Those green looking stuff on battery
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 447
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From: Jacksonville IL
Those green looking stuff on battery
I am curious to know what causes that greenish spikey looking coating on battery terminals. I have to keep cleaning the terminals and the cables every so often to get a good contact. Is it moisture that does it or is that I do not have full connection and some arching (maybe invisible to naked eye) occurs? Any means to prevent that? Don't see that happening on newer cars.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
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From: Millersville, MD
What are you cleaning the terminals with? Use baking soda and a little water to make a paste....pour the baking soda right out of the box onto the posts....make sure you do NOT get it into the cells!!! Mix a little water with a stiff bristle brush...(NO METAL)....let set for 15 minutes and flush with water. Go to battery store and buy a couple of the battery discs to put on the posts and it SHOULD stay clean a LONG time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2006
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The corrosion is caused by sulfuric acid gas escaping around the post and the battery case. Add some dirt and humidity, and you have the build-up.
It can be removed with baking soda, coca cola, or you can purchase products to remove the corrosion. I use foam from Chinamart.
You can get corrosion resistant cable connectors, but I have eliminated the problem entirely by using gel cell batteries. I use Optima, no more problems.
You can also use the discs mentioned above, or heavily coat the posts in grease, but you have to get the grease all around and under the post. jd
It can be removed with baking soda, coca cola, or you can purchase products to remove the corrosion. I use foam from Chinamart.
You can get corrosion resistant cable connectors, but I have eliminated the problem entirely by using gel cell batteries. I use Optima, no more problems.
You can also use the discs mentioned above, or heavily coat the posts in grease, but you have to get the grease all around and under the post. jd
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
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From: Virginia
A long time ago someone suggested to me that when I change the oil, and have a few drips left coming out of the oil bottle, put a couple of drips on each battery terminal. I have been doing this for years now and it really works. No fancy pads under the terminals or anything else.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
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From: Rochdale MA
The best solution to battery corrosion is to clean them very well. After cleaning both terminals and clamps put some noalox on them. Noalox is aan oxide inhibiting compound that electricians use on wires. You can get it at home depot in the electrical aisle. It is electrically conductive so put it on the terminals then the clamps tighten them up and put a thin coating on the exposed parts. This stuff works great.
