Battery terminals

I seem to be having a more difficult time this year than usual with corrosion on my starter battery terminals. I usually clean them at the beginning of the season and that lasts for the whole year. This year however, I have had to clean them 2 times since the original cleaning as my boat would not start. I have bought a new terminal for the positive connection and was wondering if someone could reccommend someting to put on the terminal before I tighten it down that would help the corrosion problem. I have tried the felt pads before, and they did not seem to do too much.

Thanks.

There is a white grease for marine electrical connections.I know you can get it at the hardware store. But I don’t remember the name of it…This stuff will take care of your problem for sure…

Vasoline works well. So does axel greese. Apply over entire terminal after tightening connections.

Jon J.

Hey Guys, Thanks for the quick response to this question, wow. I too had this happen about mid season this year. Thanks, Bill

Caution! — Read This!

While I don’t doubt a white colored product exists make sure you do not use white lithium grease (found at most hardward stores).

White lithium grease which is typically used for marine applications because of it’s unique resistance to moisture. It’s for marine lubrication great because it will not wash off, melt or freeze. I’ve seen it used for bearings, riggings, steering linkages, and tools.

I haven’t seen it (and wouldn’t recommend) it be used for electrical connections.

While it may coat the terminal and prevent it from corrosion, I would be apprehensive to say what would happen if a grounded wire or peice of metal hit it… afterall it’s lithium laden. Lithium grease can be ignited and burned… when it burns, it burns hot and typically is not easy to put out with water.

I might recommend a brush on gel like this http://www.powerstridebattery.com/store/getproductframe.cfm?category=Battery%20Maintenance%20Products. And make sure you clean them well before coating with gel.

Be Safe,

J

Woah !!! Nice heads up -=J=-.

Thank you very much,,,

Just drop by your auto parts store and get some dilectric sp? grease. They also make a spray that will prevent build up. There’s areason for the corrosion build up and it’s usually a poor connection, and it’s notalways at the battery.

Good call there too..

Dielectric greases are silicon based… they repell moisture and provide a barrier to terminal oxidation. Also, dielectric grease DOES NOT conduct electricity — so it has that going for it!

One thing on vasoline as well (saw that above)… Careful with that — Vasoline is petroleum based and will conduct electricity and/or actually catch fire if the connection overheats.

One other tip on dielectric grease for winterizing… when you pull the plug wires off you put a LITTLE on the end of a toothpick and run it around the the inside of your plug wire it will come off easier next year.

My neighbor is a good mechanic and he says clean the posts and the inside and outside of the battery cable clamps. Then he says tighten them up well then put a half way generous amout of white or axel grease over the clamp and post, this seals the clamp area from oxygen so that the acid dosen’t form. He isn’t completely shure why acid forms but says its from electrolasis and moisture in the atmosphere and evaporation from the batterys cells reacting from the charge in the battery.

Makes sense to me.

While I’m sure a lot of people have used white grease on terminals and not gone up in flames… let me share this with you from WD-40’s MSDS (Safety Sheet) on white grease:

FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD Liquid and vapour are highly flammable. Severe fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Vapour forms an explosive mixture with air. Severe explosion hazard, in the form of vapour, when exposed to flame or spark. Vapour may travel a considerable distance to source of ignition.

The document is at: http://www.wd40.com/Brands/pdfs/msds-3in1pro_lithium.au.pdf

Axel grease is equally dangerous.

While it obviously doesn’t happen every time someone greases their terminals… I figure why risk it when they sell a non-flammable product for 5 bux.

My 2 Cents (or 5 Bux as it may be).

My heads starting to hurt! Good info guys.

Thanks for all the replies, never thought it would stir up this much controversey.

IS YOUR BATTERY BOX GOT GOOD VENTALTION ? HELPS EVAPORATION BUILDUP AND ACID FUME BUILD UP.

GUNDY