How to clean car battery corrosion

Battery terminal corrosion is a major problem for every car, mostly using a "lead-acid" battery. Battery terminal corrosion looks like crusty powder substances forming white green around the battery terminal, both positive and negative terminals.

Small amounts of corrosion are not usually a problem, but corrosion will always build up over time, and it would be larger faster. A large amount of corrosion can act as an insulator that prevents the battery from accepting or delivering an electric charge. The worst, battery terminal may be broken and cut off all the electrical currents in your car's electric components.

So, periodically checking and cleaning the battery terminal corrosion would be a great activity to prevent any loss. For example, broken battery terminals, battery cable damage, electrical failure up to your car won't start because the battery is dead.

I. What makes a car battery terminal corrode?

Before we start to clean the battery terminal corrosion, we better know what was made the corrosion on your car battery terminals. It would help you better prevent battery terminal corrosion. Here are some reasons that cause car battery terminal corrosion.

1. Overcharge

Overcharge brings more heat to your car battery. Hence, the battery water looks like boiling and creating chemical steam that pushes out from the vent and makes your car battery terminal corroded.

2. Overfull battery water level

The full battery water level is good enough, but overfull is a mistake. Suppose you fill too much battery water into your battery. In that case, the excess water will come out of the vents due to car shaking while on the road, then they corrode your battery terminals.

3. Battery electrolyte leakage

Leakage can happen to any car's "lead-acid" battery. These electrolytes are corrosive and can cause corrosion at your car battery terminals. Read: Car battery leaking ? Here's what to do

4. The battery clamp is not tight

The loosened battery clamp will provide an air gap when the current flow. Some conditions would show spark, either would bring more sulfation due to heat between terminal and battery ports. This condition is always making your car battery corroded.

II. How to clean car battery corrosion

Before cleaning car battery terminal corrosion, you must prepare some items for a better result on how to clean battery corrosion :

A wire brush or a stiff-bristled brush.
Petroleum jelly
A bottle of hot water
Flowing water
Battery terminal wrench
Gloves
Goggles
Dust cloth

After those items, it's better to park your car outside your car garage or in a room with flowing air.

Caution: Car battery contains acid inside, which may cause accidental injuries. You have to wear goggles and gloves to protect yourself from acid. Here's how to clean car battery terminal corrosion

1. Pouring hot water on battery terminals

Gently pour hot water on each battery terminal one by one. This hot water will remove the outer corrosion quickly on your car battery terminals and prevent the ashes. Do it gently until the outer corrosion is completely gone. If the battery bracket was corroded, do the same as battery terminals until the corrosion fades out.

2. Disconnecting the negative battery terminal

Use your battery terminal wrench to disconnecting the negative terminal. The negative battery terminal will mark with a " - " (min) sign, black color cable, or smaller port than the positive ones.

Always remember to disconnecting the negative terminal first to remove the battery to prevent a short circuit.

3. Disconnecting the positive battery terminal

Disconnect the positive battery terminal with a battery terminal wrench. The positive battery terminal will mark with a " + " (pos) sign, red color cable, or larger port than the negative terminal.

4. Open and remove the battery bracket

Opening and removing the battery bracket is better to make your cleaning battery terminal corrosion more effective.

5. Take out and clean the battery

Take out the battery from the car carefully. Wash it and clean the battery with flowing water to remove corrosion and dust. Be careful not to flush the water into the battery vent. Leave the battery and let the cleaning water dry out.

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6. Clean the battery terminals

Use a wire brush or a stiff-bristled brush to clean the battery terminal inside out. Brush it until the terminal looks clean from any plaque or corrosion. Do it both for the negative and positive terminal.

7. Flush with water to clean all debris

If you have been clean the battery terminals, then flush the water to clean up all debris, dust, and corrosion mark on the box battery in the car. Flush the water until all corrosion marked wipe out, and the battery box looks cleaner. Dry it with a dust cloth.

8. Put in the battery back, then reassemble bracket and terminals

Clean terminals, clean the battery box, and cleanse the body battery. It is then time to put the battery back in the car to reassemble the terminals. But before reconnecting the terminals, apply thin petroleum jelly to the battery terminals to prevent corrosion.

what to put on battery terminals to prevent corrosion

The layer of petroleum jelly will conduct electricity between the cable end and the battery terminal and also to prevent battery terminal corrosion. Remember to reconnect the positive terminal first when you want to install a car battery. Make sure the terminal is tightened enough, then proceed to reconnect the negative terminals.

9. Check the entire installation and do starting test

When clean battery terminal corrosion, the last to do is to check the entire installation and start an engine test to ensure that your car engine can run normally.

It is better to check and do preventing action from battery terminal corrosion after cleaning, such as: replacing the battery for the new ones (if it had huge leakage), tighten the clamp (if it untightens), fill the battery water at a proper level, and check your car charging system to prevent overcharge.