How to properly clean & protect your battery terminals from corrosion! 

You rarely come across a video that is so abrasive and helpful at the same time.

I think you are confused about dialectric grease. It doesn't "allow conductivity," it prevents it. If you coat the terminals with dialectric grease, don't be surprised if nothing happens when you try to start the engine. Especially if you only "snug" the connections as you suggest. Dialectric grease can be applied over the terminals after cables are on and a good connection has been established. You can also apply it to the underside of the terminal before reinstalling, or even on the terminals sparingly. However, it should not be applied to mating surfaces where a connection is not tight enough to displace it.

I like the attention given to PPE and NEVER POSITIVE FIRST when disconnecting terminals . Perfect time to do some preventative maintenance on battery .Amazing how many fail around Halloween when nights get cooler .

This happens because the seal around the post is leaking. I always put a bead of silicone around the post where it meets the case best if done when new.

Thanks for making this video to help people like myself. I've always did my own car repairs and never realized how much there is to doing this correctly! I've overlooked it all these years. Thanks! New subscriber by the way, from Fall River, MA. 🤜

Great video Sir. First, you showed that safety is number 1. Then you went on to explain why you’re doing what you’re doing. You are such a champion!

Wow this is the most pro video ever made on battery cleaning and maintenance.

Great video. I do want to stress though that corrosion is often mistaken with sulfation - sulfation is indicated by large buildup of chalky blue/green paste on the negative terminal. Why is this? Because the battery is being undercharged during driving - and this is due to either to degraded alternator (when oil / sludge builds up over time into the alternator for example) OR the alternator belt has become too loose or needs replacing. When the alternator belt is loose insufficient power is restored to the battery through the alternator, and this will cause sulfation (i.e. "Corrosion") on the negative terminal. Good maintenance habits are important but understanding how to tension your alternator belt is REALLY important for your battery and understanding how to replace your alternator if needed is also important.

Just replaced my battery and did these exact steps as you illustrate. Thanks

By far the best video on this topic. I read the manual for Honda. They recommend putting baking soda on the corrosion and adding a little bit of water to dampen it. Let it sit for a while until color changes and then cleaning it off. I will be using your method combined with Honda instructions.

Dielectric grease is an insulator which resists the flow of electricity. Coating the posts with dielectric grease does exactly what the lead oxide does, resistance. Dielectric grease is best used for weatherproofing electrical connections.

Really good video. The safety precautions are excellent. Just an FYI to those of you with a generator with a battery. It’s time to take a look at those batteries as well. A similar process will apply. All the products he’s using are usually available at a car parts store or Amazon. 👍

Hi! Just used this procedure to clean the battery terminals on my C6 Corvette. Worked like a charm. The Vette battery is a bit more challenging to get to especially the negative terminal but your procedure worked very well and I am NOT a DIY kinda guy! Jerry

Amazing sir! And your voice is perfect for the vid.

A job well done. We have performed this procedure and are happy with the results. We will let you know in the future how well it works. .... OORAH!!

Hey brother my names clos just saw your video the first 2 i saw on battery installs were dirt i have been at an auto parts store for three months and have been told different things... long story short I like your video sounds legit and will take your advice when I do battery swaps at my store thank you

Today's DIY job. Thanks.

Great video, and the rock intro is a nice touch. Thank you.

Really grateful. Very well shown. Thank you!!

Well, thank you for doing it right Greeno.

Nice job. Thanks for all the details.

Very informative and well explained 🤙🏼🤙🏼💪🏼thank you

WONDERFUL!! Thank you so much!!!!!!

Amazing video. I wished you would have showed us the cleaner and acid indicator can because I’m going to buy everything you used. Great explanation.

Thank you bro! I had problems with my Harley electrical switches on my handlebars for years, hope this will stop it from recurring.

Loved this! Thank you for the demo. My battery is very hard for me to reach. I'm short, which makes matters worse. I drive a Chevy Cruz, and the battery is in the trunk, in the spare tire compartment. 😳 But, I enjoyed the video.

Dielectric grease, or tune-up grease, is a silicone-based grease that repels moisture and protects electrical connections against corrosion. ... The grease does not conduct electricity, so it shouldn't be applied directly to the mating surfaces (pins and sockets) of an electrical connection

You would expect dealerships to do this if you buy a battery there. But they don’t.

So this is how you do it right! I had no idea.

Would you be willing to show the safe and propper way to work with spark plugs and replacing and adjusting them if needed as well as other maintenance fluid changes sir this is quality work here

Super good info.

I highly recommend Ncp2 battery corrosion preventative spray and distilled water

Great video Thanks!!!

Finally someone teaching me how to take care of my car the right way. I dont trust mechanics, Ive had my share of HORRIBLE mechanics. I just do what I can myself. Thank you for this. New subscriber.

wow! I wish my Honda Dealership did this much work on my car.

Great video, Man...👍👍😃 Thank you

Thank you!!!

Well done, sir

i USE vaseline on the outside of the connection. My last battery lasted a little over 6 yrs. Before using the vaseline it/same brand of battery would only last about 3 YRS. I'll keep using the vaseline.

W-D 40 work well too!

Thanks for the excellent video, i don’t feel patronized at all😂

I found this very helpful and have purchased the supplies to clean up my wife's car today. Just curious though, why do I only rinse things off with distilled water? I know you only use distilled water to top off the old style batteries but wonder why it's used to clean them up as well.

Thanks!

Free Knowledge!

I need you to come do mine😊😊 You did that so perfect 🏆🏆

I had a motorbike battery showing signs of failing so I ordered a new one from my friend's bike shop . I had noticed the main lights being a bit dimmer and had topped up the cells , cleaned the earth points and battery posts . Anyway my friend asked if I wanted to install the new battery when I arrived at his shop as his guys were a bit busy . No problem I said and borrowed a couple of tools . When I lifted the battery acid poured from the bottom of its casing ! A lead plate had come free inside and worn a groove through the casing ! Under the casing was a closed cell rubber mat and that had saved most of the acid from leaking . Whoops .

Very professional

Baking soda neutralizes acid well and is harmless and cheap. Also, spraying the terminals instead of gooping them up is cleaner, more efficient, and does not interfere with intended conduction paths.

"THE JUICE.... IS WORTH THE SQUEEZE!!"..👍🏾💯💯💯💯😊

Tesla car has a big battery pack, and it also has this tradition 12V battery. I wondered if it runs into this same corrosion issue.

You done good son 😎

Awsum !!

Great info! Thanks for putting this together. What would cause a solar gel deep cycle battery to leak or have calcification/ sulfation on the positive terminal?

I hate to tell you, but dielectric grease is non-conductive. You should clamp down dry terminals and then put the corrosion protector on the outside only. That way the terminal has full metal-to-metal contact but the grease on the outside keeps air away, which inhibits corrosion. The reason it's working for you is that when you tighten the bolts the grease is getting squeezed out, so that the metal comes into contact enough to transmit voltage, but not fully.

My battery looks like the one you showed in the beginning (the negative terminal is totally covered in blue crud). Should I clean it off or just buy a new battery? The car is dead and won’t start.

I tried the dielectric grease on cleaned terminals, and I use a blade type post cleaner which leaves a smooth, like new finish, not all scratched up. After assembling it, the battery wasn’t able to start the car, and there’s no solvent I know of to remove the silicone grease, other than just aggressively wiping it with rags. Once recleaned, everything worked fine. I would consider applying it to the top of the terminal after connecting it, but I think fluid film or some other product might be better and cleaner .

What is the difference between the first grade and the red stuff you put on last?

Dielectric grease is an electrical insulator. Don't put it directly on the terminals before attaching the cables. Attach the cables first to ensure maximal metal to metal contact THEN cover the connection with grease

Is it OK to submerge the terminals into a cup full of baking soda and water solution to neutralize any acid?

Lead is toxic If the outer surfaces of the battery terminals are really made of lead, using a wire brish to sand off the surfsce corrosion would seem to create many tiny lead particles. A solution for manufacturers might be to coat the terminals in something that conducts well, does not corrode, and does not contain lead

hello sir any advice how to clean car body damaged from baterry acid? I tryed backing soda ,metal cleaner products the rost does not want to go away at this stage even my transmision has some white staff on it. I was a fole added acid baterry it was to much I ques there was not much air space in the baterry so my terminals got leaky now I have problem how to deal with that staff?

Sir, yes sir!!!

Good video. How would you treat battery terminals when the battery is removed from the boat for winter or left in the boat but with the wires/cables removed and a battery maintainer charger is clipped to the terminals, in both cases, over winter? Would you clean the terminals, coat with dielectric grease then connect the maintainer for winter storage? Then follow your video to prep the battery for summer? Thanks.

Dielectric grease is non conductive. It should be applied to the exterior of the connections. Not to the posts.

What are u spraying?

"Super fool tight" I had to laugh, because I have been that fool in the past.

Short, sweet, correct!

I have the same Noco products being shipped right now. Didn’t think about dielectric paste first. Could you not just use the NOCO paste prior to installing terminals then coat outside as well?

How about water and Baking soda.

I appreciate your video. But I thought I saw some red! Lol.

Some videos say the grease keeps the battery from making a good connection, They say regular grease works better.

Dielectric grease does not conduct electicity, so would it not be bad to put on the connections?

Do not put greese on the contacts, only on the bottom to insulate. If not, corrrent will not flow correctly.

Video is good, but its like he's coming down on me like I'm always doing something wrong lol.

“It’s time to throw away the donuts!” I’m just trying to learn about car maintenance. Why am I getting attacked? Lol

Everything he said,,,,,,, BUT,,,, connect the terminals first and then put the dielectric grease on. Dielectric grease is an insulator.

I would have rather seen you clean the first one. Cleaning a clean one is pretty easy

If only I had all the tools you had

does the silicone dielectric paste also protect from corrosion if is applied over the terminals?

Dialectic grease or paste is actually an insulator it does not conduct electricity. Look it up for yourself.

I have CRC Battery Cleaner, can I use this one to clean the terminals?

I was looking this up because my battery keeps dying over night. Im trying to figure out what to do about it. I want to properly clean the connectors because the positive was very corrosive on mine. I was thinking of looking for the fuse to the auto door locks and pull that, see if itll help because my door locks at random times.

Wow 😳😳😳

Does the baking soda method of cleaning have any issues compared to a spray cleaner? Have a new battery but the terminals will be cleaned as they still have some acid on them.

Standard ignition battery terminal protectors BPP74

Hey does the ncp2 affect if you have to attach a battery charger/maintainer? Ty

have anyone done this before?

What’s the name of the spray battery cleaner?

👍

Could petroleum jelly be used instead of NCP2? Thank you.

You can clean it all you like and make it look brand new - but if the battery is leaking battery acid near the posts, it wont matter how clean it is, it'll still get corroded

Any chance u could list all the products-this is preferred service. Great job

That's a duralast Gold 750 CCA

Good video. I followed your procedure except they didn't have that dialectic grease at Walmart. Hopefully that doesn't make much of a difference.

Bought my 2016 Corolla new and original battery is still in there and terminals are 100% clean, no corrosion. Now I weekly thoroughly wipe off the top of the battery always keeping it clean, is that why I have no corrosion? I have never removed the terminals.

i'm confused. dielectric grease is an insulator.

Can you upload the video without timelapse?

Wd40 it wouldn't also work effectively?

Video begins at 01:08 your welcome.

Why can’t you just spray the Terminals connected? Tell them