Grease on battery terminals?

[Bluest]

I'm just putting a new battery on the Yanmar and just wondered, is it still the done thing to grease the battery terminals. Looking at my newish car, the terminals don't appear to have anyhting on them. I always used petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in the past, but I haven't changed a battery for years. I notice I can get grease specificaly for this purpose, would that be in any way better?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Yup. I goop up my new cars too. In fact, it only took one year for corrosion to set in on my then brand-new, factory-ordered F150.
I, however, use whatever grease I have handy.

 

[Bluest]

Thanks Eric. I shall, as you say, "goop up", at earliest opportunity!

 

[paulharvey]

I use a little packet from advanced auto made for it, was like $0.99 at the check out. Seems to work better than nothing, without the nastiness of straight grease. Don't keep vasoline just laying around the house so never tried it. I don't do the cars/trucks because those batteries don't leak, but the tractor battery is always a mess.

 

[Bluest]

Thanks Paul, I just noticed I can get those little sachets for next to nothing on Ebay, so I'll pick a couple up.

 

[RalphVa]

Not sure you need anything any more with these gel batteries. However, when we did need something, those felt washers you can buy at auto supply or battery places seemed to work better than gooping up your posts with grease. You put the felt washers over the post and then put the cable grip onto the post.

Ralph

 

[joecdeere]

Di-electric grease inside the cable clamp and all over the post or bolt before assembly. Another little coat all over the entire thing after tightening them up.

 

[Bluest]

I've been trawling Google since I started this thread. Views on the use of grease are mixed. Some say it isn't necessary on modern vehicles as the charging circuit is so well regulated that he battery never emits any corrosive gas.

As I've an old tractor with a dynamo and a conventional lead/acid battery, I think putting some grease on can't do any harm.

Ralph - I've never seen the felt washers you mention. Be interested to see them.

 

[Looking4new]

I use di-electric grease on all of mine AND the big truck. I use it on the trailer light cord on the big truck and the Jeep as well.

 

[oldballs]

I haven't used anything on vehicles or tractors in years. I just keep the posts clean when doing routine maintenance.

 

[woodchipper]

You can make your own washers if you like, using thin felt paper you may have around the house. The idea of the felt and grease, is to act as isolators.
You are correct to say that charging systems have better regulations these days... But as anything else, any kind of battery ages... Some do it prematurely, some seem to hold on forever for some reason... All batteries (wet) will sulfate at one time or another, creating in the end some deposits on the terminals, as exposure to the embient air will turn into a very good oxydizer to whatever material will be sensible to its actions... As we all know, copper in its purest state, oxydises verry fast when unprotected (varnish, pvc jacket,etc). So, as the tightening terminal bolts and leads absob the sulfur by direct contact, some galvanic reaction will inevitably happen!
So, to get to your question, is grease a goog thing? In my opinion, and for what I have seen when working for CAA, I will admit to say it seems to have a good and positive impact. It will become a stronger defender, as the battery ages.
I will strongly recommend this dedicatedred coloured grease that is sold at auto parts stores, because it is formulated for the purpose. As joecdeere said, it is di-electric, meaning it will not be affected by electricity, it will not "transport" or "propagate" elctricity. It is way way superior to what many of us keep in their home pharmacy, and is known under "petroleum jelly", ie "vaseline"(brand name). It will not melt as your battery temp rises, and it will attract very very little dust
Happy new year to ALL!!! and be sure to keep tractoring!:drink:!

 

[k0ua]

I have been using No-Ox-Id for over 35 years. I got started on using it in the telephone industry. It came with ever stationary battery installation for large PBX's. I used it on them, and took the remainder home. I still have some, I have never bought any. It really works.

Electrical Contact Lubricant - Conductive Electrical Grease | Sanchem, Inc.

 

[KennyG]

In the past I have used vaseline and also the felt washers with good results. However, I think the newer vehicles are greatly improved. I haven't used anything on my vehicles for the last 10 years or so and haven't seen any sign of corrosion.

 

[3930dave]

I've been trawling Google since I started this thread. Views on the use of grease are mixed. Some say it isn't necessary on modern vehicles as the charging circuit is so well regulated that he battery never emits any corrosive gas.

As I've an old tractor with a dynamo and a conventional lead/acid battery, I think putting some grease on can't do any harm.

Ralph - I've never seen the felt washers you mention. Be interested to see them.

Hi Blue - many auto-parts places here will stock these washers. Here is one example.

2 pc Anti-Corrosion Battery Post Washers | Princess Auto

Colour coding is because they are chemically treated. On a problem battery, Terminals seem to corrode differently - one often has way more fur on it - properly done, the chemical treatment is specific by polarity.

The washers I've used seemed to reduce the rate of terminal corrosion. YMMV, but the treated ones should not be expensive to try.

Regular inspection/maintenance can keep up with bare battery terminals, but most people are not that diligent. A nice coating of grease on top of clean terminals doesn't cost much, and works well.

Some modern alternators are very good (ex. Honda) at regulation, nonetheless I grease all battery terminals on my vehicles.

(Edit - actually, I've come to use grease on pretty much every external electrical connection that I have apart on a vehicle).

Rgds, D.

 

[s219]

I generally use grease on my tractor battery terminals because I always have the grease gun nearby.

On my boat, I have started using Fluid Film (have one of the small cans with applicator brush. Reapply in spring when battery gets reinstalled after storage. Nice thing about the fluid film brush is that it's easy to get thorough coverage and is not nearly as messy as grease, especially when working in a tight space under my boat's center console. I also dab some on any exposed electrical terminals in the boat prior to winter storage. Cheap way to fight potential corrosion.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I do not put anything on side post batteries. If I'm careful where I buy them they don't get corrosion. Top post battery's get a shot of Fluid Film. Works awesome.

 

[davesl708]

I have not used anything on my terminals. Just keep them tight and have had no problems with the cars, tractors or boat batteries corroding.

Cars use side terminal and the tractors and boat use top post.

 

[JJZ 109]

I use di-electric grease on all of mine AND the big truck. I use it on the trailer light cord on the big truck and the Jeep as well.

Same here. There's always a tube in the toolbox, so it gets used on battery terminals, trailer plugs or anything outdoors. I've seen them corrode too many times. Cheap insurance.

 

[JDgreen227]

In the past I have used vaseline and also the felt washers with good results. However, I think the newer vehicles are greatly improved. I haven't used anything on my vehicles for the last 10 years or so and haven't seen any sign of corrosion.

As the majority of my cars and trucks have been GM models with the side terminal batteries during the past 15 years, I have seen no sign of corrosion. May be wrong here, but I do think the newer top terminal batteries are sealed well enough corrosion is no longer a problem. Even my six year old tractor battery has showed little or no sign of corrosion although it's a top terminal and gets bounced around a lot.

 

[Mace Canute]

I used to use a dielectric grease on one battery that had a corrosion problem but it was a messy. Ever since I discovered Rust Check I have been giving my battery connections a shot of that, works better than any grease, much less mess, easier too.