Running late due to a car that simply won’t start? And after popping the hood to see what’s going on, you notice something – white crust covering your battery and its terminals.
While you may assume your battery is done for, it may instead be suffering from a poor connection due to this corrosion around the battery, its terminals, and your car’s cables. Routine cleaning of your terminals will help keep your battery in good health to last longer and perform better – and not leave you stranded with a crusty battery and no connection.
What Is Battery Corrosion?
Corrosion on your car’s battery can be incredibly easy to identify, which is probably why you’re here. Typically, the corrosion is white in appearance, one only could describe as “crusty.” It may turn a blue or greenish color when exposed to moisture.
The corrosion takes over the battery’s terminal and reduces the connection due to corrosion remaining a terrible conductor of electricity. The power is then thrown into a transient current flow, returning to the battery.
The corrosion can be caused by a variety of things due to hydrogen gas being released from the sulfuric acid inside the battery. As the gasses react to the atmosphere in the battery, it begins to produce a corrosive environment leading to battery fluid leakage. When the likes of salt or moisture are thrown into the equation, the process of corrosion will pick up speed.
Some reasons for battery corrosion include:
- Overcharged – If the battery is overcharged, the fluid can expand and escape through overflow holes. Once this acid touches the terminal, corrosion begins. If this occurs, simply clean away the corrosion regularly to ensure reliability.
- Gas Escape – In every battery, there are tiny vents the hydrogen gas escapes through. If these gases come in contact with your battery’s terminals or car’s cables, corrosion can occur. This depends on the placement of the vents and how much gas escapes through them.
- Age – If your battery is older than five years, you should accept it’s probably on its way out. When batteries get old, corrosion is merely a side effect and not much can be done. Even if you clean it and it begins to work, you should probably have it replaced with a new battery as soon as possible.
How To Clean Battery Terminals?
We’ll show you how to clean the terminals and help prevent car battery corrosion in only FIVE steps – with materials you probably already have at home!
Materials
- Protective gloves, like dish gloves
- Baking soda
- Water
- Old toothbrush
- Rag
- Petroleum jelly
Step 1: Mix Up Your Homemade Battery Cleaner.
The recipe is simple. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda into one cup of water, and stir it together until it’s thoroughly mixed.
Step 2: Undo The Cables From The Battery And Inspect It.
Make sure your engine is off. Pop open your hood and remove the negative battery cable first. Then the positive cable attached to your battery. Some batteries may be in the trunk or under a seat. (Turn to your owner’s manual for more information.) Then, assess your battery.
Buildup, battery corrosion, and grime on the terminals can greatly impact your engine and battery performance. If you notice that the battery case is leaking, swollen, or bloated, skip the cleaning and head straight to your nearest auto care for a new battery. Yours is on its way out!
Step 3: Dip A Toothbrush In Your Cleaner And Start Scrubbing!
Grab an old toothbrush, dip it in your baking soda cleaner, and start scrubbing the terminals. This will take a little bit of elbow grease and you’ll need to continuously clean off the toothbrush as you work. Clean the terminals thoroughly, until all of the buildup has been removed. Do not put the toothbrush back in the bathroom!
Step 4: Rinse Off the Residue With Water And Dry.
After you’ve removed all of the corrosion and dirt from the terminals, give the battery a quick rinse. Fill up a spray bottle with a bit of water and spray down the terminals. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can also wipe everything down with a damp rag. Then, use another rag to dry the terminals completely.
Step 5: Rub Petroleum Jelly onto The Terminals And Reattach The Cables.
Once the terminals are dry, dab a bit of petroleum jelly onto them. This will lubricate them, help prevent further corrosion, and help strengthen the connection. Reattach the positive and negative cables, and you’re all set! Be careful, too much petroleum jelly can cause a poor connection.
Keeping your car battery clean can help get things moving when your car won’t start and battery flow is weak. Staying on top of your battery’s charge is crucial to avoid getting stranded.
Related Article: How To Charge A Car Battery?
How to Remove Corrosion from Your Car Battery Terminal
Before you start to remove corrosion from your car battery, make sure that you have exactly what you’ll need on hand. Make sure that you have the proper safety gear, and think about picking up a respirator, too. Although you can pick up a recommended battery cleaning solution from our parts department, a little bit of baking soda and water can do the trick, too.
Cleaning Battery Corrosion with Cleaner
- Remove the connecting cables (first black, then red).
- Spray the cleaning product on the battery until you’ve coated the entire affected area.
- With thick rubber gloves on, use your wire brush to scrub the area until the corrosion is removed. Make sure to get the battery case as well!
- Reattach your cables in the reverse order, and close the hood.
Cleaning Battery Corrosion with Baking Soda and Water
- Remove the connecting cables (first black, then red).
- Apply baking soda over the entire area that’s affected by corrosion. This will neutralize the battery acid.
- Add a small amount of water to activate the baking soda and cause a chemical reaction which will remove the corrosion.
- Clean and dry the area with a paper towel, and clean up any residue using a scrub sponge.
- Reattach the cables in the reverse order, and close the hood.
It’s never a bad idea to spray an anti-corrosion solution or apply an anti-corrosion gel to your terminals after you’re through. Doing so can help to prevent the issue from recurring!
Related Article: How to Jump-Start a Car?
Take Safety Precautions
The potassium hydroxide that leaks from batteries are a corrosive material that is highly toxic. The caustic material can cause skin irritation and damage your eyes. It can also cause respiratory problems.
Always take the following precautions when cleaning batteries.
- Avoid contact with your skin. Make sure to wear rubber or latex gloves.
- Keep your eyes safe by wearing safety glasses.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated.
- If the potassium hydroxide makes contact with your skin, flush the area well with water.
Keeping your car battery clean can help get things moving when your car won’t start and the battery flow is weak. Staying on top of your battery’s charge is crucial to avoid getting stranded.