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how to stop battery terminal oxidation?

Old 12-13-2005, 06:30 PM
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how to stop battery terminal oxidation?

i keep cleaning it, even using sandpaper on it, and still it comes back every week, i know those little green pads dont work, how the hell can i get did of it for good? only happens on the neg terminal.
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Old 12-13-2005, 06:35 PM
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Coat the terminals in grease.
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Old 12-13-2005, 07:44 PM
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Dielectric grease
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Old 12-13-2005, 08:05 PM
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Usually when the battery terminals start corroding that often its a sign that the battery is coming to the end of its life. I's start looking for a new battery soon.
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Old 12-13-2005, 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by NightRider
Usually when the battery terminals start corroding that often its a sign that the battery is coming to the end of its life. I's start looking for a new battery soon.

is that true?
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Old 12-14-2005, 08:51 AM
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but its only 18 months old
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Old 12-14-2005, 08:55 AM
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Get a battery terminal cleaner, use it, then coat them in vaseline
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Old 12-14-2005, 09:29 AM
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clean the terminals with a wire brush as mentioned, or if you don't have one, mix some warm water and baking powder and clean with that. once you get all the oxidation off, apply a layer of dielectric grease to the terminals.
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Old 12-14-2005, 10:01 AM
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Hey AscendantMax

I'v been using baking soda on my terminals which kills the corosion. how well does the baking powder work.
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Old 12-14-2005, 10:30 AM
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Buy a sealed battery and this wont happen anymore. I will never use another battery that isn't sealed. My battery corrded like insane, and the corrosion went all down into the tray and onto the frame. Put in a sealed battery, scraped and painted the corrosion and it's no longer a problem.

Dielectric grease will help your current situation though.
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Old 12-14-2005, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by endus
Dielectric grease will help your current situation though.

no pun intended!

Also, some people say to use dielectric grease, while others say just vaseline. Is there any advantage/disadvantage with one over the other? Would vaseline more or less be good enough?
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Old 12-14-2005, 11:52 AM
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Di-Electric grease is the optimal thing to use. I have never heard of vas.


James
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Old 12-14-2005, 09:41 PM
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man, i have the same problem i just dont know why i never asked, now i know.
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Old 12-15-2005, 09:25 AM
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my last battery had a small leak causing oxidation and crap all over the terminal. I had a "strong" tested battery, but it had a leak and caused my car to not start sometimes it was so bad. take a multimeter with the ground on the batterys ground and move the positive stick from your multimeter around the battery (not touching the battery) this will tell you if you have a leak, a small voltage pick up will indicate it.

im rocking a red top now
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Old 12-15-2005, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by tripleGmax
my last battery had a small leak causing oxidation and crap all over the terminal. I had a "strong" tested battery, but it had a leak and caused my car to not start sometimes it was so bad. take a multimeter with the ground on the batterys ground and move the positive stick from your multimeter around the battery (not touching the battery) this will tell you if you have a leak, a small voltage pick up will indicate it.

im rocking a red top now
sounds intresting, never thought to test it that way, but what i did was find my recipt for the battery and the warranty was for 18 months full replacement and pro-rated at 1.50 per month thereafter...so i went and piked up a brand new battery for $4.50!
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Old 12-15-2005, 10:16 AM
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4.50, thats pretty nice. what brand battery do you have?
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Old 12-23-2005, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by tripleGmax
4.50, thats pretty nice. what brand battery do you have?


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Old 12-24-2005, 06:40 PM
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Vaseline will work

Vaseline is the perfect solution, cheap (you probably already have some) and works very well.

Ah, Vaseline
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Old 12-28-2005, 01:14 PM
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You can also buy that "crap in a can" to spray on after you clean the terminals, works good.. just a lil messy if you don't spray carefully.
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Old 12-28-2005, 03:39 PM
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The Haynes manual says to use vaseline.
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by konak85
The Haynes manual says to use vaseline.
And if the Haynes manual told you to drive off a cliff... JK
I just bought a small pouch of the dielectric tuneup grease from Murrays. Just a few bucks.
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:44 PM
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jason my manual says that you are supposed to go to the junkyard and buy me that bumper.....
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:48 PM
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Oh ok Gregg, I'll get right on it.
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Old 12-29-2005, 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 00MaxSE
And if the Haynes manual told you to drive off a cliff... JK
I just bought a small pouch of the dielectric tuneup grease from Murrays. Just a few bucks.
vaseline is best, you can use it for many other purposes too
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Old 12-30-2005, 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted by geenowalker
Hey AscendantMax

I'v been using baking soda on my terminals which kills the corosion. how well does the baking powder work.
seems to work pretty well...seems to neutralize any acid in the area.
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Old 12-30-2005, 01:28 AM
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don't forget to mix some baking soda and water and wash down the area around the battery every 6 months or so.


your car will thank you in the long hall (well, and you will too )
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Old 01-05-2006, 08:42 PM
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White lube engine assembly grease works well,,,,,,,,,, or you can try the old trick, super glue two pennys on the top of the battery the copper is suppose to do something for it.????????????????
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