crusty battery terminal

[PontiacGT]

Just wondering what the best way to keep this clean is? I notice that only my positive battery terminal gets crusty, and I have my amp wired to that one. Actually my battery has both the side posts and top posts, so It's actually the top positive post that crusts up, where my amp wire is hooked.

Aside from removing the cord and using a wire brush on the post and clamp, what's the best way to prevent this from crusting up?

[MantaGreen97]

Yeah top posts are more prone to corrosion. I think this is because the top of the battery is where the vents are usually located. Since the vent gas is acidic/corrosive, it usually promotes corrosion of top terminals, faster than side terminals.

Penetrating oils work, but need to be reapplied on a regular basis... The best thing to do is to use a thick non-curing silicone lubricant (gel) on the terminal. Most autoparts places sell this specifically for battery terminals, in a little jar. Something like Dow Corning 111 compound is also suitable, but you're probably going to find the stuff in an autoparts store much easier ;)

[daman]

After a good cleaning;

Put a little dab of grease on your finger and smear it on
your terminal that's corroded.

or they sell a spray to put on the terms.

[Tommy00GT1]

I always used to give the terminals a shot of WD-40, and I never had any noticeable corrosion. My neighbor told me that I should never use WD-40 because of flammability...... does anyone know about that ?
I always used to loosen the cable at the terminal, then spray the WD-40, then tighten up the connector..... never had any flammability issues... just wondering if that is harmful or anything....

[daman]

Originally posted by Tommy00GT1
I always used to give the terminals a shot of WD-40, and I never had any noticeable corrosion. My neighbor told me that I should never use WD-40 because of flammability...... does anyone know about that ?
I always used to loosen the cable at the terminal, then spray the WD-40, then tighten up the connector..... never had any flammability issues... just wondering if that is harmful or anything....

No problems here...

[MantaGreen97]

I'm not 100% sure but I think WD-40 is only a flammability hazard when you're spraying it. I.e. Once you're done with the aerosol action, I don't think it is that flammable anymore.

WD-40 is an okay product to use but it isn't that good at protecting against corrosion. Using a more-purpose intended product like a penetrating oil is a better idea. Still WD-40 is better than using nothing at all.

[Tommy00GT1]

Thanks Roland... that's exactly what I was thinking too but I figured I'd ask here just to make sure...

[tenspeed]

The best way to protect the terminals is to use conductive grease. It's a high temperature grease with powdered zinc in it. It's used on copper/aluminum terminations and on the threads of rigid electrical conduit to assure a good ground path.

The next best thing is silicone di-electric or ordinary grease. In the old days, we used Vaseline after cleaning the metal. It make the terminal air tight and prevents corrosion.

WD40 or ordinary oil does the same thing but it doesn't last as long.

[MantaGreen97]

^Yeah the silicone di-electric I use on my top terminal (mainline amp power connection). I use Dow Corning 111 compound though I think it's a little hard to get and might be a little more epensive than the stuff they sell in auto parts places (?).

The gel is indeed better and recommended on battery connections.

I'd use it on the side terminals but it just seems weird, lol. Plus even with nothing on the side terminals I've never had a problem with corrosion on any vehicle (though I have seen it on some side terminals). For those reasons I just use some Rust Check spray (penetrant) on my side terminals just to be sure :)

[Hawkeye65]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MantaGreen97
[B]I'm not 100% sure but I think WD-40 is only a flammability hazard when you're spraying it. I.e. Once you're done with the aerosol action, I don't think it is that flammable anymore.


no thats not true...me and my friend were screwing around one day and burning stuff because of lack of better things to do and he sprayed it on his driveway and then set it on fire after he was done spraying lol.

[elmira's '03]

vaseline works great too on terminals, seriously.