Blue stuff on car battery
may be a cause for concern if you don’t know what it is. It is unmissable knowledge if you want to make sure that your engine stays in top condition.
This is because the blue stuff is actually corrosion and, if left unattended for an extended time, it can significantly damage your car battery. Suppose you don’t know how to identify and remove it. This article has been written to help you to understand the steps to do precisely that in the most straightforward manner possible!
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How To Know the Cause of Corrosion on a Car Battery?
You can know the cause of corrosion on a car battery by checking for the relevant symptoms and reasons.
These causes can include high temperatures, loose connections, and wiring, problems when trying to charge the battery, and wet or moist surroundings.
1. High Temperatures
Corrosion is not a rare problem that can affect the performance and lifespan of a car’s battery. Many factors contribute to the development of corrosion in a car battery. High temperatures, for example, can cause the electrolyte in your car battery to evaporate, leading to an increased risk of corrosion.
2. Issues With Charging
Both overcharging and undercharging can also cause damage to the battery’s internal components, which can lead to corrosion. Additionally, if you don’t drive your car often, the battery can become discharged, leading to an increased risk of decay.
3. Surroundings
Not only this but environmental factors play a major role in developing corrosion in a car battery. If your car’s engine compartment is dirty or wet, it can cause the battery to corrode faster. Dirt and moisture can cause a build-up of grime and debris on the battery, leading to corrosion. This is why cleaning your battery regularly and keeping it dry is essential.
4. Loose Connections
Lastly, loose or corroded battery connections can also contribute to the development of corrosion. Corroded connections can cause poor electrical conductivity, preventing your car from starting. This can also lead to further deterioration on the battery. Therefore, it is essential to check your battery connections regularly and ensure they are tight and corrosion-free.
How To Remove the Corrosion From a Car Battery?
To remove corrosion from car batteries, you may make a DIY solution with baking soda and water. You can also purchase a commercial cleaner or even use Coca-Cola as a cleaner. Alternatively, you might need professional cleaning if the corrosion is too bad.
1. Baking Soda and Water Solution
There are several methods for removing corrosion. One of the most affordable ones involves using a baking soda and water solution.
To begin with, gather the necessary materials, which consist of baking soda, water, a brush or cloth, and gloves for protection. Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with one cup of water and stir until the baking soda dissolves completely. Next, wear gloves to protect your skin from contact with any battery acid or other hazardous substances.
Using the brush or cloth, apply the baking soda and water solution to the corroded areas of the battery. Cover the rusty spots and scrub gently until the corrosion is removed. If the decay is particularly stubborn, you may need to apply solution more than once.
Once the corrosion has been removed, rinse the battery thoroughly with water to remove any leftover solution and baking soda residue. Ensure to rinse off any surrounding areas of the car to avoid damage to any components. Finally, you can make use of a clean cloth to properly dry the battery and surrounding areas.
2. Commercial Battery Cleaner
Several types of battery cleaners are available in the market, each with its unique formula designed to dissolve and remove corrosion from the battery. Commercial battery cleaners often contain a combination of chemicals that work together to break down and dissolve the corrosion on the battery.
These chemicals are typically quite potent and can effectively remove even the most stubborn decay. They are also formulated to help prevent future erosion from occurring, which can help prolong the life of your car battery. Using a commercial battery cleaner is usually a straightforward process.
Spray the cleaner onto the corroded areas of the battery and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the chemicals to do their work. Then, rinse the battery with water to remove any remaining cleaner and dry it with a clean cloth. The result is often a battery that looks and performs like new, free from the harmful effects of corrosion.
3. Coca-Cola
Using Coca-Cola to remove corrosion from a car battery might seem surprising. Still, it can be an effective and affordable method. The reason is that this particular soft drink contains phosphoric acid, which is a weak acid that can break down the corrosion on the battery.
Pour some Coca-Cola onto the corroded areas of the battery and let it sit for several minutes. The acid in the drink will react with the corrosion, making it easier to remove. Then, utilize a brush or cloth to scrub the corroded areas, removing the decay from the battery. Afterward, rinse the battery with water and dry everything off with a clean cloth to prevent further corrosion.
4. Professional Cleaning
While superficial corrosion can be cleaned with household items like baking soda and Coca-Cola, severe decay requires professional attention. This is where a skilled mechanic can come in handy. They have the expertise, tools, and chemicals to effectively remove the corrosion and prevent further damage to your battery.
Severe corrosion can lead to reduced battery life and even complete battery failure. So, seeking the help of a professional mechanic will not only save you time and effort and save you money in the long run by preventing the need for an expensive battery replacement. Additionally, a mechanic can also perform a thorough inspection of the battery and electrical system to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
How to Avoid Future Corrosion on a Car Battery?
To avoid future corrosion on a car battery, you need to make sure that it is always properly maintained and cleaned. Apart from this, it also requires to be in a safe, dry and cool place, and all its connections must be secure.
1. Regular Cleaning
By cleaning the battery regularly, you can prevent the build-up of dirt and debris, preventing corrosion.
Using a brush or cloth to clean the battery and terminals is a simple and effective way to keep them clean.
Once the battery is pure, applying a battery protectant spray to the terminals can help prevent corrosion from forming. Battery protectant sprays contain a unique formula that creates a protective barrier on the terminals, preventing moisture and other elements from causing decay.
2. Keeping It Dry
Moreover, moisture happens to be one of the main culprits for corrosion on a car battery. It is essential to keep your battery dry to prevent decay from forming. One technique to achieve this is to ensure your engine compartment is free of water and other liquids. Check for any leaks in the engine compartment that could cause water or other liquids to pool around the battery.
If you find any leaks, it would be ideal to take care of them immediately to prevent further damage to your battery. You may also protect the battery by keeping the hood closed when it is not in use. This will help prevent rainwater and other sources of moisture from getting inside the engine compartment and coming into contact with the battery.
3. Ensuring Proper Connections
Over time, the battery cables can become loose or corroded, leading to poor electrical conductivity and potentially causing your car not to start. To prevent something like this, make sure to inspect the battery cables and connections regularly to make sure they are tight and free of any visible signs of corrosion.
To check your battery cables and connections, inspect them visually for any signs of wear, damage, or corrosion. If you notice any sort of problems, address them as soon as possible. Next, ensure the cables are securely fastened to the battery terminals. If they are loose, use a wrench to tighten them. It’s important to avoid over tightening the connections, which can damage the battery terminals.
If you notice any signs of corrosion, cleaning it off as soon as possible is essential to prevent further damage to the battery cables and connections.
4. Using Dielectric Grease
Dielectric grease is a silicone-based lubricant commonly used to protect electrical connections and components from moisture, dirt, and other contaminants. It is particularly effective at preventing corrosion, which can cause electrical connections to weaken or fail over time.
To apply dielectric grease to your car battery terminals and connections, clean the surfaces with a wire brush or cloth to remove dirt or debris. Then, apply some grease to the terminals and connectors. Be careful not to over-apply the oil, as too much can lead to excess build-up and interfere with the electrical conductivity.
5. Installing a Battery Terminal
A battery terminal cover is an essential component that helps protect your car’s battery from environmental factors that can lead to corrosion and other types of damage. These covers are usually made of plastic or rubber materials and are designed to fit snugly over your battery terminals. They provide a barrier that shields the battery terminals from moisture, dust, and other elements that can cause damage to the terminals over time.
While some newer car models come with these covers pre-installed, many older models may still need them. In such cases, purchasing a terminal battery cover at an auto parts store is recommended. These covers are affordable and easy to install. They can help prevent the build-up of corrosion and other forms of damage to your battery terminals.
Conclusion
After reading our detailed guide, you will learn that the blue material on a car battery results from corrosion caused by exposure to moisture and other environmental factors. While it is unsightly and can cause damage to your battery the longer it is left unattended, you know a variety of methods that
you can utilize to remove it with ease and safety.
- You can make solution with baking soda and water to scrub the corroded areas of the battery.
- You can also utilize commercial battery cleaner spray to dissolve and remove corrosion.
- Alternatively, you may also use Coca-Cola to pour on corroded areas, scrub, and rinse with water to remove corrosion.
- Seek professional cleaning for severe corrosion to prevent battery failure
- Regular cleaning, keeping it dry, and ensuring proper connections help prevent decay on car batteries in the long run.
You don’t need to worry if the corrosion is in its early stages, where it can be removed easily. As long as you handle the battery carefully and follow the steps for the given techniques while taking reasonable precautions, we are confident that you will be able to remove the corrosion in no time!
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