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What should you use to clean battery cables?

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Old Dec 7, 2011 | 11:40 AM
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Roperteacher's Avatar
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From: Hemet, CA
What should you use to clean battery cables?

I noticed my battery cables on one side are starting to build up? WIre brush and then spray on that red cable conditioning stuff? Thanks!
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Old Dec 7, 2011 | 12:29 PM
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Use a little baking soda with water, then use the wirebrush...
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Old Dec 7, 2011 | 02:12 PM
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Alternately, coke can be used. Yes the soda. Once the cable is cleaned and replaced, a clear spray paint to seal out the air.
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Old Dec 7, 2011 | 04:16 PM
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I bought some of that red spray to coat the terminals. Will take care of it soon! Thanks!
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Old Dec 7, 2011 | 08:01 PM
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2nd on coke (the drink, not the powder)
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Old Dec 8, 2011 | 05:55 PM
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I'm cleaning mine this weekend. I'll have to try the paint idea...These corrode more than any others I'v had.
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Old Dec 8, 2011 | 06:51 PM
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Be careful with the coke, I dropped a can by my truck and it sprung a leak and sprayed coke on the front fender. I cleaned it off right away with a hose but didn't get it all and now I have 3 spots the size of an eraser down to bare metal.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 11:24 AM
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Oddly enough, I have noticed this truck developes batery corrosion quicker than any vehicle I'v ever owned.

I use the felt pads and the spray, and I still need to clean it every year or so.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by .boB
Oddly enough, I have noticed this truck developes batery corrosion quicker than any vehicle I'v ever owned.

I use the felt pads and the spray, and I still need to clean it every year or so.
That's often a result of a battery that isn't sealed properly around the posts. It might be time for replacements before you have to replace cables too.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:08 PM
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Pour HOT water on battery terminals. Nice and clean.
Do it three to four times a year.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 08:15 PM
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I like to cover my terminals in grease, like a chassis grease used for ball joints or u-joints. I've been using it on semi tractors for years with great results.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 11:06 PM
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The cabling itself, or the terminals?

For the cables use any mechanis handcleaner.

For the terminals, after cleaning them use NO-ALOX (Home Depot, etc). You'll never have corrosion again. Just re-do every 4-years or so. Use batt clean brush/tool to get mating surfaces correct, use N-A, install, and wipe off excess.

Be sure to knead package contents thoroughly. Also can use in incandescent fixture bases. Don't slop around. It improves conductivity.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 11:07 PM
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The cabling itself, or the terminals?

For the cables use any mechanis handcleaner.

For the terminals, after cleaning them use NO-ALOX (Home Depot, etc). You'll never have corrosion again. Just re-do every 4-years or so. Use batt clean brush/tool to get mating surfaces correct, use N-A, install, and wipe off excess.




Be sure to knead package contents thoroughly. Also can use in incandescent fixture bases. Don't slop around. It improves conductivity.



.
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 12:32 PM
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From: Del Rio, TX
Originally Posted by Nate-03 D
I like to cover my terminals in grease, like a chassis grease used for ball joints or u-joints. I've been using it on semi tractors for years with great results.
x2 on this once you have the terminals cleaned.
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