acid build up at terminals

Hi Al, are your felt washers saturated with vaseline?

Some will say that they are not the answer but I have used them for many years and have no problems with terminal deposits or corrosion. Can't explain the physics involved but it works for me somehow. But the washers need to be thoroughly saturated. I actually use wheel-bearing grease. Not to say that vaseline does not work but.

What Alan says x 2 :-))

KK

I have "cleaned them" over the years with coke then spraying it with battery terminal spray. This generally works for another 6 months or so.

Cheers Wilko

Al,
You say that there is no leakage around the terminals, but IMO the white powder indicates that 'gassing' is occurring in this area, indicating a failed terminal post seal...

Possible/probable causes of such failure include (but not necessarily restricted to) the following >>

(A) Tapping the terminal on with a hammer (or other 'blunt instrument'), and /or putting excessive 'side pressure' on the terminal post while tightening the clamp bolt..

(B) Lifting the battery using one of those battery-pick-up-straps which grab the terminal posts, especially so with the larger/heavier batteries..
Since I stopped using this type of 'picker-upper', I've had no problems at all with terminal corrosion..

Dunno if any of the above applies to your situation, but food for thought in any case ;-)

YMMV

Regards, Ed C

:)

Hi Al,
I've never had that problem, really I haven't. I've seen it often enough and really thick on some batteries.
My engine bay gets truck washed each time I wash the vehicle, then gets a good spray of WD40. Especially the wire harness.
The old girl gets a tub and polish about every month, depending on how dirty she gets.
Maybe that has something to do with, don't know. My dad use to put a blackish thick paint-able muck on his terminals, he reckon it worked. Can't remember what it was called.

I think the white stuff is lead sulphate caused by a leak of sulphuric acid from the battery. Nasty stuff if you inhale or otherwise get it into your body.

Vaseline smeared over after rubbing off is the way I have always handled it.

I believe it's caused by a gas leak, possibly caused by overcharging :(

Maîneÿ . . .