Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

On Mar 21, 10:02*pm, Mikepier wrote:
On Mar 21, 10:54*pm, blueman wrote:

Perhaps not technically home repair but my car is like an extension of
my home...

Anyway, I noticed that there is a lot of "crud" (grainy white/green
stuff - looks like dried toothpaste) on the positive (red) terminal of
my car battery.

Car otherwise works & looks fine.

Question:
- Is it important to clean the crud off?
- What is the best & also easiest/fastest way to do it?

Thanks

Its a good idea to prevent future problems. Just remove from the
battery terminal, clean with a wire brush, then put some grease, or
some battery terminal coating on it and your good to go.

If you wash it off, use a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid.

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

hr(bob) wrote:

Its a good idea to prevent future problems. Just remove from the
battery terminal, clean with a wire brush, then put some grease, or
some battery terminal coating on it and your good to go.

If you wash it off, use a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid.

I think it's the reverse: the crud is alkaline. It can be washed off and
neutralized with vinegar or, more easily, with Coca-Cola.

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

On 3/22/2010 7:19 AM HeyBub spake thus:

hr(bob) wrote:

Its a good idea to prevent future problems. Just remove from the
battery terminal, clean with a wire brush, then put some grease, or
some battery terminal coating on it and your good to go.

If you wash it off, use a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid.

I think it's the reverse: the crud is alkaline. It can be washed off and
neutralized with vinegar or, more easily, with Coca-Cola.

Since the battery innards are acid, the crud is too.

Try it yourself: sprinkle some baking soda on a wet battery top and
you'll see it fizz.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

The car batteries I've used were acid. It's very possible
that Coca cola helps clean the terminals, though.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...

If you wash it off, use a baking soda solution to
neutralize the acid.

I think it's the reverse: the crud is alkaline. It can be
washed off and
neutralized with vinegar or, more easily, with Coca-Cola.

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

On Mar 22, 10:19*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
hr(bob) wrote:

Its a good idea to prevent future problems. Just remove from the
battery terminal, clean with a wire brush, then put some grease, or
some battery terminal coating on it and your good to go.

If you wash it off, use a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid.

I think it's the reverse: the crud is alkaline. It can be washed off and
neutralized with vinegar or, more easily, with Coca-Cola.

It is definitely not alkaline!!!!!

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?
 

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in
message ...
The car batteries I've used were acid. It's very possible
that Coca cola helps clean the terminals, though.

Back in the "olden days," all we'd do was an occasional washing
of the terminals with baking soda and water. Occasionally, and
especially with a new battery, a liberal application of Vasoline
mixed with baking soda would keep the terminals in like-new
condition. My next door neighbor had a Vasoline/baking soda
bottle that he claimed dated from his return from WW2, that he
kept in the garage and used occasionally on his auto battery
terminals.


--
Nonny

The time to repay our Congress and
White House for their socialist legislation
will be when they run for reelection. Think
Of it as flushing a very soiled toilet.