The habit of lubricating the terminals of batteries from oxidation was inherited from our grandparents.
Let us try to figure out how effective this measure is whether it is worth it to apply it on modern car batteries at all.
Why the battery terminals are oxidized
It is not entirely true to call the process of formation of an extraneous flying and other manifestations of the destruction of the surface and contacts of the battery terminals purely oxidation. In general, this is a combination of several chemical processes. We define the main.
Natural oxidation
All substances in the air, where many oxygen, come into the oxidation process, or oxidation. Lead, namely from it the battery terminals are made, from this point of view, it is not very good to oxidation, there are more "weak" metals, take the same copper.
However, the non-oxidized lead (brilliant) we can only observe during the stripping of the battery contacts. After a few minutes, she starts to darken, that is, oxidized.
In the natural oxidation of the lead, there is nothing terrible, the lead oxide film is very thin, it is easy to destroy, slightly stirring the terminal. In addition, to allow 100% protection against oxygen is almost impossible, except by placing the battery in the barocamera. Even thick lubricants, like Tosol and solidol, paste oxygen particles.
Acid destruction
This type of chemical reaction leads to the formation of a "snowy" white plaque on the battery terminals. In addition to not quite aesthetic species, the plaque makes an additional transitional resistance at the point of contact, leads to the destruction of the terminals, may be the cause of leaks.
Where does the acid come from? In most cases from the battery. Served batteries have technological holes for filling electrolyte and control its level.
Video - What to do if the battery terminals are oxidized:
Almost all car batteries are equipped with a gas feed system. If the data zones are notchive (the gas trap is always, if the gas feeding tube is not connected to it), during operation, the electrolyte vapor will be released.
This is especially manifested in the warm season, although under the hood of the car it comes even in winter after twenty minutes of movement.
It is even more terrible in terms of an acid emission process of overheating of the battery, especially boiling. This is possible in the following cases:
- destruction of plates of battery elements;
- short circuit of banks of the battery;
- wrong (reload);
- lack of natural cooling AKB in the warm season.
The appearing white raid on the battery terminals is lead chloride. This is a rather aggressive environment, especially for electrical connections. If you do not delete it in time, it "will eat" contact for a couple of months, and in such a way that it may not be subject to restoration.
Salt destruction
Russian roads still sprinkle sodium and potassium salts in winter. The composition of modern funds from icing is an industrial mystery, at least for car enthusiasts.
But all the mixtures in the composition with water vapors and impurities of other substances located on the road, ultimately, envelop all parts of the car, including the contacts of the battery.
Salt plus water is an excellent electrolyte, and where there is electrolyte, metals and electrical stress, there is an electrolysis process. He slowly destroys metal parts.
It is not possible to destroy the massive battery terminal with electrolysis, but it is possible to make a change in the contact zone.
Cleaning as a method of struggle
The easiest and most reliable method is timely removal of the plaque, cleaning the battery terminals.
Technical Council: Whatever you facilitates battery terminals, no less often than once every six months (better at the borders of the winter and summer seasons), clean the terminals mechanically.
It will save you from problems with the start of the engine, leakage processes and the heating of contacts. In order to cleanse them, you need to unscrew the crimp bolts, it is better to completely disconnect the terminals. Then moisten their alcohol-containing liquid and wipe dry.
If there is no one, you can use a solvent, diluted with water. So more fireproof, besides, the aggressiveness of the solvent is reduced.
To remove with the terminals, possible residues of the appeared acid, it is necessary to use a soda solution (a tablespoon of soda on a glass of water). If the acid really came into contact with the metal, in the process of treatment with a sponge moistened in solution, small bubbles will appear. After washing with a soda solution, it is necessary to wipe the terminals with a wet cloth.
In no case should not be used WD to clean. In addition to oil, they contain conductive aggressive cleaning agents of an unknown composition for the consumer of the composition. For processing electrical contacts WD-products are extremely undesirable.
Also cannot be used to process electrical contacts acetone, it eats even metals.
Next, cleaning is carried out with shallow sandwich, it is possible on a paper basis. The preliminary processing of highly polluted terminals can be made by a metal brush. There are special brushes for sale for such work.
Video - How to Clean the Battery Terminals:
The ideal result of work is a brilliant surface, not necessarily perfectly smooth. Lead soft material, so at the time of the crimping terminals contacts the maximum contact will receive.
After carrying out mechanical work on cleaning, a natural question arises: how to maintain the ideal state of contacts in the period between regulatory work? The answer is simple: to protect with the help of various terminals from aggressive substances.
For this, various lubricants and other materials are used.
How to lubric battery terminals from oxidation
Litol, Solidol
Solid lubricants were published as basic materials to protect against aggressive chemical impact: Litol, solidol, fatty lubrication.
To protect the battery terminals, mainly solidol or lithol was used. These are drive-cutting lubricants.
As a result of the processes of temperature expansion of contacts and mechanical compounds, these lubricants gradually penetrate into the cross-contact zone. Over time, it penetrates almost all internal cavities of the contact area.
In addition, at large temperature drops, as well as in the process of natural wear, the technical characteristics of litol and solidol change: they solidify. As a result, it is simultaneously possible a disruption of electrical contact.
Silicone Grease
Great lubricant in all respects for processing electrical connections. But only when it is purchased, you should pay attention to it to be without conductive additives (manufacturers usually warn on the bottle).
Lubricant is characterized by the fact that it does not just delay the aggressive media, she repels them. It's like a fur coat that pushes the cold.
For processing battery terminals, lubricant is suitable only for complex use with other materials. It is applied to the treated clean surfaces, then begin to mechanically connect the parts.
The main lack of lubricant in terms of processing batteries terminals - fluidity. Over time, silicone grease leaves contact.
If you use silicone lubricant, it is necessary to regularly produce it injecting, then the lubricant does not fall into place from the check-in zone. A little troublesome.
Graphite lubricant
Some motorists used graphite lubricant to handle contacts, justifying its use by conductive properties. However, this lubricant has a high resistivity and in the absence of metal electrical contact terminals, having skipping a high current through itself, can lead to heating and even ignition.
Apply graphite lubricant for processing drive terminals it is impossible!!!
Special means
Now there are many funds specifically designed to handle the terminals of automotive batteries. We will not describe the benefits of using concrete brands, manufacturers with this themselves do well.
Video - what can lubricate the battery terminals so that they do not oxidize (MS-1710 tool):
On tubes of these processing tools, there are instructions for their use. Of course, such funds are better than the Dedovsky solidol, although they are also based on an oil medium, as a rule, vaseline oil.
Very comfortable lubricants in the form of spray.
The process of applying protective funds for contacts AKB
Deciding with the material for the protective coating, proceed to applying it. To do this, first produce mechanical cleaning (see above).
After the terminals are cleaned, it is better to pre-process the contact zones with silicone lubrication.
Which is better? Here, the opinions of auto electricians diverge. In favor of the first, the fact that under the terminal in any case has air cavities, if the lubricant will fall into these places, it will only be better.
However, if you do frequent disconnection of the terminals, for example, to recharge the battery, it is better for the lubrication terminals not to apply.
When using branded lubricants, the instruction will indicate how to apply them.
Almost every car enthusiast heard or personally faced such a concept as the oxidation of the battery terminals. The essence of this phenomenon is a chemical process that causes a characteristic flaw and makes it difficult to work the battery. In this article, we will talk about the reasons and consequences of this unpleasant process, as well as give several valuable tips. Practically, every car enthusiast heard or personally faced with such a concept as the oxidation of the battery terminals. The essence of this phenomenon is a chemical process that causes a characteristic flaw and makes it difficult to work the battery. In this article we will talk about the reasons and consequences of this unpleasant process, as well as give several valuable tips.
So, battery oxidation And his terminals are a process that sooner or later comes in any car battery. Most often this happens in cold and wet weather, which contributes to the spread and increase in the intensity of the chemical reaction on the surface of the contacts. You ask, but what does such a state of AKB promise? The result of oxidation is a complete or partial refusal of the car. He simply cease to start, and you will not be able to continue the operation of the car.
In order to get rid of the tax on the terminals of the battery, it is enough to clean the special brush, as well as lubricate the contacts with antioxidant lubrication. However, sometimes it will be not enough, because the root of the problem can be hidden in a completely different place.
Reasons for the oxidation of battery contacts:
1. A frequent and easy-corrected reason is weak contact between the terminal and the battery electrode. The motorists are very often just put on the Ring of the terminal on the battery and begin to operate the car, not even thinking that it is necessary to carry out the appropriate tightening bolts. In this case, you just need to remove the terminal and clean it with a brush, then put on and high qualityly tighten. Try not to resort to excessive efforts not to thread the thread.
2.
A common cause of the oxidation of the battery is the leakage or the leakage of the electrolyte - acid, which is inside the battery. Possessing certain properties, it falls on the metal terminals and excites the chemical reaction, which is the consequence of the characteristic white-colored row. If this happens, then you need to think about the replacement of the battery, because its tightness is broken. New battery. It reduces various electrolyte leaks. 
IMPORTANT: the consequences of oxidative processes in the battery is the imperative engine launch, due to the weak contact between the terminal and the electrode. The area of \u200b\u200bcontact decreases significantly, and the resistance increases, which does not allow the current to flow normally in the vehicle electrical system.
Output
If you encountered the fact that the auto does not start and weakly light indicators on the instruments, first of all check the quality of the contacts on the battery, and also timely carry out the maintenance of your iron horse.
Hello to all readers! Rechargeable battery - device demanding to operating conditions. And besides, it is capable of periodically presenting surprises. One of them is the appearance of white plaque on contacts. Many motorists do not know why the battery terminals are oxidized and what to do to avoid it. Let's deal with it. And at the same time, find out what to lubricate the battery terminals and how to wash it.
What is bad oxidation
Most of the inexpensive accomplices of acb are suffering from one unpleasant disease - the terminals can be oxidized. On the contacts it is formed a white casheaking hat, which makes it difficult to contact the battery with a car power grid. What's bad about it? As you know, the battery is charging from the generator. If the contact is oxidized - there will be a permanent subwoofer and one day, the car simply does not start.
In addition, with oxidized terminals, even the charged battery may not cope with the needs of the car. And the reduced voltage is generally pernicably affected by any electrical appliances. Those. Contact, by definition, should be good.
Causes of plaque
So, if a minus or plus terminal is oxidized on the battery, you need to deal with reasons. Treat the consequences later. Moreover, it is possible to fight them to infinity. Rather, until the moment when the battery fails.
Oxidation of battery terminals Reason:
- Electrolyte leakage on contacts.
- Eating vapor electrolyte on terminals.
- Problems with electric car.
By the way, the easiest way to check the cause of oxidation is to sprinkle the contact conclusions of the battery. Or wipe them with a damp cloth moistened in its solution. What will it give? I am expressed by a simple language - soda gives sulfuric acid. Therefore, if there is an electrolyte on the surface of the battery - the reaction will go. It is usually expressed in a light hiss.
Elimination of leaks
The weak point of any battery is its current conclusions. Most often cracks through which the electrolyte seeps, appear in these places. Causes are simple:
- mechanical damage - Conclusions are tritely loosened during the connection to the vehicle. Especially suffering from this black Tyumen - a minus battery terminal is cleared on them very quickly;
- low quality battery case.
So, if the battery terminals are oxidized - what to do? First, you need to brush the terminals themselves. To do this, it is best to use middle or fine sandpaper. If the rapt is strong - the main mass is easiest to be considered a brush for metal. Spassing surfaces should become smooth and shiny.
Now you need to eliminate the causes of oxidation. If there are frank cracks near the contacts - they are best embedded with epoxy glue. And then put the gasket.
How to do it:
- the easiest method is to use felt. For this, a piece of material is taken, a round hole under the conclusions from the battery cuts into it, after which it is impregnated with machine oil. The hole is made with such a calculation so that the gasket is worn tight;
- felt washers are the same, only ready. They are also impregnated with oil and put under the terminals.
By the way, do not forget to check the electrolyte level. Most likely, it will be necessary to raise it.
How to lubricate it right
So that contacts on the battery are stopped oxidized, they need to apply protective lubricant. By the way, many motorists do not know what to lubricate the battery terminals so that they do not oxidize, so they will be smeared anything.
You can use several methods:
- 1710 Lubricant for battery terminals - special composition, to protect electrical contacts;
- to handle the autogyr - special aerosols to protect against oxidation;
- lubricate Litol - better not worth it. First, the dirt sticks on it. And secondly, outdoors, Litol dries quickly and loses its properties.
I will say right away - any lubricant is a dielectric, so it cannot be allowed to get it between the contacts. Terminals need to be put on, tighten, and then apply MS 1710, autogyro or other means.
How to tighten the terminals
One and the reasons why the terminals are oxidized on the battery are oxidized during the joining or disconnecting the AKB. To avoid this, you need to remember several rules:
- when tightening, you need to use two keys;
- you can not drag the bolts.
Check whether the terminal is tightened, it is very simple - if it is not possible to remove it with your hand, it means everything is in order.
By the way, if a long parking is foreseen - a minus terminal is removed from the Bathers. It will save her from the self-discharge. If the car will stand for more than a month - the plus terminal of the battery is removed.
If electrolyte pairs are highlighted
There are 3 reasons why the battery can boil:
- There is a permanent reload.
- Banks are closed in the battery.
- High ambient temperature.
Let's deal with the order. First, you need to check how voltage is submitting a generator on the battery. Normal values \u200b\u200bfluctuate in the range of 12.9-14 volts. If more than 14.3 is applied, then the generator regulator is defective. As a result - from high voltage electrolyte boils. In this case, you need to urgently repair the electrics on the car.
Boiling can be caused by non-working battery bank. Here is simple arithmetic. For example, 14 V. i.e. It accounts for every bank at 2.3 V. When one bank is not working, 2.8 V. will be supplied to the rest. In this case, it will help either recover the battery, or buying a new one.
Thus, if the electrolyte boils - think than to lubricate the battery terminals, it is not an output. Measures will need more radical.
How to wash the battery
If the terminals are oxidized - most likely, there is a place, or a battery leakage, or excessive selection of electrolyte vapors. In addition to the fact that the contacts appears oxide - the battery is covered with an electrolyte and dirt.
And this leads to a significant loss of battery capacity. On the body, there may be a leak of 7-8 volts. It is easy to check the tester. You just need to close the plus terminal and the battery case.
What will be needed for washing:
- water;
- soda;
- bucket with a cloth;
- tazik.
- corks should be tight twisted;
- places of gas feed and plugs need to wash well pressed rag - It is impossible to make a solution to banks;
- near the currents, there may be cracks - next to them also my neatly;
- sulfuric acid will be drained with battery - Therefore, it is better to put it in the pelvis.
We decided with elementary safety equipment, we can now move to cleaning. Yes, if in the process of washing, you will have a question - is it possible to turn the battery, the answer will not be. If this is done - electrolyte is out of the cans.
The best and cheap detergent is a 10% soda solution in warm water. You can paint it on the eye - the special accuracy is not needed here. As already written above - the battery is best put in the pelvis. You can pour a little solution into it - 1-2 cm, no longer needed.
The top cover washes neatly - well pressed with a rag. If the solution will fall inside the battery - the electrolyte will come into disrepair, because The reaction of quenching will begin. After washing, the battery needs to wipe with a dry cloth.
You can wash and traffic jams. For this, they need them for several minutes in the solution, and after rinse with clean water - so that there are no soda left them. Slug into place, they need to dry.
Thus, we found out why a plus and minus terminal is oxidized, and how to deal with it. It is important to understand - that it is necessary to eliminate the causes, and not consequences. Otherwise, the battery will fail.
That's all. I hope you have learned something new and useful for yourself.
Many motorists, especially with experience, had to see the oxidized battery terminals. This is a flaw, which prevents normal battery life. If the flair is too big (not visible the terminal itself), then the car can simply not start (especially in the winter period of time). Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of this. How to do it, and why the terminals are oxidized, explains our freelance correspondent.
Why is the oxidation of the terminals harmful?
Everything is simple: the contact of the electrode of the battery and the terminal itself is worsening, the battery cannot work normally and charge. Thus, the car will experience bad engine launches (it is possible to disappear by the starts), as well as deep discharges of the battery, for which it is simply destructive. Thus, it is necessary to get rid of the raid (oxidation of the terminal), and look for the causes of its occurrence.
How to Clean Flap?
And then everything is simple. We remove the terminal from the battery, it is not always because of the raid, then the usual shallow "sandpaper" (emery paper) or a metal brush believes. It is necessary to completely remove the flare as with the terminals (and especially carefully clean inside), and from the electrode of the battery itself. It is necessary to clean up to shine, but do not get drunk too much!
Much forces are not necessary!
Oxidation of the terminals may occur due to damage to the attachment. When you tighten the nut, you need to keep the bolt and nut with two keys. Many are attracted simply one nut, thereby breaking the electrode of the battery. Steam electrolyte seeps through it and the oxidation of the terminals begins.
Can be made of copper or brass
You can install on the battery of the Copper or Brass terminals. It will give the best engine launches in winter (due to better conductivity) and less oxidation, and in the end and the best charging of the car battery. But they are not suiced, for example, one copper terminal can cost up to 1000 or more rubles.
Causes of oxidation of terminals
The main reasons are two. Although secondary may be more.
Poorly tightened terminal. In my practice, the ownership and repair of the car had to face such a phenomenon as poorly tightened battery terminals. That is, they are thrown on the electrode, but tighten the bolt to their side did not guessed. Although you need to do it! Because of this mount, there is a bad contact of the electrode and terminals, which contributes to rapid oxidation, you need to clean the terminal and tighten it well. The main thing is not to break! Do not pull to "Duri", you need to firmly sit.
Electrolyte leakage. The most common cause of the oxidation of the terminals is the battery electrolyte leak. The electrolyte is an acid that, falling on the terminals, enters the chemical reaction with the electrode, and oxidation occurs. Of course, in modern maintenanceable batteries, such problems may not be, because the electrolyte is in a closed part of the battery (there evaporates there, there is also falls back to the sediment, without disappearing into the environment). But it happens that the battery is already pretty worn, and the electrode in the battery sits not firmly, microcracks are created through which the vapor-shaped electrolyte is selected. All this falls on the terminal, and it is oxidized. This is a direct "bell" of the car owner that the battery (especially maintained) is faulty and lives its last days.
How to deal with oxidation
- It is necessary to determine if your electrite electrical electrodes are missing or not. If you skip, you need to try to exclude it from entering the terminals. Many use a gasket that dresses tightly on the electrode, it can be cut out of suitable materials itself, here's a photo.
- You can handle the terminal and electrode with thick lubricant. The simplest thing is to apply "Litol", although now you can find special lubricants that prevent the appearance of plaque and even struggle with electrolyte leaks.
Blue plaque is a special composition applied on battery terminals
- The most radical method - change the battery! If your battery (maintenance free) passes the electrolyte, it is no longer good! It means that he can fill the electrode.
It is necessary to deal with the oxidation of the battery terminals, you also need to protect them from oxidation, preferably special compositions. Such care will extend the battery operation, and will also improve the launches in cold weather.
The charged battery in the car is a guarantor of fast starting installation and the correct operation of all electronic devices on the road. The energy from the battery is transmitted using two lead terminals, which during operation of the engine are under the influence of electric fiber. This metal in the acidic medium may be subjected to strong oxidation. To ensure a reliable electrical connection, you must clean the battery terminals.
Causes and consequences of oxidation
The problem of the oxidation of the battery contacts is known to each motorist and especially during the off-season. When white plaque appears, it is necessary not only to quickly clean the battery terminals, but also to establish the cause of its formation. The most common reasons are the following:
- Weak tightening fastening bolts electrocals.
- Battery electrolyte leakage.
It is the first reason that meets most often. After installing on the car AKB, contacts must be fixed with bolts. However, it is impossible to delay them very much so as not to damage the clips or even the battery itself. The second reason is becoming increasingly relevant with the advent of closed batteries. In them, the electrolyte is located in a separate hermetic capacity and its leakage is possible only after several years of operation.
Some car enthusiasts do not consider the oxidation of the terminals a serious problem. When they face the problem of launching the power plant, they do not even think that the whole thing is in oxidized contacts. It must be remembered that the white flare is able to significantly reduce the efficiency of the AKB. To avoid problems, motor vehicles must be inspected regularly and, if necessary, clean the car battery terminals.
It can be noted two main symptoms of strong contact oxidation:
- When the ignition is turned on, the starter does not work from the first time or the crankshaft is rotated with a large force.
- The light of the overall lights and headlights became more dull.
In these situations, first of all it is necessary to check the status of the battery clips.
Cleaning contacts
This type of work must be performed when the power unit is turned off. First, with the help of the key, it is necessary to weaken the screw "minus" terminals and remove it. Only after that you can turn off positive contact. Before starting the cleaning process it is worth a visual inspection of the battery. If defects were detected, then the battery should be replaced immediately.
It is also desirable to check the conductor leading to terminals, in order to detect traces of physical wear on them. To protect your hands from aggressive substances, you need to wear rubber gloves. If a thick layer of white plaque is located on the clips, then most of it is removed using sandpaper or metal brush.
Especially carefully it is necessary to clean the place of contact of the terminal and wires. To remove the remaining oxides, you can use a solution of dining soda (one tablespoon of 250 ml of water). Then the purified terminal must be jammed with cold water and then wiped dry. Often on the Internet there are advice on the possibility of using gasoline to clean the contacts. So do not do, because gasoline is able to damage rubber and plastic parts.
Today, you can find a large number of special tools that can also be used to clean the contacts. After completing the operation to remove a white plaque, the contacts are put on in the reverse sequence - first "minus" and then positive.
Methods of prevention
Either the problem is harder to eliminate than take a number of measures for its prevention. To protect the terminals of batteries, you can use various ways that are effective. One of the oldest methods for preventing contact oxidation is engine oil.
First, the ring of the desired diameter is cut out of the felt or felt, and then it is impregnated with oil. This homemade gasket is put on the output of the battery, and the terminal is attached to it. As a result, the washed material slows down the process of electrolyte evaporation.
After cleaning the terminals, lithol, vaseline and other similar substances can also be applied on them. However, they all have certain disadvantages.
For example, solidol gradually rolls into small lumps, and vaseline has low conductivity, and this negatively affects the efficiency of the AKB.
It is best to prevent the oxidation of contacts to use modern chemical compositions. They can be purchased at any auto parts store. These funds are able to effectively protect the terminals from oxidation and thereby increase the life of the battery. An example of such a means may become a lubricant Presto. It is made on the basis of wax and easy to use. The composition should be applied only on the cleaned surface of the contacts and before spraying, the cylinder must be shaken.
