Car batteries are operated in rather harsh conditions associated with large temperature drops, vibration, exposure to aggressive environments and other adverse factors. In this regard, they often have various problems and problems. One of the most common problems with car batteries is the oxidation of their contact terminals.
Curbing
Reasons for oxidation of battery terminals
Problems related to poor contact are the most common cause of damage to any electrical equipment. The appearance of oxides on the contacts of the battery is harmful to the electrical equipment of the car and may indicate a problem in the battery.
A small oxide on metal surfaces inevitably appears as a result of the interaction of their surface with atmospheric oxygen and other reagents. Therefore, even a very high-quality electrical contact deteriorates over time due to natural oxidation processes. In addition, if the contacts are made of different metals, a galvanic potential difference arises between them, which also leads to premature oxidation of the surface.
With the appearance of additional aggressive factors or improper fixation of the terminals, conduction disturbances and oxides of the contact pads can very quickly occur.
Excessive oxidation of car battery terminals typically occurs for four reasons:
- corrosive effect when electrolyte vapors leak from the damaged battery case (electrochemical corrosion) - this oxide is white;
- poor contact at the junction of the battery terminals with the car's conductors due to weak tightening, high humidity in the engine compartment and dirt entering the unsecured gap, which leads to arcing and burning of the contact point, leading to blackening;
- moisture in the engine compartment oxidizes the copper contained in the terminal - because of this, a greenish coating and rust appears;
- the battery contact is made of lead, and the car wiring conductor is made of another metal (copper or brass), which leads to a chemical reaction between them - the color of the oxide may be greenish.
Oxides that appear for these reasons can appear on both battery electrodes. Due to the small design differences of these contacts, the frequency of their appearance on each electrode is slightly different.
Why is the positive terminal on the battery oxidized?
The positive terminal on most cars is covered with a plastic cover, which contributes to the accumulation of condensation under it. In case of poor tightness of the battery from exposure to high temperatures during engine operation, as well as when it is severely overcharged, electrolyte vapors leak. Acid particles from these vapors concentrate over time under the insulating cover in the area of \u200b\u200bthe positive terminal and lead to its oxidation.
At the same time, due to the fact that the positive electrode is covered with a lid, less external contamination gets into the junction, which reduces the likelihood of poor contact, arcing and associated blackening.
Thus, on the plus side, the appearance of white oxide is likely, associated with the leakage of electrolyte vapors.
Why is the negative terminal of the battery oxidized?
The negative terminal of the battery is more susceptible to external influences because it does not have a protective cover. Because of this, acid vapors of the electrolyte condense less on it, but more dust and dirt gets into it. All this leads to a more rapid deterioration of the electrical contact of the battery cathode with the wiring, the appearance of small spark discharges during engine starts, which ultimately lead to burnout and blackening of the contact surface.
These problems most often occur when connecting a battery with initially dirty contacts and loosely tightening them.
What can lead to oxidation of the terminals
Over time, the resistance at the site of the oxidized contacts becomes so great that most of the battery current is lost on it, and the starter cannot rotate. In this regard, it will be impossible to start the car engine.
The metal of the oxidized terminals becomes chipped, the contact surface area decreases, which will worsen the conductivity even after they are cleaned and will contribute to the more rapid appearance of oxides during further operation. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly conduct a visual inspection of the battery terminals and carry out preventive measures related to eliminating bad contacts and plaque by cleaning them, as well as lubricating the terminals to protect them from oxidation.
If a whitish acid coating appears due to a violation of the integrity of the battery case, then it must be replaced. This is due to the fact that cracks in the battery case from vibrations and shocks during the operation of the car will only increase over time, which will lead to the ingress of acid electrolyte into the engine compartment with the ensuing disastrous consequences.
The appearance of green plaque on the contacts may indicate high humidity in the parking lot of the car, which can lead to corrosion of its other metal parts.
How to identify signs of terminal oxidation
Oxidation of the battery contacts can be determined both by visual inspection and by indirect signs associated with a decrease in the starting current at the car's starter and a decrease in the brightness of lighting devices.
Visual inspection is associated with the search for microcracks, loosening of the electrodes, traces of electrolyte leakage, the presence of dirt on the ventilation holes. If you are confident that the battery is fully charged, but the engine is cranking slightly with the starter, the cause may be poor contact with the battery.
In order to determine whether the whitish coating is acidic, it is necessary and, using protective gloves, to rinse the contacts and the battery case with a weak solution of soda (up to 10%) in warm water, and then wipe it dry. When an alkaline solution hits the acid, a reaction will occur, accompanied by hiss and heat.
Unfortunately, sometimes motorists are faced with difficulties when starting the engine. The "problem" is not always associated with engine malfunctions. Much more often this happens due to oxidation of the battery terminals. You can clean them yourself and at the same time quickly enough.
The first thing to do if the engine is running is to shut it off. This will eliminate the possibility of accidental shorting of the wiring. Then you need to understand how the battery leads are located:
- They can be located on the sides of the battery. In this case, to remove them, you need a key for 8.
- The terminals can be located at the top of the battery, then a 13 or 10 key is required.
The next step is to loosen the nut on the negative and positive wiring terminals. After that, you need to remove the terminals from the battery terminals. It is advisable to check the battery for electrolyte leakage and cracks. If defects are found, completely replace the battery. You need to do the same with the wires and the terminals themselves. During operation, they can wear out.
Then we take a special spray or a composition-cleaner for the battery terminals, it can be purchased at virtually any auto store in Moscow. It is advisable to choose products that have a specific acid indicator. They are the most comfortable to use. We apply this substance to the terminals and, if necessary, gently clean it using improvised items, such as a toothbrush or fine sandpaper. All that remains is to rinse off the remaining solution or spray with clean water, and then wipe the treated area dry. For reliability, experts recommend lubricating all open metal parts of the terminals with technical vaseline or a protective compound. After that, we connect the terminals to the battery terminals.
Terminal oxidation - a similar problem has arisen for almost every experienced motorist and not only. In fact, such a terminal is covered with a coating that prevents the battery from working correctly. As it accumulates, plaque can lead to the fact that the car does. And this is especially true in winter - in cold weather. Sometimes oxidation is so intense that plaque completely covers the terminal.
White bloom on the terminals is a sure sign of oxidation
That is why contacts need to be cleaned periodically. But eliminating only the consequences of the problem will not solve. It is necessary to look for the cause of this phenomenon.
Causes of terminal oxidation
1. Electrolyte leakage is by far the most common problem. The electrolyte is an acid that, when it hits the surface of the terminal, enters into a chemical reaction with it, as a result of which oxidation begins.
As a rule, such problems are uncommon. After all, these are closed-type batteries in which the electrolyte is in a sealed container, where it evaporates and precipitates. However, the battery is designed to prevent it from being released into the environment.
However, as the battery wears out, its body cracks and electrolyte in the form of vapor begins to escape into these microcracks. So it settles directly on the terminal, as a result of which a reaction begins. A similar phenomenon should be considered by the car owner as a sign of malfunction and deterioration of the battery.
If the battery terminal is not fully tightened, this can cause its oxidation.
2. Tightening the terminal - such situations periodically arise. This means that the owners of the car simply put a terminal on the electrode, after which they immediately sit behind the wheel, without tightening it with bolts. Insufficient quality fixation leads to poor contact and oxidation at the electrode and terminal. In this case, it is enough to remove the terminal, clean both it and the electrode with high quality, then put it on and tighten it well. Only not with all your might, otherwise you can rip off the fasteners.
In this case, it is necessary to wield 2 keys at once, one of them, and the other to hold the bolt. But it is not recommended to pull with all the strength on one side, because this is fraught with deformation of the plastic. You should also be wary of another common problem - the gradual loosening of the pin termination. This occurs as a result of poor-quality dismantling of the clamps from the wires. Therefore, you need to accurately dose the effort.
Oxidation effects
They manifest themselves in a noticeable deterioration of the spot and the quality of contact. As a result, the battery is not able to charge and work properly. Subsequently, this will lead to serious discharges of the battery, which has an extremely negative effect on it. In addition, this is reflected in a complicated, if not completely lack of response to turning the key.
Ways to combat oxidation of battery terminals
Emery cleaning
In general, the method is simple and straightforward. It can be done with a wire brush or sandpaper. First you need to remove the terminal from the electrode. Complications may arise with this, because the formed plaque interferes with work. Further, armed with sandpaper (but only fine) or a metal brush, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the contact point between the electrode and the terminal. Particular attention should be paid to the inner surface of the terminal. It is required to clean to a shine, but also not to overdo it.
Video: How to lubricate the battery terminals?
Petrol
Part of motorists to remove plaque. They moisten a cloth with it, and then wipe the terminals and electrodes until the plaque is removed. However, using this method requires caution. After all, gasoline belongs to the category of flammable liquids. And it is also necessary to prevent it from getting on plastic or rubber components, because gasoline is a solvent. Consequently, it can damage plastic and rubber.
Anti-oxidation methods
To begin with, it is required to clearly determine whether electrolyte passes through the electrodes. If the answer is yes, it is necessary to exclude this factor.
Replacement
This is the most radical method of solving the problem. However, not everyone is ready to go straight for a new battery pack. However, this method is the only one if there is a break in the electrode attachment. In this case, the passage of electrolyte is guaranteed.
Something else useful for you:
Insulation
To do this, you can use both the proven "old-fashioned" method, and modern solutions.
Video: Oxidizing Battery Terminals
Many car owners know that if you arm yourself with a felt ring and soak it with engine oil, you can successfully solve the oxidation problem. As a result, the formation of an oiled layer occurs, due to which evaporation of the electrolyte is excluded, and no plaque appears on the contacts. The implementation of this method is extremely simple - you need to put one ring of felt soaked in oil on the battery electrode, then fix the terminal, and put another ring on top. But engine oil isn't your only option. Instead, it is allowed to use technical petroleum jelly, solid oil or another insulating substance.
You can take a more modern way. It implies the use of not a simple motor oil, but a special impregnation - "electric fat". A similar tool was originally developed to protect the battery terminals.
Outcome
In order to prolong the successful and uninterrupted functioning of the battery, it is necessary not only to combat oxidation and plaque formation on the terminals, but also to eliminate the cause of this phenomenon in time. All this will greatly facilitate starting the engine in cold weather.
A charged storage battery is a sure start of the engine and error-free operation of electronic devices on a trip. In this case, the power source must not only be charged, but also properly distribute.
Energy comes in and out of the battery through two terminals, which are constantly under the influence of an electric current when the engine is running. The terminals are made of lead and in an acidic environment they can be coated with an oxide layer. This leads to the fact that the connection of the battery with other elements of the car loses reliability. It must be restored as soon as possible, for which it will be necessary to clean the terminals from the formed oxide and protect them from further chemical reactions.
If a white coating has formed on the battery terminals, it should not only be removed as soon as possible, but also the cause that leads to oxidation of the contacts should be established. There are two most common causes of oxidized battery terminals:
Please note that you should not tighten the battery terminals with excessive force - this can lead to deformation of the terminals themselves or the appearance of cracks on the battery. If the battery terminals are oxidized due to a poor connection, they must be cleaned, also remove the white coating from the electrode, and then reinstall the terminal and secure it well so that a similar problem does not arise in the future.
Whatever problem contributes to the oxidation of the battery terminals, first of all it is necessary to remove the white plaque, and then solve the issue with the cause of its formation.
How to remove white deposits on battery terminals
White bloom on the battery terminals is oxidized lead, which must be wiped off so that the electrode and contact can interact with each other again. Since both elements of the chain are hard metal surfaces, they can be simply cleaned without special rules and without fear of damage. To do this, use:
- Sandpaper. This method is simple, and almost everyone has sandpaper, and it perfectly erases oxidation. Before starting the process of stripping the terminal and electrode, be sure to turn off the engine completely and remove the ignition key. After that, you can start stripping. It is better to use coarse sandpaper so that the work does not take tens of minutes. It is necessary to clean the terminal and electrode to a shiny state.
- Petrol. A less convenient way to remove white deposits from the terminals and electrode. Gasoline is good at attacking oxides, but the problem is that it can get on plastic or rubber components, and this will affect their strength. If you decide to clean the battery terminals with gasoline, moisten a cloth with it and rub until oxidation is completely removed.
In automotive stores, you can buy special products that are positioned as an ideal solution for removing white deposits from terminals and an electrode. They are a commonplace solvent, and you should not spend money on the purchase of such chemicals.
After removing the oxidation fragments from the battery and terminals, you need to take action to avoid the appearance of white deposits in the future. The most reliable option is to replace the battery, but the problem may reappear in six months, a year or two, and it is economically impractical to constantly change the battery.
The correct option is to isolate the terminals from places of possible evaporation or splashing of electrolyte on them. You can protect the lead element in the "old-fashioned way" by putting felt rings soaked in oil on the electrodes. If there are no such elements at hand, in any store with automotive chemicals you can purchase a special grease that is applied to the terminals and prevents oxidation from appearing on them.
To avoid this problem, you should periodically review the contacts and, if necessary, clean them. However, simply cleaning the terminals does not always solve the problem, so it is best to look for the root cause of oxidation.
Reasons for oxidation of battery terminals
If you have such a problem, the first step is to find the reason why the terminals on the car battery are oxidizing. There may be several reasons:
- The development of the battery life when the seal rods are already dry.
- Filled electrolyte leaking. The most common reason. Since the electrolyte is an acid and its contact with the contacts is associated with a reaction, as a result of which the oxidation process occurs.
- Electrolyte that has an invalid density reading. To avoid such situations, when replacing it, only the ready-made composition should be used. It is not recommended to independently measure the components to the established proportions.
- Terminal tightening. Loose attachment of the electrode to the terminal gives poor contact, causing a reaction. This situation can be corrected by cleaning the electrode and terminal. Put everything in place and tighten it well, but do not overdo it, as there is a chance of ripping off the fasteners.
Experienced drivers have encountered this problem more than once, so they can easily explain why the positive or negative terminal of the battery is oxidized.
Most often, the negative terminal of the battery is oxidized. The main cause of oxides is battery wear. Microcracks begin to appear in its body, from which electrolyte is actively oozing, the vapors of which are converted into oxides.
In this case, the negative terminal needs to be periodically cleaned to a shine, although most drivers remove only oxides without touching the lead. This is wrong, because if the contacts are unscrewed, then they must be processed in the most careful way.
Why is the positive terminal on the battery oxidized? There are just two answers:
- Systematic recharging of the battery, as a result of which the electrolyte overheats and begins to evaporate.
- Somewhere there was a violation of the tightness of the battery case, which requires prompt intervention in the situation, since the acid can even eat through the case over time.
Oxidation of battery terminals - symptoms and signs
One of the most obvious and common signs of terminal oxidation is the dim, not bright light of headlights, side lights, brake lights, turn signals when the battery is fully charged. It is also possible to oxidize the terminal if, if necessary, start the car and the starter does not "grab" the first time or it turns the crankshaft very hard, as if the battery is discharged, although in reality it is not.
How and how to clean the battery terminals
The white coating on the battery terminals is oxidized lead, which must be wiped off for the electrode and contact to interact. Since these chain elements are metal surfaces, they are intensively cleaned without fear of damage and without following special rules.
There are many ways to clean the battery terminals. It is possible to quickly and effectively remove white plaque both with chemical reagents available in the retail network, and with improvised means. The most effective and accessible methods are:
- Sandpaper. Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition before stripping the terminals and electrode. So that this process does not take much time, for these purposes it is better to use sandpaper with the largest grain size. This method is quite simple, and sandpaper perfectly erases traces of oxidation and almost everyone has it. It is necessary to clean the electrode and terminal to a shiny state.
- You can use a soda solution to remove the remaining acid from the terminals. If the acid is in contact with metal, small bubbles will appear during the processing of the terminals. The ratio of soda and water: 1 tbsp. spoon to glass. After rinsing with such a solution, the remains of soda must be removed from the terminals; for this, it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth.
- Petrol. Less convenient method of cleaning the electrode and terminals from oxidation. Gasoline corrodes oxides well and quickly, but there is a possibility of it getting on rubber or plastic components, which can negatively affect their strength. If you decide to clean the terminals in this way, you need to moisten a rag with gasoline and gently rub the terminals until all traces of oxidation are removed.
Important! It is highly undesirable to use WD cleaners to clean terminals and electrical contacts. In addition to oil, they contain aggressive conductive cleaning agents of unknown composition. Also, acetone should not be used, since it even corrodes metals.
Effective methods for protecting battery terminals
1) Litol, solid oil. To protect the terminals from aggressive effects, solid lubricants have long been used as the main materials - solid oil or lithol, which are non-conductive. As a result of the processes of expansion of contacts, under the influence of temperature, these lubricants penetrate into the intercontact zone, and over time, practically into all cavities of the contact zone.
Moreover, in the process of natural wear and tear, as well as with significant temperature changes, the technical characteristics of solid oil and lithol change - they harden. If you decide to use lithol or solid oil, it is recommended: when cleaning the contact twice a year, a complete replacement of the grease is necessary (removing the old one, applying a new one).
2) Silicone grease. Ideal for handling terminals and electrical connections. However, when buying it, you need to pay attention that there are no conductive additives in the composition (as a rule, manufacturers warn about this).
Such a lubricant not only delays the impact of an aggressive environment, but also repels it. Processing of battery terminals occurs exclusively in complex application with other preventive materials. It is applied to a clean treated surface, after which they begin to connect the parts.
This grease has one drawback that is significant for processing battery terminals - fluidity. The silicone grease leaves contact over time and must be injected regularly during use.
3) Special means. Now on sale there are many tools designed specifically for processing battery terminals. Their tubes have detailed instructions for use. Undoubtedly, such funds are better than using solidol or other questionable substances. They are based on a protective oil environment and, as a rule, it is liquid paraffin. How to lubricate the battery terminals so that they do not oxidize is the choice for the car owner. All the means and the above methods are equally good, it remains only to choose the most acceptable one.
Battery maintenance
To prevent oxidation of the battery terminals from causing a sudden stop of the vehicle, the following work should be carried out regularly:
- external inspection of the surface and contacts of the battery once a month;
- if traces of oxidation are found on the terminals, immediately check the tightness of the battery;
- in the warm season, check the electrolyte level in serviced batteries once a month;
- once every 3-4 months (more often in summer and winter) wipe the battery surface with a dry cloth;
- before the start of the winter season, it is imperative to check the condition of the terminals (how hot they heat up during the start of the motor "cold"), even if there is slight heating, the contacts should be checked and further processed.
Remember that battery problems are a common cause of engine start failure during cold weather. Often this reason lies precisely in the oxidation of the battery terminals. Protecting the battery terminals from oxidation is an important process, so regular monitoring and preventive measures will help avoid this situation.
