My batteries are 57 months old. For at least the last 9-12 months the driver's side battery terminal is continually becoming corroded. I clean it with baking soda and in less than two months it's corroded again.

The passenger side battery is fine with no terminal corrosion. Both batteries were purchased at the same time.

So, what's going on? Is this a sign the battery is going bad? These are Kirkland 100 month batteries. Thx, Rob

 

Every time you clean everything up, do you then apply a coat of grease to all the bare metal parts before reassembly?

 

Thx! Nope haven't done that. Silicone grease okay? Or other type grease?

 

Remove cables from battery. Mix up 2 tablespoons of baking soda and hot water in a red solo cup, or equivalent. Put the cable ends in the cup and let sit till the soda does its job. Wire brush to final clean.




I used to use grease, but the dirt accumulates, and it gets all over me when I'm under the hood. Melts away in summer heat too.


Now I spray the cleaned terminals, fully assembled to the battery, with spray paint. Prevents oxidation and corrosion.



If your battery is being overcharged, and its not a sealed top battery, excessive gas is being released can cause that build up as well.

 

After the cables and terminals are cleaned they need to be protected. For decades I have used Vaseline, but it has a low melting point and with the batteries in our truck being in the engine bay, it makes a mess as NJTman stated. Now I use a high temp bearing grease. Coat the cleaned surfaces with this hi-temp grease and then snug up. Leave the nuts just loose enough so that the terminals and cables can still be wiggled. Wiggle everything to get the excess grease off the faying surfaces and then tighten to the appropriate torque. Wipe off the excess grease and you are good to go.

 

I use fluid film and mine hasn't corroded in the 6 months I've had the new batteries