What to coat battery post/terminals with?
- Thread starter JWC86
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
I usually put a set of the battery corrosion washers on when I replace a battery. Sometimes after putting the terminals on the post I'll use my pump oil can and put a couple drops of motor oil on top of the posts to help neutralize any acid that might form later. Years ago I used a very thin coat of wheel bearing grease but found out if left long term it could cause enough of a barrier to cause a no start, hard starting or slow starter cranking speed . It was always OK if I'd remove the terminals every 6 months to a year, clean the old grease off and apply a fresh coat.
I've always used the felt pads and have not had any corrosion issues.
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- Sep 7, 2021
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The idea is to seal out oxygen and promote a low resistance connection . Penetrox , Kernelex , EJC , or some other contact aid . Power companies use it by the boatload . Find a line crew and ask one of them for some . They'll probably hook you up . I still have some Penetrox left over from my working days .
or stop over tightening the clamp.If corrosion is a concern, get AGM batteries.
Too tight can cause corrosion?
I believe the thought is over tightening the clamp on the post can damage/loosen the post and be an area where leakage from the battery can begin
Bill
Bill
Well , it's not hurting it .
I use the NOCO kit, which I buy when I get a new battery. You can get it at Walmart and it comes with 2 felt "washers" an acid neutalizing spray and a battery terminal protectant. It works great and the terminal protectant dries like chain wax so it doesn't collect dirt, its also made in the US so thats a plus, Ive used other products but the high under hood temps usually dont play well with a lot of cheap or diy remedies.
JHZR2
Staff member
I like to clean the battery with pledge, and cover the terminals at the metal-plastic interface, and top and around the top of the terminals.
I'm not sure which bronze or brass Alloy Northstar uses, Silicon or Phosphor bronze I expect, but I recently polished the terminals with Caig Deoxit d5 and 1500 grit wet sandpaper and they glow like oiled gold, becoming far brighter with the D5 than when I used the 1500 paper dry.
I bought and applied some NO-OX-ID which says it is a conductive grease, but my friend who is more OCD than myself about minimal contact resistance swears by KOPR-Shield which he thinks is the same or at least very similar to copper antiseize.
Before I added the No Ox ID, but after wetsanding with D5, I tested the max output of my alternator into this well depleted and still healthy beast of a TPPl AGM battery( 116 amps) and then felt the terminals for heating. At that point I noticed I forgot to tighten the post clamp on the negative.
It still remained cool to touch and sams as ambient according to my IR temp gun..
I bought and applied some NO-OX-ID which says it is a conductive grease, but my friend who is more OCD than myself about minimal contact resistance swears by KOPR-Shield which he thinks is the same or at least very similar to copper antiseize.
Before I added the No Ox ID, but after wetsanding with D5, I tested the max output of my alternator into this well depleted and still healthy beast of a TPPl AGM battery( 116 amps) and then felt the terminals for heating. At that point I noticed I forgot to tighten the post clamp on the negative.
It still remained cool to touch and sams as ambient according to my IR temp gun..
