Battery Terminal Question

[Tinster]

I am installing my new battery this morning.
875 amps, I think.

My positive terminal quickly gets covered in a
nasty brown goo that eats metal.

Is there something I should do to the positive
terminal before I tighten it down?

I always cover both terminals with red wheel
brearing grease but that only works on the negative
terminal.

I know- a trivial thing but the brown goo eats up
everything in proximity.

thanks,

dale

 

[Andrew Mace]

<span style="color: #663333"><span style="font-weight: bold">BROWN</span></span> goo? Overcharging from the alternator? I tend to use Vaseline or other petroleum jelly for battery terminals, but whether that's better than wheel bearing grease I can't say....

 

[Tinster]

Andy, my alternator charges at 14 volts.

d

 

[TR3driver]

I use something similar to this :
https://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/Lugs_Terminals-CRC_BATTERY_TERMINAL_PROTECTOR.html
Seems like it works better than Vaseline, but perhaps that's wishful thinking.

 

[angelfj1]

Dale: two suggestions - 1st - I agree with Andy about coating the terminals AFTER they are in place and properly tightened. You can use vaseline or I am sure the local auto store (Western Auto?) sells their own brand. I have even seen mechanics use grease. The point here is to provide a barrier to the atmosphere which in your case is loaded with water.

2nd - the brown goo must be the result of chemical action with something at that terminal. Try starting over, clean the terminals of the new battery and the top of the battery with a mild solvent. Use a fine wire brush and brighten up both terminals. Do the same for the terminals on your pos. and neg. battery cables. Attach cables and tighten - don't over do it. While your at it check the connection at the starting solenoid and starter. Now smear your favorite protectant on both battery terminals. Good luck

fja

 

[2wrench]

Baking soda and water to clean is good start point, IMHO. Do not get
solution into battery cells! Sort of paste-like makes for slightly
better control. Cha-ching....two cents, please.

 

[RonMacPherson]

Okay, they've given you good advice on making sure the battery terminals and the connecting cables are scraped clean. Then your auto parts store should have little battery saver pads, green and red felt washers soaked with a battery acid neutralizer. Buy them and put them on under the terminals. Make sure the terminals are opened as much as possible before reinstalling them so that you can push them all the way down on the battery terminal Tighten, smear vaseline or other light grease completely around and on all exposed metal on both terminals....

Good to go!

 

[Tomster]

Dale I will second Ron's (and all others) comments.
I feel that the felts work
DO NOT get any baking soda into the cells as it will neutrallize the acid. Works well for cleaning up the cables and battery box as well.
Are you getting any of the goo in the braided wire portions that you can see between the end of the red and black insulating plastic and lead terminals of the cables themselves? This needs to be neutralized and coated as well. Easy way to coat is with (GM lubriplate) aeresol canned white lithium grease. Great for hinges etc. as well

 

[Tinster]

I was not aware of the felts. Are
they a readily available item?

thanks all-

BTW: WOW!! What a difference the new battery makes
at start-up !!

d

 

[TR3driver]

I was not aware of the felts. Are
they a readily available item?

Should be. Any place that sells batteries should have them.

 

[TR6BILL]

Carry a can of Coke Classic with you.