Car Battery Question

[G-Man]

Had some blue, flakey/powdery crap build up around the negative terminal on my 75,000 mile old car battery.  I replaced the battery and cleaned off as much as I could of that blue stuff with a wire brush, but there is some that I wasn't able to scrape off.  When installing the new battery, I lubed the terminal and clamp well with some lube that came with the battery, trying to get everything completely covered.  My question is, will that remaining blue stuff have any adverse effects on the new battery or the termiinal/clamp area?

[9Ball]

you can neutralize the acidic deposits by applying a solution of baking soda and tap water.  The blue stuff is most likely copper sulfate deposits from a reaction of battery acid (sulphuric acid) and copper from the battery cables or brass fittings.

[fudgie]

I think as long as if the part of the cable that has contact with the battery, your good. Corrosion on the outside parts is normal, to a extent. If not you could always replace the end of the cable.

[G-Man]

Cool, thanks!   

[R J]

If all else fails, put the end in a can of Coca Cola overnight.

Then after you get it dried off and installed, take your grease gun and shoot some grease around the post and that terminal end.

The Coke shoul eat the grease/blue stuff off.   It might need a little help from the garden hose of the faucet.

[shortleg]

  When installing DC powered Telco switches we put
what is called No-OX on all our connetion to prevent
oxidation.
              Shortleg[Dave]

[franco6]

Vaseline! ???

[G-Man]

Not sure what the name of the product was, but a tube of lube came with the battery and completely covered the terminal and clamp.  If I notice that it has dried out or oxidation continues, I'll probably replace the clamps.  Better safe than sorry.

[old grouch]

Dunk the cable ends in a solution of baking soda & water overnight.  The corrosion works its way up the stranded copper wire, under the insulation.  Soaking overnite allows the solution to attack the corrosion there.  Rinse & dry.  Coat both terminals with "Exide Industrial Formula CRO/GARD  CG-16".  (or equivalent - should be available from NAPA etc)  Put battery washers on the terminals.  Attach cables.  Coat the cable ends with the Exide.  Should never have any corrosion issues on that battery again.  I have been using this method for over 20 years.  Also, I always coat the terminals on any new battery I install.  Stan

[JetDriver]

After I've neutralized all of the battery box area (terminals, cables, battery pan, etc) with baking soda and water, I spread a thin film of general purpose grease on EVERYTHING in the area that's not plastic.  I spread it as thin as I possibly can, almost like I put on the grease and then try to wipe it all off using only a paper towel- it will leave a thin film.  Vaseline will work, Exide will work- all you're doing is putting something between the metal and the oxygen.

[Paxton]

Disconnect both battery terminals. Go and fill a deep-enough-pan with tap water. Place it on the stove and heat the water until it boils.  ???

CAREFULLY take it to the car. CAREFULLY, insert each battery terminal in the boiling water for about 2 minutes. Longer if necessary.
The battery connectors will be as clean as new.

Then, CAREFULLY, pour the still-hot-water over the battery poles and everywhere you see the gunk... You'd be done in 5 minutes.
While you drink the Coke, you will see whether you really need new terminals

Vaseline has already been suggested. If you are picky, buy the two color-coded felt rings (Red / Green) made to absorb the battery gunk.
They're sold at any auto parts store for about $1.65. Those work well and look sanitary.

I do the suggested "Hot-Water-Drill" in all my cars every few months, even when they look clean.