Comments on: How to Clean Car Battery Terminals

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:58:40 +0000

I was in the automotive preventative maintenance industry for 14 (1993-2007) years. I can’t tell you HOW many battery terminals I cleaned over the years. I CAN tell you that I clean A LOT of terminals…..with pennies on them. They were corroded just as bad as terminals without pennies.

I used (and still do) a product made specifically to clean corrosion from terminals. It’s made by Permatex. It’s very inexpensive and can be bought at most parts stores. Follow the directions on the can……it’s ridiculously simple.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:40:08 +0000

The penny trick WILL work! The only stipulation is that you use a penny dated 1982 – present. In 1982 the newly mented penny was made from 95% Zinc instead of its previous version which was 95% copper, and we know there are few metals more noble than copper that will cause it to corrode. Zinc on the other hand is far less noble than most every metal (other than magnesium). Therefore when the electrochemical properties of the materials are looking for a material to take from it will take from the zinc inside the penny. As a mechanical engineer I have used sacrificial anodes such as blocks of zinc to that corrosion does attacks the zinc before carbon steel and other materials.

But since this discussion forum was for “how to CLEAN your battery terminal” this will meerly protect your battery terminals and connectors. Remember conservation of mass from science class. If you take from one metal you will add to another so the battery may still build up the powdery substance, but at least this will come from the penny and not from the battery or the terminal connectors.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:52:30 +0000

Thanks for the tips now I can get my dune buggy going.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:24:15 +0000

My car is sitting at a convenience store, I think it won’t crank due to corroded terminals…do I have to remove the cables before I use the baking soda and water paste or can I just apply a bit on each terminal with the cables in place? If I can get it cranked, I will take it to the shop to be cleaned properly. Thanks!!

By: me

me — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:17:58 +0000

Pennies are 100% copper up until the end of 1984.

Now they are 98% zinc with a 2% copper coating.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:09:54 +0000

I always kept my terminals clean with the felt washers and baking soda/vinegar mix. The other day my hot rod wouldn’t start even with my ‘clean’ terminals. I went to my mechanic and he gave me a device which goes over the terminal and scrapes a thin layer of metal off and another to fit inside the cable metal to do the same. It makes them shiney and clean. He does it with all NEW car batteries, as he said there is a covering them that in time will not allow the juice to flow. I was amazed and would never have believed it as I had the terminals as tight as can be.

By: jenny

jenny — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:09:32 +0000

the guy at the oil change store told me to use coke which corroded the battery cables-big mistake!

By: Workin' at the

Workin' at the — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:29:26 +0000

I just today cleaned mine off at the car wash. I just pop the hood and give a quick pass over the engine compartment. No “degreaser” or “engine cleaner”, just the usual Soap setting. Same quickie during Rinse. I used an old towel to dry and wipe things within. It killed the towel, but things looks quite nice under the hood. The battery terminals look great.
Actually, I came here to explore whether I should put Vaseline on the fresh terminal connections. After reading the comments so far, I’m inclined to agree with the enamel paint on clean metal approach. Granted, I’m neither metallurgist, mechanic, chemist, nor numismatist.

By: Yma Alfaro

Yma Alfaro — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:50:33 +0000

Coke worked well for my car terminals !

By: john

john — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:53:06 +0000

‘Defacing US Currency is against the law.’

Whoever wrote that must be a robot.