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What’s up with this? The negative terminal on my battery keeps crudding up. 2008 F250 King Ranch Diesel. Optima batteries, red tops. This has been going on for several years now. The battery checks out just fine. Truck cranks and starts fine except when this crud builds up too much. I have to clean it off with a battery terminal cleaner about once a quarter. Anyone know what this is indicative of?
I would recommend cleaning it up really good again and then put just a couple drops of motor oil on it. Apparently the coating put on the connector at the factory to resist corrosion has all worn off.
The connection is corroded because the battery is outgassing hydrogen gas through the case where the negative terminal goes through it.
Not to derail this thread but does the escaping gas indicate a failing battery? Would one of the various battery terminal protective products/sprays help?
Not to derail this thread but does the escaping gas indicate a failing battery?
It indicates the post seal has lost integrity (if it ever had it in the first place). It *may* also be a sign of overcharging. A battery, from the moment it leaves the assembly line, is on the path to eventual failure. The key point is to delay that failure as long as possible. Maintaining the charging system, cleaning and maintaining the connections and cables, and avoiding overly aggressive manipulation of the terminals all help to defer the inevitable.
Would one of the various battery terminal protective products/sprays help?
*Anything* that acts as a barrier to the gasses coming into contact with bare metal will help to reduce the corrosive effects of the escaping gas. Felt washers, sprays, axle grease, motor oil, whatever.... None are guaranteed, but they do "help*. Some may be be better than others, YMMV.
Thanks, I’ll give it a try. I did, however, coat it with Vasoline trying to protect it but that didn’t stop or even delay the buildup. You would think that if this was because of pending battery failure that it wouldn’t have been going on for so long now. Also, the other battery has not one bit of this crud. You would think that if overcharging were the culprit both batteries would be showing the same issues.
I wasn't sure those types of batteries would leak like a regular liquid lead acid battery.
I have tried grease before, but didn't have good results. I have found during every oil change, once the oil can is just dripping, let just a couple of drips fall on top of the terminal. The oil seems to creep into all the knooks and cranny's and does a better job than the grease.
If it is leaking around the terminal, why not try some sort of sealer between the red plastic and the terminal. The way I look at it, you have nothing to lose to try different things.
I wasn't sure those types of batteries would leak like a regular liquid lead acid battery.
I have tried grease before, but didn't have good results. I have found during every oil change, once the oil can is just dripping, let just a couple of drips fall on top of the terminal. The oil seems to creep into all the knooks and cranny's and does a better job than the grease.
If it is leaking around the terminal, why not try some sort of sealer between the red plastic and the terminal. The way I look at it, you have nothing to lose to try different things.
I would recommend cleaning it up really good again and then put just a couple drops of motor oil on it. Apparently the coating put on the connector at the factory to resist corrosion has all worn off.
Hey Franklin, thanks for the motor oil tip. I put a few drops on the terminal and the battery post three weeks ago and so far no sign whatsoever of crud buildup. Looks clean as a whistle, whereas before it would already start crudding up after just a couple of days.
Hey Franklin, thanks for the motor oil tip. I put a few drops on the terminal and the battery post three weeks ago and so far no sign whatsoever of crud buildup. Looks clean as a whistle, whereas before it would already start crudding up after just a couple of days.
After awhile you might get a little bit of dirt sticking to it, but that never seems to hurt it. I do renew it every oil change with just a few drops again.
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