Battery terminal oxidation inhibiters

The usual way is to just cover the terminal with e.g. vaseline jelly, basically to keep the air (and all it's constituents) away from the metal. What you use depends on the environment (temperature range, solvents in the air etc.)

Vaseline is perfect especially for your lights on your boat trailer.

Another product i've found that works is Loctite Nickel or Silver anti seize.

I use this for stainless steel bolts that are screwed into the aluminimum shaft of my outboard motor. Also very good in a acid rich mining enviroment.

Silicone rubber completely sealing air tight.

However, just after taking the pain to insulate terminals with silicone,

the neighbor needs a jump

which destroys the air tight seal

and accelerates corrosion at the gap.

The best solution is to eliminate dissimiliar materials

by using ss terminals and ss conductors.

No one does. No one will.

Application engineers & project engineers work for Cost managers.

SS cost too much initially although the cost savings greatly exceed initial cost.

Dont use silicon seal, messy & useless.

Stainless bolts OK but not for conductors. has high resis.

Best result use chemically impregnated felt rings round terminals ,100% satisfaction.

I'd heard about using Vasoline to coat the terminals and also using felt around them, but hadn't heard about impregnated felt. My concern about using Vasoline or some other petrolium product was 1) the Vasoline getting too warm and running off the terminals which leads to 2) the the interaction between the petrolium jelly and the plastic in the battery casing. But, I guess that's what the felt padding would be for?

So far all good comments and well appreciated. Thanks

Hi EZryder,

This forum seems to be still bouncing so a little follow up. The felt rings I mentioned are usually colored red & green ie for + & - I am not sure if the chemicals on the felt material is different for + or - rings, however I always used the Lead clamps not brass with stainless bolts just a smidgen of Vaseline on the terminals. The end results perfectly clean terminals for the life of the battery which I used, so simple fit and forget.

Never had problems with Vaseline attacking plastic it seems to be fairly neutral.

I have been in this business for over thirty three years and have not found any product that can truly stop oxidation.

The two most effective products you can use is : Chemtron battery grease and industrial petroleum jelly (this one does not melt).

The red and black impregnated rings works,but for a short period of time.

Vic,

I understand that I wont be able to stop the process but I would like to slow it down so that I don't have to clean oxidation from multiple batteries every month or two. I've got enough "projects" that are pending as it is. Reducing their maintenance to once every six months during normal equipment PMs would be a godsend.

Glyptal Red.

I have had very good luck with cheep regular grease like the stuff you put in car joints from a grease gun. Vaseline is nice but on hot days and a hot engine it will melt away and you will have the same problem. You can jump other cars and then just re-smear the grease.

After years of being the product design engineer for Mariah Boats, I can't tell you how many products we tested for this and other related corrosion-resistance needs. Standard procedure used to be for all battery terminals, starting and deep-cycle marines, to be coated with a heavy grease that was marketed as marine-duty.

It worked fine, as an OEM solution that wasn't intended for lifetime protection, and was cheap but messy even in little pint-sized gun applicator tubes.

We ended up being amazed by, and using, one particular product that comes in a spray can or can be bulk ordered for pumping (we just buy the can):
...I happened by this demo at a national marine trade show where a TV set was WORKING while it was completely submerged in a clear acrylic tank of water, and had samples of each of their products ordered to try out immediately. The regular "CorrosionX" stuff pretty much worked on everything, including completely water-proofing a standard radio for marine use (once you disassemble it and coat everything inside except the CD/Tape heads) ...though we couldn't do that for customers since it voids the radio warranty...

The stuff you want for nearly permanent protection of everything electronic or otherwise, though, is the Heavy-Duty version. It's thick, and stays where it dries - won't wash off even in salt water. I have it on every car, truck, boat, and RV battery we own, and spray any neighbor, family, and friend's terminals when asked. It doesn't harden, but it's not tacky. The film is stable and won't melt at normal engine area temperatures, and it is self-healing after any scratches from "jumping."

I will say that I still put the little impregnated red and green rings on my car batteries that have vertical terminals, but that's mainly to make sure my wife (and any helpful strangers) don't screw it up and cross wire the jumper cables in need - and they look good...

I just Googled the stuff to see where you can get some, and found the manufacturer has a "find your dealer" page here:

corrosionx.com/HowToOrder.html

Try it...and you'll be showing it off to everyone like I do...

Sandman, Thanks for the information about corrosionx! CorrosionX deserves a thread all it's own. What is the full line of products? What prep is required prior to application? What applications or materials should be avoided? What potential applications are yet to be explored? Must conventional lube be removed prior to application? Will properties does it exhibit in the presence of agricultural products like corn, sugar and starch, sprouting and corn combustion products? Can corrosionx be used to imperviate auto control circuits, high voltage & spark plug wires, waterproof boat trailer lights and boat trailer wheel bearings, high speed electrical motor bushings and high temp FD Fan bushings?

Thanks again for the website.

Sandman is absolutely correct about using corrosionX. Purchase from www.corrosionx.com

CorroxionX is THE product to use to keep battery terminals absolutely clean with only one treatment. Do not wipe your eyes unless you like pain. Also recommended for fully exposed farm equipment to prevent rust, boats in salt atmosphere, stoves and burners where paint will burn off, glass, mirrors, and auto polish, door hinges, key holes, sliding parts.

The battery you described probably has red (+) and Black (-) epoxy encaped post that seals the battery. Typically oxidation does not apply unless it seaps around the battery post to the terminal. There are No-ox greases available at auto parts stores or from the battery supplier if they specialize in UPS type application batteries.

Has anyone out there tried Pam?

hi..

there is a beautiful product to take care battry corrosion and sulphation in normal as well as marine duty. battery terminal protector by eximious. you can get details on www.eximiousventures.com or www.edmacstech.com or email at info@eximiousventures.com

i have applied it on a dg set battery .. it is working fine since 3 years without re application of product.

worth trying it