Batteries and Vaseline

[TomG2]

Anything wrong with the old habit of using Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) on battery terminals to protect them from corrosion?

[udidwht]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
🙂

Use Dielectric Grease. Far batter Than Super Lube

🙂

I have tried no less than fifty compounds. Anything without sulfur works great. Most are stupidly overpriced.

Dielectric grease does something special. It does not liquify and slop all over the top of a battery.

The comment about gas escaping between post and lid is most correct. For many years of permanent sealing use those felt ring post washers but work in a quantify of silicone dielectric grease into the felt.

From the school of frustration and hard knocks 🙂

Super Lube is dielectric.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

🙂

Use Dielectric Grease. Far batter Than Super Lube

🙂

I have tried no less than fifty compounds. Anything without sulfur works great. Most are stupidly overpriced.

Dielectric grease does something special. It does not liquify and slop all over the top of a battery.

The comment about gas escaping between post and lid is most correct. For many years of permanent sealing use those felt ring post washers but work in a quantify of silicone dielectric grease into the felt.

From the school of frustration and hard knocks 🙂

[Naio]

Huh. Well ya learn something new every day. I guess I better check my fiamms.

[udidwht]

Use Super Lube. Far better than Vaseline.

http://www.super-lube.com/

[theoldwizard1]

TomG2 wrote:

I was surprised and disappointed to discover corrosion on the terminal of a lightly used AGM battery. (Positive terminal only)

Corrosion around the terminals of any type of lead acid battery is caused by gases leaking out around the terminal. A thick coating of grease around the terminal will prevent this. Clean the entire outer battery with baking soda and water and rinse with water before applying the grease.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Batteries that corrode have lost the recombinant ability. Gas and they lose water from the mat. Within time-frame they are eligible for warranty. Even Lifelines can corrode if they are conditioned to the point of venting. BUT THEY WILL RE-SEAL.

Or to put it another way: Why spend the money for a sealed battery if it does not seal?

Gas seal failures is the mark of an inferior AGM. No battery is 100.000000% perfect. The good ones have almost negligible percentage failures.

[pigman1]

TomG2 wrote:

marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:

In my case I just went with AGM. No more water checks or corrosion.

I was surprised and disappointed to discover corrosion on the terminal of a lightly used AGM battery. (Positive terminal only)

I'd expect that when the wire was tightened on to the post, it was over-torqued. I had a Lifeline do that and they was replaced it with a new one. We've had 18 Lifelines in 3 different coaches and other than the problem I stated, we've NEVER had any corrosion. Blow them off once or twice a year with the air hose and good to go.

[Naio]

Orly? My gel cells on my ice machine have had a tendency to corrosion of the terminals for many years. I haven't been pushing them to their limits lately, so I don't know how much the limit may have changed, but I'm still happy with them.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Like using mosquito netting and finding elephants stomping in and out. Those cells are reombinant meaning they absolutely must remain GAS PROOF. Even under pressure.

[TomG2]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Acid? Or tarnish? If acid, the battery is failed. Utterly and completely.

A small whitish brown powder that easily brushed off with a toothbrush. The 35 ah agm battery will hold a charge and runs a small fan all day long.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Acid? Or tarnish? If acid, the battery is failed. Utterly and completely.

[TomG2]

marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:

In my case I just went with AGM. No more water checks or corrosion.

I was surprised and disappointed to discover corrosion on the terminal of a lightly used AGM battery. (Positive terminal only)

[theoldwizard1]

No problem. Pretty much any grease will work. Be liberal ! Best to remove the cables and do around the the posts and then replace the cables and do them.

[Lwiddis]

Spray is easier. My old habit is the easy one that works.