Proper wat to clean battery terminals?

[Tom W]

Having recently discovered the importance of keeping the battery terminals clean, I thought I might ask the experts



"What is the best way to clean the terminals?"



I was told once that the wire brush cup was no good.



For of you who might not know, dirty terminals can cause some weird problems on the 24v engines, erratic TC lockup for one.

 

[Murle]

I don't know who told you that a wire brush cup was not ok. But they did not know what they were taking about. Use a wire battery cleaner. Also baking soda and water works on the ones that have acid on them.

 

[Joe G.]

There is some new stuff for cleaning the corrosion and crud off the battery. Naturally, I used up my can of it and threw it away so I don't know the correct name of the stuff. Anyway, it's a yellow foam in a spray can that I got at NAPA. It really does a good job. Rinse with water. Then I clean the contact surfaces with a wire brush cup before putting the cables back on. Then some NAPA battery terminal protector (red spray stuff) to seal up the works. That lasts quite a while. If you see any crud later, yellow foam, water rinse, and red spray. The contact surfaces should stay in good shape so you don't have to remove the cables.

 

[illflem]

I use the same system as Joe, works great. The Napa yellow foam is just baking soda in an aerosol can, little more expensive but a lot more handy.

 

[Champane Flight]

In case.

In case your a cheapskate,just use some grease for the protection of those battery connects.

 

[Archive]

we used to use coca cola.

 

[QRTRHRS]

There are battery terminal protective sprays available that help to keep them clean longer. I think mine is from NAPA.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

If you want to clean you terminals properly, the only way is to wire brush them till they are shiny (Fresh lead) the but you cables back on and coat them with grease. Bearing grease works great. This way moisture will not cause problems and corrision should not be a problem.

 

[SLightfoot]

Baking soda and Vaseline

I have used this recipe for years with fantastic success:



1) Clean off the buildup with Baking soda and water.



2) Coat the terminals with Vaseline for protection.

(vaseline is cleaner and won't damage so many clothes every time you are under the hood and get it on you).





Shawn

 

[illflem]

I've read a few times in service manuals not to use grease on the battery connections. They said that if there is a poor connection that heats up the grease can start on fire, but said vasoline is OK. I prefer the red spray on from Napa, it doesn't rub off. Or better yet use a gel cell battery such as Optima. Gel cells don't corode.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Also you can use disk brake quiet, it dries and stays on there.

 

[Deezul1]

I have been cleaning battery posts and cable ends with the wire cup method for 40 years and still dont see any reason not to, it works great. Try the felt washers for battery posts they work great for keeping the corrosion off.

 

[Ramboy]

I notice the ones recommending grease are not from the southwest. The heat here will liquify the grease pretty fast. Might as well pour motor oil on them.

Phil

 

[24V-DSL]

Optima batteries

Like illflem says, another reason to buy Optima.



BTW, any of you in the Les Schwab store territories, they are selling Red Tops for $89. 95 + $10. 00 ea. for installation. Since I bought two they installed for free. Normal suggested retail for these is ~ $125-135 ea. 6 yr. warranty, first two years free replacement.

 

[CumminsPower98]

This is my method for battery terminal cleaning.



1. Clean battery with the foam spray and rinse clean with water.

2. Clean terminals and cable ends with a reamer type cleaner, which will shape your posts and cable ends to a more exact match for better conductivity. I sometimes also use the wire brush type at the same time to get it even cleaner if needed.

3. Coat both surfaces with white lithium grease or silicone dielectric grease and put back together.



I personally like grease better than the red spray because it seems to seal better and last longer. It gets very hot here in Utah 95-115 or so and I have never seen any problems of the grease melting. I keep a fleet of vehicles on the road and many others with great success using the above method. Of course there are many ways, use what works best for you.



My personal battery of choice is of course the Optima, so no corrosion problem there.

 

[Tom W]

Cumminspower98. You mentioned a reamer type tool. Could you elaborate? Where are these available?

The objection to wire brush cleaners was that it leaves grooves that do not give good conductivity. I heard this many years ago from a mechanic - he said to use a knife or razor blade to scrape the posts.

 

[Shovelhead]

"I will give up my battery terminal brush when they pry it from my cold dead fingers"... ... ... . wait a minute, that's another thread



I've been using terminal brushes and sealing with bearing grease since '74 with no problems

 

[CumminsPower98]

Post cleaning tool

Tom W,



The reamer type cleaner will look like either a "T" or a cross. It will have positive and negative end caps, which have blades in them that fit down over the battery posts. The end for cleaning the wire terminals looks like a reamer and is tapered with metel blades running the lenth of it. You can find this type of tool at any auto parts store. Hope this helps, sort of hard to describe the thing.

 

[swamp rat]

I believe this is what your talking about.



http://www.4unique.com/battery/tools/post_cleaner.htm