Overview:
If you had ever jump start your car and u have spent time under the hood of your car. You might have been surprised by what u saw, Corrosion on the battery’s terminal does not just look bad. But it can limit the efficiency of the battery of your car; it can create an issue when you are starting the engine. It can also be the cause of one of your dashboard warning lights coming on. Although! If you are experiencing electrical issues on the roads then it could be corrosion on the terminals of a car battery.
How can you identify the battery’s Corrosion?
Many drivers won’t notice car battery corrosion until they start to experience problems while driving the car.
Battery Corrosion is dangerous:
Battery corrosion is caustic and it can irritate or even burn your skin or eyes if they are exposed. When the car’s corrosion on the battery is left unchecked for a period of time it can cause damage to the car. This will be more expensive to repair and you will have to wait longer.
The car batteries contain acidic sulfuric acid; show you should be careful when handling them. Battery acid can produce explosive gases, the car batteries are designed to vent caps to release those acidic gases. You should only work with batteries in ventilated areas. You should also keep any kind of metal tool or even other metal objects away from the top of the battery to prevent short circuits.
Cleaning Battery Corrosion with Cleaner:
- Remove all the connecting cables attached to the battery mostly they are red and black.
- To remove those wires you will have to unplug the black wire first and then the red.
- Spray the corrosion cleaning product on the terminals of the battery until you have coated the entire affected area.
- With the help of thick rubber gloves, use your wire brush to scrub the area until the corrosion is removed. Make sure to clean the battery case as well.
- Reattach your cables after the cleaning battery. Always makes sure to reattach the cables in reverse order and close the hood.
Cleaning Battery Corrosion with water and Baking Soda:
- Remove the cables connected to the battery same as described before. (First black and then red)
- Briefly apply baking soda over the entire area that is affected by corrosion. That will neutralize the battery acid.
- Add a very small amount of water just to activate the baking soda and cause a chemical reaction that will remove all the corrosion.
- Clean and dry the surface area with a clothing towel. And clean up any kind of residue using a scrub sponge.
- Reattach the cables of the battery in reverse order, and close the hood.
Although! It is never a bad idea to spray an anti-corrosion solution or you can also apply an anti-corrosion gel to the terminals of the battery. Doing so can help you a lot to prevent the issue from recurring.
What Causes Car Battery Corrosion?
If you have put all the time into cleaning your car’s battery, then you might be wondering what could be the causes of car battery corrosion in the first place. It is usual that your car battery heats up and cools down as you drive your car.
Hydrogen gas:
It releases hydrogen gas as part of the ventilation process. When this hydrogen comes into contact with the surrounding materials close to the terminals, corrosion is bound to occur. On the other side, cleaning and managing the corrosion in time can help to extend your car battery life.
Overfilling your battery:
Sometimes the batteries need to fill with water to operate properly. If you overflow a car’s battery, the excess water will come out through the vents. When the terminals come in contact with water, corrosion can form.
Copper Clamps:
If the battery of your car is leaking sulfuric acid and the acid comes in contact with the copper clamps, a chemical reaction will take place. As a result, the copper sulfate will start causing corrosion.
Age:
Car batteries often have a 5-year life. If your car’s battery is near the end of its life, it is not to start seeing corrosion.
Precautions after handling car battery:
After handling a car battery, always take the following precautions:
- Wash your thick rubber gloves with water.
- Gently rub and wash your hands with soap and water.
- Neutralize any type of spilled battery acid with the help of baking soda.
If acid from the battery gets on your skin, wash the area with clean, lukewarm, gently flowing water for a half hour. If your skin still feels irritated, continue flushing and seek medical treatment.
When battery acid gets into your eyes, flush them in the same way as you flush your skin at the same time. But in the case of eyes, always seek immediate medical treatment.
How to prevent battery corrosion?
- Perform routine maintenance.
- Always use a protective treatment.
- Make sure your battery is charged properly.
- Always use battery grease and petroleum jelly to clean.
You might also like: Kia’s New Teaser Reveals Bold Design for EV9 Electric SUV
