White powder formed on battery terminal - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

xagna · 12-11-2005, 11:55 PM

Got the Dsport mag December issue. It has a tech article on electrical wiring which I needed.

And I found this strange picture. On page 42 is a large picture of a battery. The thing that I feel curious is the battery terminals. Both + and - terminals are covered with some white powders. What is this powder? Is this some kind of additive or some thing that is dangerous and need to be cleansed right away?

!Zar! · 12-12-2005, 12:29 AM

Either it is to help conduction and/or prevent corrosion. Or is is corrosion. That's my guess. A picture would be help more though.

***FaLKoN240*** · 12-12-2005, 12:33 AM

If it looks like powder, and is built up around the terminals that IS corrosion, and can hinder the conductance of the battery to the terminals. IIRC the only thing I've seen on battery terminals that helps conductance is some red gel stuff, that is on it when it's new. But that usually comes off once you install it.

Dousan_PG · 12-12-2005, 12:37 AM

get some real coca-cola (no knockoff/copy)
pour it on there and wipe off
then get some stuff 240Falkno suggests for future nastiness prevention.

!Zar! · 12-12-2005, 12:37 AM

Now that I think about it, shouldn't the mag have a caption telling you what it is... And like I said I think it's corrosion.

2iv0 sx · 12-12-2005, 01:01 AM

sprite also works...

xagna · 12-12-2005, 01:17 AM

No captions...

Dsport is pretty untight with captioning. Thanks a lot for the infos.

94cc0rd · 12-12-2005, 01:34 AM

of water + baking soda...

andrewmp6 · 12-12-2005, 01:56 AM

its corrosion is should look like a pile of baking soda kinda just clean it off make sure you get the post and the terminals clean as you can

cotbu · 12-12-2005, 02:04 AM

You've got to be kidding!!

!Zar! · 12-12-2005, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotbu

You've got to be kidding!!

Depending on whatever you think someone is kidding about, the corrosion will come off with everything that's been named, and is does look like baking soda. Depending on how bad it is.

cotbu · 12-12-2005, 03:11 AM

Surely not kidding about what it looks like, or even how to clean it (hence the many ways). Preventing it is a differnt matter. I'v Given the same senerio to an 8yr old. And he said "battery acid" or "catrossion". Guess what he said he would clean it with? "Gloves and a wire brush". I asked him, "tell me how to prevent it?" He said "I don't know". He's know on the internet looking for a cure!!!

I really thought it was common knowledge.

***S14DB*** · 12-12-2005, 06:40 AM

Yeah, it's anthrax...

The battery burps out when charging or when it is hot out. Mostly water but there is some acid with it.

There is sprays but those are messy. The best thing seems to be the little disks. Red for positive and Green for Neg. They go under the clamps, around the posts.

***FaLKoN240*** · 12-12-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotbu

Surely not kidding about what it looks like, or even how to clean it (hence the many ways). Preventing it is a differnt matter. I'v Given the same senerio to an 8yr old. And he said "battery acid" or "catrossion". Guess what he said he would clean it with? "Gloves and a wire brush". I asked him, "tell me how to prevent it?" He said "I don't know". He's know on the internet looking for a cure!!!

I really thought it was common knowledge.

Watch out guys.. this guy knows some genious kids that are smarter than Zilvians.

element240 · 12-12-2005, 11:58 AM

wow this thread...sucks.
GOOGLE: battery terminal cleaner
you will find many types of terminal cleaners.
then use baking soda/water like a guy said a few posts up.
then just put some die-electric grease on the terminals.

!Zar! · 12-12-2005, 12:23 PM

*Retracting what I was about to say*

enen11 · 12-12-2005, 10:58 PM

spray paint works too to seal it.

Irukandji · 12-12-2005, 11:04 PM

I used Safeway brand diet coke that was sitting in my frig for a while. And yes it DID work.

Pank · 12-13-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enen11

spray paint works too to seal it.

please tell me you're not spray painting the post then putting the clamp on, then wondering why your car smells bad

axiomatik · 12-13-2005, 12:38 PM

diet soda is a good choice as it won't leave the battery sticky

nismochick91 · 12-13-2005, 02:32 PM

you could just simply wipe off the battery and clean it really good w/ soap and water and then put some lube on it to keep it from corroding anymore. That's what i did (lube=auto lube(vasaline might work))

enen11 · 12-13-2005, 04:57 PM

after...never said car smelled

*edit and also not my car...customer's cars. i use those "green/red disks" things

Tenchuu · 12-13-2005, 07:48 PM

I am sad to inform you that white stuff on you battery is the first sighn that your car may have a STD. check for herpes.

*NemeGuero* · 12-13-2005, 07:54 PM

SNORT IT! Hahaha

95zilvia · 12-13-2005, 08:07 PM

Disconnect terminals.
CLean it off with water and baking soda, or a coke or something.
Wipe it clean.
Place green and red disks that you bought from local auto store on posts.
Replace terminals with positive first, negative last, and tighten.
You're good to go.

SRd240sx · 12-14-2005, 07:19 PM

i usually clean it off with a wire brush thing made for battery terminals, it's normal

12-11-2005, 11:55 PM	#1
xagna Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ny Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	White powder formed on battery terminal Got the Dsport mag December issue. It has a tech article on electrical wiring which I needed. And I found this strange picture. On page 42 is a large picture of a battery. The thing that I feel curious is the battery terminals. Both + and - terminals are covered with some white powders. What is this powder? Is this some kind of additive or some thing that is dangerous and need to be cleansed right away?

12-12-2005, 12:29 AM	#2
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	Either it is to help conduction and/or prevent corrosion. Or is is corrosion. That's my guess. A picture would be help more though. __________________

12-12-2005, 12:33 AM	#3
*FaLKoN240* Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Temecula Posts: 16,893 Trader Rating: (73) Feedback Score: 73 reviews	If it looks like powder, and is built up around the terminals that IS corrosion, and can hinder the conductance of the battery to the terminals. IIRC the only thing I've seen on battery terminals that helps conductance is some red gel stuff, that is on it when it's new. But that usually comes off once you install it. __________________ Best way to do business with me? Make your best offer FIRST.

12-12-2005, 12:37 AM	#4
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	get some real coca-cola (no knockoff/copy) pour it on there and wipe off then get some stuff 240Falkno suggests for future nastiness prevention. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

12-12-2005, 12:37 AM	#5
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	Now that I think about it, shouldn't the mag have a caption telling you what it is... And like I said I think it's corrosion. __________________

12-12-2005, 01:01 AM	#6
2iv0 sx Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lng Bch Calfna Posts: 1,442 Trader Rating: (20) Feedback Score: 20 reviews	sprite also works...

12-12-2005, 01:17 AM	#7
xagna Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ny Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	No captions... Dsport is pretty untight with captioning. Thanks a lot for the infos.

12-12-2005, 01:34 AM	#8
94cc0rd Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 38 Posts: 2,390 Trader Rating: (8) Rides Gallery: 94cc0rd Feedback Score: 8 reviews	of water + baking soda... __________________

12-12-2005, 01:56 AM	#9
andrewmp6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 376 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	its corrosion is should look like a pile of baking soda kinda just clean it off make sure you get the post and the terminals clean as you can

12-12-2005, 02:04 AM	#10
cotbu Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SWFL Age: 50 Posts: 3,318 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	You've got to be kidding!! __________________ LoverTechnologies "Half Broken Things!"

12-12-2005, 03:11 AM	#12
cotbu Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SWFL Age: 50 Posts: 3,318 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Surely not kidding about what it looks like, or even how to clean it (hence the many ways). Preventing it is a differnt matter. I'v Given the same senerio to an 8yr old. And he said "battery acid" or "catrossion". Guess what he said he would clean it with? "Gloves and a wire brush". I asked him, "tell me how to prevent it?" He said "I don't know". He's know on the internet looking for a cure!!! I really thought it was common knowledge. __________________ LoverTechnologies "Half Broken Things!"

12-12-2005, 06:40 AM	#13
*S14DB* AFC #1 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 昨晩あなたのお母さんの家 Posts: 20,181 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Yeah, it's anthrax... The battery burps out when charging or when it is hot out. Mostly water but there is some acid with it. There is sprays but those are messy. The best thing seems to be the little disks. Red for positive and Green for Neg. They go under the clamps, around the posts. __________________ Comments should be taken as Opinions not as Statements of Fact

12-12-2005, 11:58 AM	#15
element240 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MI Age: 39 Posts: 735 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	wow this thread...sucks. GOOGLE: battery terminal cleaner you will find many types of terminal cleaners. then use baking soda/water like a guy said a few posts up. then just put some die-electric grease on the terminals.

12-12-2005, 12:23 PM	#16
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	Retracting what I was about to say __________________ Last edited by !Zar!; 12-12-2005 at 12:25 PM.. Reason: Changed mind.

12-12-2005, 10:58 PM	#17
enen11 Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 240sx Posts: 184 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	spray paint works too to seal it.

12-12-2005, 11:04 PM	#18
Irukandji Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Compton Posts: 4,268 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I used Safeway brand diet coke that was sitting in my frig for a while. And yes it DID work.

12-13-2005, 12:38 PM	#20
axiomatik Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: ATL Posts: 4,702 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	diet soda is a good choice as it won't leave the battery sticky

12-13-2005, 02:32 PM	#21
nismochick91 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you could just simply wipe off the battery and clean it really good w/ soap and water and then put some lube on it to keep it from corroding anymore. That's what i did (lube=auto lube(vasaline might work)) __________________ Saving for my turbo-> Ka-t http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2050554/

12-13-2005, 04:57 PM	#22
enen11 Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 240sx Posts: 184 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	after...never said car smelled *edit and also not my car...customer's cars. i use those "green/red disks" things

12-13-2005, 07:48 PM	#23
Tenchuu Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oregon Age: 42 Posts: 2,474 Trader Rating: (8) Rides Gallery: Tenchuu Feedback Score: 8 reviews	I am sad to inform you that white stuff on you battery is the first sighn that your car may have a STD. check for herpes.

12-13-2005, 07:54 PM	#24
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	SNORT IT! Hahaha __________________

12-13-2005, 08:07 PM	#25
95zilvia Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South San Francisco Age: 40 Posts: 1,860 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: 95zilvia Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Disconnect terminals. CLean it off with water and baking soda, or a coke or something. Wipe it clean. Place green and red disks that you bought from local auto store on posts. Replace terminals with positive first, negative last, and tighten. You're good to go.

12-14-2005, 07:19 PM	#26
SRd240sx Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 42 Posts: 178 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i usually clean it off with a wire brush thing made for battery terminals, it's normal