · Apr 13, 2004

I thought you weren't supposed to use something like WD-40 on battery terminals. Am I wrong? I thought the spray can warned against it. Let me know what you think.

tom slick · Apr 13, 2004

i use the wal-mart battery cleaner then once they are dry i use a cosmolene like spray wax chain lube. it seals the terminal up with thick wax that is not greasy when dry. it worls well.
my forklift tech recommends using ammonia to clean up acid/corrosion on our electric forklifts but i've never tried it.

outrun · Apr 13, 2004

Here is my dilemna with Battery Terminal protection sprays.

On one hand No-Cor and all those products are near essential.

Most cars have filthy engine compartments to be begin with.

I would bet most of the BITOG member cars have engine bays (and oil pans) LOL you can eat off of

The contention I have are the sprays, vaseline, etc serve as magnets for dust which quickly turns the terminal spray residue into an abrasive mud.

Perhaps a routine hand cleaning of the terminal and ends with highly soaked felt tips are better?

JohnnyO · Apr 13, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Pablo:
I find those cheapa$$ silly red- green Na-bicarb soaked (Christmas colored

) felt washers to work great with zero hassle

i do the same here.

T-Keith · Apr 13, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by outrun:
Here is my dilemna with Battery Terminal protection sprays.

On one hand No-Cor and all those products are near essential.

Most cars have filthy engine compartments to be begin with.

I would bet most of the BITOG member cars have engine bays (and oil pans) LOL you can eat off of

The contention I have are the sprays, vaseline, etc serve as magnets for dust which quickly turns the terminal spray residue into an abrasive mud.

Perhaps a routine hand cleaning of the terminal and ends with highly soaked felt tips are better?

I think you might be nitpicking here. My engine bay isn't the cleanest, but I have no problem with the spray. It dries and doesn't collect dirt, looks fine to me. If not the soaked washers are a good bet also.

-T

Stopping battery terminal corrosion

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