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Home » Automotive Blog » How to Deal with Car Battery Corrosion: Tips and Tricks

How to Deal with Car Battery Corrosion: Tips and Tricks

  • 5 min read
Car Battery Corrision
Are you shocked to see the signs of corrosion on your car battery? If yes, don’t worry; car battery corrosion on terminals is typical because of wear and tear over time. A car battery is crucial in providing electricity to the vehicle’s electrical components. If your car is having problems while starting, it might be because of a thick layer of corrosion on the battery.

In this scenario, you must clean the car battery terminals from corrosion to keep it in optimal working condition. This blog post will discuss tips and tricks for dealing with vehicle battery corrosion without difficulty. So, continue reading to learn how to clean your car battery and enhance your car’s overall performance:

What are the Reasons for Car Battery Corrosion?

There are several reasons for corrosion on battery terminals. The most common reason for corrosion is an acidic reaction in the battery caused by its acidic liquid. There are also a few other reasons for car battery corrosion, including:

Battery age

A car battery usually lasts up to three or four years. Near their expiry dates, car batteries become more prone to corrosion.

Fluid Leakage

Fluid leakage from the batteries is also one of the most common causes of corrosion. Ensure to repair or replace your car battery if it is cracked or damaged to save it from early corrosion.

Battery Overheating

Batteries often get overheated or overcharged, especially in the summer. If your car battery overheats most often, the chances of corrosion will be high.

In addition to these reasons, you must also examine the buildup colour on the battery terminals to assess the reasons for battery corrosion.

Is Battery Corrosion Bad for My Car’s Health?

Of course, yes! Battery corrosion affects your car’s overall health in terms of performance and current surpassing the electrical components. If you leave the battery corrosion untreated, it might lead to severe issues in your vehicle. Remember to handle the rusted battery carefully, as car batteries contain sulfuric acid. If you want to work on a rusted battery, park your car in a fully ventilated place.

Because of the high risk of flaming, professionals never recommend charging a rusted car battery. So, don’t try to do so if you have noticed clear signs of corrosion on your car battery. If your car battery is wholly rusted or damaged, it is always better to consider car battery replacement services rather than repairing or maintaining it.

How to Clean the Car Battery Corrosion?

Do you want to clean or remove the battery corrosion yourself? If yes, be sure to consider the following steps:

Gather Your Supplies

Removing a car battery corrosion doesn’t require too much time and supplies. So, you can do it easily with a few items you already have in your home. However, you must perform this cleaning carefully because of the acidic properties of the car battery. The needed supplies to clean corrosion are:

  • A towel/ microfibre cloth
  • Baking soda
  • Wire brush
  • Wrench
  • Gloves
  • Water

Disconnect Battery Wires

Even if your car is not switched on, disconnect the battery wires before cleaning. Wear gloves even before disconnecting the wires to save yourself from any casualty.

While disconnecting the cables, disconnect the negative cable first. Secondly, remove the positive or red cable. Ensure to use a wrench to disconnect the battery cables. If your car battery’s cables are damaged, replace them with new ones immediately.

Clean the Corrosion

To clean the corrosion from battery terminals or surfaces, apply a paste of water and baking soda. Let the paste sit on the surface for at least 20 minutes before rubbing it with a wire brush. Once you are done scrubbing, wash out the battery surface with warm water.

Dry Out the Battery Terminals

Once you are done removing the corrosion, dry out the battery surface or terminals with a microfibre cloth. Ensure to let the terminals dry appropriately before connecting again.

Reconnect Battery Wires

Once you finish the cleaning and drying, reconnect the battery wires with the terminals. If the cables are damaged, connect the terminals with new wires.

Tips and Tricks to Prevent the Car Battery Corrosion

Here are a few tips and tricks you can follow to prevent your car battery from getting rusted before time:

Routine Maintenance

Check your car battery regularly for the early signs of corrosion. Regular maintenance and cleaning of your car battery terminals can minimize the chances of corrosion.

When you visit a garage for an oil change, ask the technician to check the battery thoroughly for signs of corrosion.

Use Commercial Sprays

You can use commercial corrosion removal sprays to clean corrosion from the car batteries. Remove the battery cables before spraying on the battery surface or the terminals.

Don’t Overcharge or Undercharge Car’s Battery

Like overcharging, undercharging is not suitable for car batteries. That’s why ensuring that the car batteries are adequately charged is essential.

If your car battery always indicates undercharging, bring your car to a professional automotive garage, London Motor Sports.

Grease the Battery’s Terminals

Greasing the terminals of your car’s battery occasionally will improve its performance. Even while applying the grease, ensure that you disconnect the battery wires.

Even if you properly maintain your car’s battery, bringing your vehicle to a professional garage for battery examination is always a good decision. With regular examinations, you can prevent severe damage or issues in your car’s electrical components.

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