Car battery help needed

[Fish along]

I clean my battery posts every 2 months, is this nesessary? Ive heard of some kind of grease that you put on the posts that is anti corrosive,any wisdom? Thanks in advance.

[bat119]

I use vaseline on the battery posts I mean

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by bat119

I use vaseline on the battery posts I mean

LOL REALLY?

[CaberTosser]

This stuff has prevented corrosion on numerous batteries I've installed, just paint both the post clamp and the post with it (after cleaning them with a wire brush first) and hook them up. Wipe off any excess, don't cake it on.

I also use it to keep wheels from sticking to the hub-centric cone on an axle from corrosion (I've found forged aluminum wheels to be horrible for this)


https://www.calfast.com/12245-JEL102...iABEgJ9oPD_BwE

Jet Lube's SS-30 is also good for the same purpose and even notes the battery post use on its packaging. Its a bit thicker than the Kopr-Kote

https://www.jetlube.com/pages/SS30.html

[fishtank]

Their is spray they sell at Canadian tire or partsource you can just spray it help keep the corrosion/ oxidize away. I spray it once every year just keep it in my car

[artie]

I used paint and was not happy with it. When you want to use a battery charger or jumper cables you have to file or chip away the paint. Anti seize sounds like a better idea.

[kevinhits]

Originally Posted by Fish along

I clean my battery posts every 2 months, is this nesessary? Ive heard of some kind of grease that you put on the posts that is anti corrosive,any wisdom? Thanks in advance.

Honestly....I have only cleaned battery posts once in over 30 years owning any type of vehicle.....

Every 2 months? I do not even change my oil every 2 months...

[Au revoir, Gopher]

Originally Posted by kevinhits

Honestly....I have only cleaned battery posts once in over 30 years owning any type of vehicle.....

Every 2 months? I do not even change my oil every 2 months...

Yup. I clean the connectors when I replace a battery. Other than that, things have to be getting pretty fuzzy looking before I will bother cleaning the posts and connectors.

ARG

[kevinhits]

Originally Posted by Au revoir, Gopher

Yup. I clean the connectors when I replace a battery. Other than that, things have to be getting pretty fuzzy looking before I will bother cleaning the posts and connectors.

ARG

Rarely do I ever see a fuzzy connection or terminal...LOL

Check your engine compartment and do an engine wash....once in awhile...

[Big Grey Wolf]

I like to clean the posts each fall before rough cold winter sets in. You do not want to find out poor battery connection when out in bush.

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by kevinhits

Rarely do I ever see a fuzzy connection or terminal...LOL

Check your engine compartment and do an engine wash....once in awhile...

That's something ive never done wash an engine,isint it possible you could get something wet,and screw it up?like the computer or cause something to short out?Knowing my luck it would never run again lol,Thanks for your 2 cents,appreciate it.

[Joe Black]

i would never wash the engine on any vehicle, regardless if you are only targeting oil, et. driving water into an electrical connection is asking for trouble.

if i were to do this on my early 2000' f150, id be looking at a 1000$ plug removal/dry bill, or 8 hours to do it myself.

no thanks.

and as far as getting corrosion/et off the engine, a wash of the rad from under the hood out the front can be done(watch out for the electric fan)

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by Fish along

I clean my battery posts every 2 months, is this nesessary? Ive heard of some kind of grease that you put on the posts that is anti corrosive,any wisdom? Thanks in advance.

The question is do they need it? Are they dirty and corroded or are you just wasting time? If they are dirty and corroded, why? They shouldn’t be.

Dielectric grease is made to go on the connection before you put it together. On a battery you would clean the posts and terminals, put your dielectric grease on them then put the terminal on the post and tighten it up. The mechanical connection between the post and terminal will smear the grease off where they’re touching and you’ll have the protective quality of the grease everywhere without the mechanical connection. I use it extensively on my Jeep because it sees enough mud and water it needs it. You can also get that electro shield spray you apply after but I’m not a fan of that crap.

In contrast to you cleaning your posts every two months, here are pics of the two batteries on my diesel ram I bought new in 2010. I’ve never removed a battery terminal or changed a battery, these are the four posts today, from the factory, with no dielectric grease that I have no plans on cleaning.

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

The question is do they need it? Are they dirty and corroded or are you just wasting time? If they are dirty and corroded, why? They shouldn’t be.

Dielectric grease is made to go on the connection before you put it together. On a battery you would clean the posts and terminals, put your dielectric grease on them then put the terminal on the post and tighten it up. The mechanical connection between the post and terminal will smear the grease off where they’re touching and you’ll have the protective quality of the grease everywhere without the mechanical connection. I use it extensively on my Jeep because it sees enough mud and water it needs it. You can also get that electro shield spray you apply after but I’m not a fan of that crap.

In contrast to you cleaning your posts every two months, here are pics of the two batteries on my diesel ram I bought new in 2010. I’ve never removed a battery terminal or changed a battery, these are the four posts today, from the factory, with no dielectric grease that I have no plans on cleaning.

No bull my battery will go green every month or so but I will now get this diale
ctic grease thanks for helping

[artie]

Originally Posted by Fish along

No bull my battery will go green every month or so but I will now get this diale
ctic grease thanks for helping

What someone on this forum told me years ago and I found on my 2006 cummins when it happened was the bolt that that goes through the battery clamp corrodes but you cannot see it until you take the bolt out of the clamp. I had a couple of bolts that were eaten halfway through and would have snapped in the future. Probably the dielectric grease on the bolt before the bolt is put into the clamp would help with that.

[mac1983]

Been using regular grease on battery posts, clamps and bolts for years. Been washing my engine compartments, batteries and rads for years. Never a problem, highly recommended, just use common sense.

[Joe Black]

i think im confused, so please,

show me any line or statement, et in any owners manual for any vehicle where it states for maintenance, operation, longevity, performance, et, it is required to WASH your engine compartment, engine, or associated components.

find that for me and i will retract my statements.

if not, then its just not needed.

but if you want to do it, go ahead. just dont try to justify it.

[Coiloil37]

Who would of thought a thread about battery corrosion could lead to so much hilarity?

I too wash under the hood for many reasons and never had a problem. Mostly to keep it clean which is the obvious answer. The spin off is I can see leaks and it makes it easier to work on. I wouldn’t be doing a valve set on my 6.7 Cummins if it looked like a brothel under the hood. No I expect it clean before I pull the tapped cover off.



Heck changing anything under the hood is easier if it’s clean.

I didn’t get any cleaning instructions telling me to clean the outside, inside or under the hood of my vehicles. That doesn’t mean I dont clean them. I know the inherent dangers of cleaning and know how to mitigate the risks.


I originally read the post and didn’t respond because if a guy doesn’t know how to clean under a hood or believes it shouldn’t be cleaned he probably has no business under there with 1500 psi of water because he probably doesn’t know what not to spray. Makes a guy wonder though... How do these guys figure out how to clean in the cab? Does the owners manual instruct you not to take the pressure washer in there or does it not need to be cleaned either?

[Joe Black]

quick tip, take it or leave,

but i REALLY wouldn't be pressure washing there,,,,,,

[ctd]

It's funny I wash under the hood of my vehilce all the time only once had a problem, that was my fault as I had the air filter off the vehicle and forgot.
I use to wash under the hood and all over equipment that had much more delicate connections then a vehicle. Never had a problem

[Joe Black]

My last rant then I'm done.

The topic of the thread started with a battery problem/maintenance question. It morphed into washing your engine(as a maintenance practice????)

That is where I have issues with washing your engine. You do not need to do it. If you are working on it, use compressed air to clean. I do it all a the time.

Some wash and have no problems. Some will. It's not nessessary( unlike Battery/post maintenance if you are having starting problems)

If you want to, do it. It's not nessessary, so I don't. Not sure why any one would, other than being real anal.

Did I say it's not nessessary?