Battery terminal/cable corrosion cleaning

[scootergmc]

So I have marshmallows growing on my terminals/cables. I was getting ready to replace the batteries already out of caution and noticed the goo. Yes, they're the original batteries, almost 7 years old. Seems to have appeared awful quick because I don't recall seeing it last time I opened the hood, and that was about a month ago.



What's the best way to clean it up and not have it reappear on the next set of batteries? Thanks



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[MMeier]

Mine started that real quick also around 191k miles or so. Cause of mine was the battery was getting small cracks around the terminal, just the negative though ( on both). Sure way to avoid it is to get yourself a set of Red Top Optimas to replace the stockers. Be warned though , the corrosion has probably started to travel up the cable already. I mixed up a batch of baking soda and water an submerged the cable ends for several minutes, , several times over the following weeks before the stuff stopped appearing.

 

[JJPage]

What's the best way to clean it up and not have it reappear on the next set of batteries? Thanks



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Soda/water solution will clean up the crud, and neutralize the acid. Once the post seals start to leak there is no stopping them, clean your cables/clamps and apply some no-ox to the cable clamps and new battery posts, should be good to go.

 

[TimothyLong]

Mine have started to do the same thing, only I have the Exide NASCAR Selects. I am not real happy with the Exides. They worked great the first year I had them, but now they are only two years old and with the weather getting colder they are barely able to the truck over unless I plug it in at night. When my factory batts gave out, I didn't have the $$$ to get the Die Hard Platinums like I wanted. But that might all change after Christmas. I'll have to hunt me up some no-ox too.

 

[scootergmc]

Mine have started to do the same thing, only I have the Exide NASCAR Selects. I am not real happy with the Exides. They worked great the first year I had them, but now they are only two years old and with the weather getting colder they are barely able to the truck over unless I plug it in at night. When my factory batts gave out, I didn't have the $$$ to get the Die Hard Platinums like I wanted. But that might all change after Christmas. I'll have to hunt me up some no-ox too.

I'll be picking up a couple of Kirkland batteries at Costco, they got rated right behind the #1 battery, the Die Hard Platinum, in the latest issue of Consumer Reports. And at $75 per vs. $~200 per, I think it'll be cost effective.





Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be replacing them and breaking out the baking soda tomorrow.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I had that happen to my drivers side battery. I took the grounds off and cleaned them and the corrosion went away. . Jeff

 

[kd5eiv]

Try taking the cable/clamp off the terminal and dipping it into a solution of water and baking soda. The soda (a base) should neutralize the acid.

Often this happens when you top off the battery water and get it so full that it splashes out of the cell cover. This creates a conductive path and the resulting electrolytic path enhances the process.

After you get rid of the corrosion, there are commercial products in the form of a saturated felt ring that can reduce/eliminate the problem.

Or, just coating everything with petrolium jelly will also help.

I second the Costco battery recommendation. They are now Interstate batteries.

Rog

 

[jelag]

From a guy who used to sell to the trade, the battery gasses off... the older it is the more it gasses... . the gasses escape through the vents and past the posts... its the gas passing the post and reacting with the air and cable material that causes the problem. .

We used to use a product called NO CO Washers... . I bought a can 30 years ago and still have some... . and if you google NO CO Washers you'll find them...

I wash the battery and the battery box with almost boiling water and baking soda and than make sure that I rinse the surface very well... . I take a wire brush to the ID of the cable and the OD of the post... . put the NO CO washer on the post and install the cable making sure its down all the way and tight...

The chemical in the NO CO Washer will prevent it from happening again for the life of the vehicle... when I trade batteries I just move the NO CO Washers to the new batteries...

 

[TimothyLong]

FYI, I did looked up the washers that Jim was talking about. They are called NOCO NCP-2 battery terminal protectors and are available from several on-line sources. NOCO also makes a battery cleaner/acid detector that will clean the terminal and leads, but also turns a different color if battery acid is present. If you do a google search on "noco ncp-2", you'll find the on-line sources. Here is a link to the NOCO web site for anyone who is interested:



Battery Chargers | Battery Boxes | Battery Cables | Battery Terminals

 

[goodguys75]

I'll be picking up a couple of Kirkland batteries at Costco, they got rated right behind the #1 battery, the Die Hard Platinum, in the latest issue of Consumer Reports. And at $75 per vs. $~200 per, I think it'll be cost effective.





Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be replacing them and breaking out the baking soda tomorrow.

now costco went to interstate at least in las vegas... . junk... so i wont be bying from costco anymore

 

[BillDriscoll]

What guage are our Neg cables, like 2 guage?. Both of terminals are screwed up and since I just put in new batteries tonight, I going to replace them. The kind that are already crimped or soldered gotta be better than cutting back the cover and using the clamp method.
I went with Duralast Gold from Autozone, cause I got tired of thinking which brand is better... ... . Drove by Autozone, remembered someone said something good about Duralast, bought 2, woo hooo, move on to next project!! If I get 5 years outta them like I got from the OEM, its only 22bucks a year!!
What a difference in cranking power with new batteries!! The old ones were getting slow even down here in FL with 20deg nights last week. Heading to MI after Xmas and dont want to be messing with batteries.