The Jalopy Journal

Mark-in-NH · 11-06-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srmofo

I hate all the A-holes who put the whole jar of vaseline on your terminals and then bring the vehicle to me for a battery change.....seriously I hate you

Personally, I have never used a "whole jar" of vasoline. A thin, light coating is all it takes and all I have ever used.

Torque1st · 11-06-2009, 10:12 PM

Pull the terminal.
Remove the bolt.
If you have a universal terminal unbolt the cable connection.
Clean the terminal, bolt, and post, etc with baking soda solution.
Scrape the surfaces with a battery terminal tool.
Rinse well and let dry.
Put a thin coating of silicone dielectric on the top of the battery around the post.
Smear the post with silicone dielectric.
Smear the terminal and bolt(s) with dielectric.
Put on one of those red or green felt washers.
Replace the terminal and connection if applicable.
Spray the terminal with white lithium grease.

One of the problems battery terminals have is the acid gets into the terminal to wire connection and corrodes the connection inside. The baking soda rinse helps this situation but the best method is prevention. -Solder the wire to the terminal.

srmofo · 11-06-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark-in-NH

Personally, I have never used a "whole jar" of vasoline. A thin, light coating is all it takes and all I have ever used.

I wasnt refering to you in paticular, but I have on several occasions come across people that feel the need to cover the entire terminal in a glob of vaseline. It really makes me wonder wtf.

Underdog · 11-06-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared

I have heard fluid film works good for this havent tried it myself as i havent had problems with corrosion on battery cables before.

+1 Fluid Film works on all my trucks and tractors.

ImportTuner · 11-07-2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

+1 Fluid Film works on all my trucks and tractors.

First time I heard of Fluid Film .. "Fluid Film is formulated from specially processed wool-wax, highly refined petroleum oils and selected agents to provide corrosion control, penetration, metal wetting and water displacement."

autoace · 11-07-2009, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportTuner

I also use the red spray .. made by CRC and is called battery terminal protector .. the felt washers also help ..

Right on the money!

Kevin54 · 11-07-2009, 05:39 AM

Found it. It's made by CRC

nissan_crawler · 11-07-2009, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin54

Found it. It's made by CRC

yep, good stuff.

nate379 · 11-07-2009, 06:17 AM

I tried grease once and to begin with dirt would stick to it. Everytime I worked on that vehicle I somehow managed to get grease on me from the damn battery. No I didn't put a metric assload on it, just a little bit... but it was like antisieze, it got everyone somehow!

The spray works good, but if you need to jumpstart something it doesn't work out so well.

nate379 · 11-07-2009, 06:18 AM

I tried grease once and to begin with dirt would stick to it. Everytime I worked on that vehicle I somehow managed to get grease on me from the damn battery. No I didn't put a metric assload on it, just a little bit... but it was like antisieze, it got everyone somehow!

The spray works good, but if you need to jumpstart something it doesn't work out so well.

The sealed batteries are the ticket. At $100 for a Red Top it's not even work fawking around with anything else unless an Optima won't fit or it's just an old junker that isn't worth putting a good battery in it.

nissan_crawler · 11-07-2009, 06:37 AM

AFter my original optimas that went 5-6 years, I had 4 of them fail in less than a year each, and 3 orbitals fail in less than a year each. I threw walmart batteries in both vehicles, going strong for 5 years.

I'm not impressed with the gel cells at all anymore.

ddawg16 · 11-07-2009, 07:42 AM

I don't have anything on mine....they stay clean as new.....

Maybe it's that great CA weather.....

Mark-in-NH · 11-07-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srmofo

I wasnt refering to you in paticular, but I have on several occasions come across people that feel the need to cover the entire terminal in a glob of vaseline. It really makes me wonder wtf.

Would that be the same people that fill their tires with slime and then don't bother to tell the service tech ?

brwbier · 11-07-2009, 08:17 AM

After reading through this thread I belive that almost anything you have on hand that will seal out the air will work. I have had succes with "disc quiet", red stuff in a spray can cause it was what I had at the time.
Brwbier

krusty the clown · 11-07-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin54

Found it. It's made by CRC

i also use the CRC battery cleaner when i service a battery. it has a dye in it that turns red when it comes in contact with acid, so you can tell that all the acid has been removed. if you get all of the acid off before you apply the protector you'll have less corrosion later.

Need4racin · 11-07-2009, 10:54 AM

The red battery terminal protectant you spray out of the can only seems to last 2-3 months. The battery terminal cleaner seems to work pretty good though.

Next time I think I'm going to use wheel bearing grease. Dielectric grease costs too much.

11-06-2009, 10:12 PM	#22
Torque1st Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: KC Metro, Kansas Posts: 2,227	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? Pull the terminal. Remove the bolt. If you have a universal terminal unbolt the cable connection. Clean the terminal, bolt, and post, etc with baking soda solution. Scrape the surfaces with a battery terminal tool. Rinse well and let dry. Put a thin coating of silicone dielectric on the top of the battery around the post. Smear the post with silicone dielectric. Smear the terminal and bolt(s) with dielectric. Put on one of those red or green felt washers. Replace the terminal and connection if applicable. Spray the terminal with white lithium grease. One of the problems battery terminals have is the acid gets into the terminal to wire connection and corrodes the connection inside. The baking soda rinse helps this situation but the best method is prevention. -Solder the wire to the terminal. __________________ Faster, Better, Cheaper... -Pick Two Follow the Money. -72chevy

11-07-2009, 06:17 AM	#29
nate379 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palmer, AK Posts: 2,540	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? I tried grease once and to begin with dirt would stick to it. Everytime I worked on that vehicle I somehow managed to get grease on me from the damn battery. No I didn't put a metric assload on it, just a little bit... but it was like antisieze, it got everyone somehow! The spray works good, but if you need to jumpstart something it doesn't work out so well.

11-07-2009, 06:18 AM	#30
nate379 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palmer, AK Posts: 2,540	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? I tried grease once and to begin with dirt would stick to it. Everytime I worked on that vehicle I somehow managed to get grease on me from the damn battery. No I didn't put a metric assload on it, just a little bit... but it was like antisieze, it got everyone somehow! The spray works good, but if you need to jumpstart something it doesn't work out so well. The sealed batteries are the ticket. At $100 for a Red Top it's not even work fawking around with anything else unless an Optima won't fit or it's just an old junker that isn't worth putting a good battery in it.

11-07-2009, 06:37 AM	#31
nissan_crawler Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 6,217	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? AFter my original optimas that went 5-6 years, I had 4 of them fail in less than a year each, and 3 orbitals fail in less than a year each. I threw walmart batteries in both vehicles, going strong for 5 years. I'm not impressed with the gel cells at all anymore. __________________ If guns cause crime, all mine are defective. Ted Nugent "A man with a gun is a citizen. A man without a gun is a subject. " John Lott "Taking my gun away because I might shoot someone is like cutting my tongue out because I might yell `Fire!' in a crowded theater." Peter Venetoklis

11-07-2009, 07:42 AM	#32
ddawg16 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: S. California Posts: 1,627	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? I don't have anything on mine....they stay clean as new..... Maybe it's that great CA weather..... __________________ John New Garage in progress.....new home for: 84 CJ7 - With a 'few' modifications.. The wifes art work... and 3 kids with more energy than we have...

11-07-2009, 08:17 AM	#34
brwbier Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sheboygan, WI Posts: 27	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? After reading through this thread I belive that almost anything you have on hand that will seal out the air will work. I have had succes with "disc quiet", red stuff in a spray can cause it was what I had at the time. Brwbier

11-07-2009, 10:54 AM	#36
Need4racin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 121	Re: Preventing Battery Terminal Corrosion? The red battery terminal protectant you spray out of the can only seems to last 2-3 months. The battery terminal cleaner seems to work pretty good though. Next time I think I'm going to use wheel bearing grease. Dielectric grease costs too much.

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