Upon opening the hood last w/e while changing oil and fuel filters, I noticed said topic heading on top of the left battery. Said "This isn't good". Spoke w/ dealer and asked if battery was covered under warranty and he said yes but (always is isn't there?) only if battery is kaput. I can bring it by and they can do a load test and I could also opt for them to do a battery service to the tune of 30 bucks to clean the posts/terminals. Anyways, am not sure what would cause the crud to be there and what do you all think?

ACZL wrote:Upon opening the hood last w/e while changing oil and fuel filters, I noticed said topic heading on top of the left battery. Said "This isn't good". Spoke w/ dealer and asked if battery was covered under warranty and he said yes but (always is isn't there?) only if battery is kaput. I can bring it by and they can do a load test and I could also opt for them to do a battery service to the tune of 30 bucks to clean the posts/terminals. Anyways, am not sure what would cause the crud to be there and what do you all think?That is from gases escaping, typically from a very small crack.The quick way to get rid of that stuff is a garden hose and nozzle.The better way is a mixture of baking soda and water, applied liberally with an old paint brush (or auto parts cleaning brush) until it stops foaming and rinse well.The best preventive solution is, when dry, to remove each terminal from the post, and place a generous "glob" of Vaseline on the post and around each edge. This is typically where the gases leak from and the Vaseline will prevent them from escaping.

theoldwizard1 wrote:...The better way is a mixture of baking soda and water, ...The best preventive solution is, ... a generous "glob" of Vaseline ... Agree. This has worked and worked well, I think, since batteries were created. My dad taught me this exact same thing when I was about 7 years old. I'm 64 now. And over the years, I've used my share of baking soda.

That type of buildup is from a leaking battery. There is a small crack around the battery post that is allowing the gasses to escape and the resulting crud buildup. Tell them the battery is leaking. They have a failure code for that and can replace a leaking battery even though the battery may test good. And tell them to replace both so the system functions properly.

yep defective battery,it has a leak, if they won,t change it, clean, then put a little goop around the post let dry for a day. it stopped mine from gassing off.

The 'goop' I use is di-electric grease, not vaseline. Never heard of anyone (dealer) replacing a battery from gassing off and leaking around the terminals but maybe in California where anything is possible.

Battery acid crud on top of battery | Good Sam Community

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Aug 21, 2019
The 'goop' I use is di-electric grease, not vaseline. Never heard of anyone (dealer) replacing a battery from gassing off and leaking around the terminals but maybe in California where anything is possible.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2019
yep defective battery,it has a leak, if they won,t change it, clean, then put a little goop around the post let dry for a day. it stopped mine from gassing off.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2019
That type of buildup is from a leaking battery. There is a small crack around the battery post that is allowing the gasses to escape and the resulting crud buildup. Tell them the battery is leaking. They have a failure code for that and can replace a leaking battery even though the battery may test good. And tell them to replace both so the system functions properly.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 21, 2019
theoldwizard1 wrote:
...
The better way is a mixture of baking soda and water, ...

The best preventive solution is, ... a generous "glob" of Vaseline ...

Agree. This has worked and worked well, I think, since batteries were created. My dad taught me this exact same thing when I was about 7 years old. I'm 64 now. And over the years, I've used my share of baking soda.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2019
ACZL wrote:
Upon opening the hood last w/e while changing oil and fuel filters, I noticed said topic heading on top of the left battery. Said "This isn't good". Spoke w/ dealer and asked if battery was covered under warranty and he said yes but (always is isn't there?) only if battery is kaput. I can bring it by and they can do a load test and I could also opt for them to do a battery service to the tune of 30 bucks to clean the posts/terminals. Anyways, am not sure what would cause the crud to be there and what do you all think?

That is from gases escaping, typically from a very small crack.

The quick way to get rid of that stuff is a garden hose and nozzle.

The better way is a mixture of baking soda and water, applied liberally with an old paint brush (or auto parts cleaning brush) until it stops foaming and rinse well.

The best preventive solution is, when dry, to remove each terminal from the post, and place a generous "glob" of Vaseline on the post and around each edge. This is typically where the gases leak from and the Vaseline will prevent them from escaping.

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Battery acid crud on top of battery

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