You need to clearly know how to lubricate the battery terminals and how often you need to do this in order to avoid many problems. Carelessness in this matter will quickly lead you to the need to start "from the pusher", and the battery will not last long. But restoring it is a costly business, not to mention.
How to lubricate the battery terminals is the subject of heated debate between motorists. And the controversy has not subsided for many years. There are fans of new industrial developments, there are supporters of proven methods. Let's consider the arguments of both.
Prevention is everything
If the battery terminals on your car are constantly covered with plaque, then you need to not just clean the terminals, but find out why this is happening.
There are not so many reasons, and all of them are removable:
- poor, weak contact between the battery and the tip of the wire. A gap has formed between them, through which electrolyte vapors penetrate - here is the source of oxidation. Seal the damage - and you can forget about problems with the terminals for a long time;
- the coating on the terminal itself is chipped or scratched. We'll have to change it;
- the battery terminal is leaking, electrolyte oozes out of it and corrodes the surface of the contact assembly. Again - we seal!;
- generator recharge. Here it is necessary to find out the reason for this phenomenon. Very often it is caused by a jamb, but in each case you need to deal with it separately;
- “lost” mass on the engine. We restore - and get rid of problems with the terminals.
Preliminary processing
Before lubricating the terminals, it is necessary to treat the battery from already formed oxides and accumulated dust. You can use plain water (although distilled water is recommended), but it does not remove oxides. Therefore, most car owners use a soda solution for these purposes, and only after it - water. Take something more chemically strong is not worth it, you can damage the car. Some car enthusiasts use ordinary Coca-Cola for flushing and claim that the effect of it is even better than that of soda.
There are fans of physical methods, i.e. the use of sandpaper. However, it has significant disadvantages: firstly, scratches remain on the terminals, which will provoke their further, and faster oxidation. Secondly, it will not be possible to completely remove the oxides by friction - little things that are invisible to the eye will still remain, which is not good. After removing the deposits, all parts are wiped dry and proceed to the actual lubrication.
Lubricants that have stood the test of time
The most popular solidol (as an option - Litol or Nigrol), used by our grandfathers. After tightly tightening the terminals, they are lubricated with a thin layer - and for half a year you are guaranteed against problems (if the tightness is not broken, there is no breakdown, etc.).
The second place among the traditionalists is occupied by vaseline - both technical and ordinary pharmacy. But, if grease is in principle accepted even by supporters of innovations, then Vaseline is highly doubtful for them. It protects the terminals well from moisture, to some extent prevents them from “soldering” to the battery, but it has difficulties with conductivity. To overcome them, many people add graphite lubricant to Vaseline.
Lazy way: when checking the oil level, lubricate the terminals with a dipstick. Since the level is checked frequently, the lubrication is updated regularly, and the battery will not need maintenance soon - again, if it does not have the "personal" problems described above. Although occasionally it is still worth cleaning from dust.
If solidol is selected. From generation to generation, novice motorists repeat the same mistake: they apply it between the battery terminals and wires. They forget that from high temperatures (which cannot be avoided), grease seizes and hardens.
The result is a dry, very dense crust. It does not conduct current, as a result of which the contact disappears. And it is extremely difficult to clean it! By the way, the caveat applies to other lubricants: problems with them are less difficult to fix, but just as unpleasant.
Progressors
There are a huge number of different lubricants for battery terminals in car dealerships. The following may be recommended:
- Molykote HSC Plus. Designed for FIAMM batteries, but can be used for others. Its electrical conductivity is quite high, and the lubricant retains its working qualities at temperatures from minus thirty to + 1100 ° C;
- german spray lubricant. The manufacturer guarantees the absence of transient resistance and the presence of a stable voltage. Very easy to use - press the button and apply. The protection is heat-resistant, plus it does not allow oxidation from acidic battery fumes;
For a confident start of the motor, the battery must transfer large currents to the starter in order to start the car engine. The transfer of high currents is possible when two conditions are met: the battery is charged and there is low resistance in the area of electric current transfer from the battery to the starter.
The first condition is solved simply - it is necessary to maintain the battery charge at a high level, and when it cannot be achieved due to prolonged use, replace it. Low resistance in the current transfer section is achieved due to the tight fit of the terminals to the battery contacts. The driver is obliged to monitor the condition of the terminals and contacts so that they do not form oxidation, and special lubricants can help him in this.
Why you need to lubricate the battery terminals
As noted above, the main reason for treating battery terminals with special ointments is the need to reduce the resistance between them and the contacts, as well as reduce the likelihood of oxides and corrosion. The battery terminals are oxidized due to various factors:
In addition to the protective properties, modern grease for car battery terminals increases current conductivity, thanks to specially used additives.
Why You Should Avoid Oxidizing Battery Terminals
The driver must control the battery of his car so as not to be in a situation where, due to insufficient charge, the engine cannot be started. Self-discharge occurs when oxides form on the terminals. If you do nothing and do not operate the car, over time the battery will be completely discharged. That is why it is recommended to lubricate the battery terminals before putting the car on a long parking lot, for example, in winter (even if the contacts are dropped from the battery terminals).
Also, an unsuccessful start of the motor can be associated with high resistance in the section of current transfer from the battery to the starter. It has already been noted above that this is also associated with oxides.
How to lubricate battery terminals
The idea to lubricate battery terminals appeared decades ago, when there was not yet a large amount of automotive chemicals on the market, and drivers were forced to look for products on their own that could protect the terminals and contacts from oxides and corrosion. When there were no special tools, drivers, for the most part, used vaseline and lithol to lubricate the terminals. The effectiveness of lubricating the terminals and contacts with such products was rather low, since they have poor current conductivity, which could make it difficult to start the engine if the battery is poorly charged. Also, the disadvantage of using lithol and petroleum jelly to lubricate the battery terminals can be considered their fragility - in a few weeks the funds were washed off, washed off and lost their properties.
Currently, large companies that produce accessories and consumables for cars are engaged in the production of special lubricants for battery terminals. Such lubricants can be produced in the form of a regular cream or gel, or in an aerosol format. They have a special chemical composition that improves the protective properties against the formation of oxidation and increase current conductivity.
There are several basic tools available for processing battery terminals:
Above are 3 of the most common battery terminal treatments, while there are many more on the market.
How to properly apply lubricant to battery terminals
If the driver is going to apply grease to the battery terminals, you need to do it right, otherwise the effect will be invisible. You need to do the following:
- The first step is to clean the traces of oxidation from the terminals and contacts;
- Next, you need to put the terminal on the contact and tighten it with a key to achieve a tight connection;
- Next, the selected agent is applied to the top and side faces of the terminal - this avoids the ingress of water into the connection.
Important: Do not apply separately to terminals and contacts.
If the lubricant is applied to the battery terminals with an aerosol, we recommend that you cover the area around the terminals and contacts with masking tape.
The operation of car batteries is associated with increased loads due to significant temperature fluctuations in the engine compartment, exposure to dirt, dust and moisture. In addition, sometimes there are situations associated with overheating of the battery and the release of excess pressure through the valves with the release of acid fumes.
All this inevitably leads to a gradual deterioration of contact and. To reduce the negative oxidizing effect of various reagents on the contact pads of the battery, lubricants are used that are smeared on top of securely assembled junctions.
Maintenance
Is it always necessary to protect the terminals from oxidation
In a technically sound car with a good battery, which does not have cracks on the case, including those caused by excessive force when tightening the terminals, their oxidation occurs very slowly. If the machine is parked in a dry and ventilated place, the risk of poor contact is further reduced.
Nevertheless, no matter in what ideal conditions the car is operated, oxidation and burning of contacts inevitably occur in it, which is most pronounced at the battery terminals, where huge currents of hundreds of amperes pass at the moment the starter is started. In addition, water vapor and oxygen are always present in the air, which slowly but surely lead to corrosion of metals.
In the presence of a whitish coating, which most often occurs on the positive terminal of the battery, the use of a protective lubricant makes it possible to continue operating the car if it is not possible to replace the battery. To do this, it is necessary to clean the contacts, put grease-soaked felt pads between the battery case and the terminals, connect them to the conductors, tighten and lubricate the contact connection from above. The negative terminal also needs protection from burnout and oxidation, due to the constant presence in the hot engine compartment with road dust and moisture.
The use of grease for the terminals will help extend the life of the battery and improve the overall reliability of the car. The use of special compounds to protect the battery terminals seems to be a reasonable preventive measure that can reduce the number of unpleasant surprises that can appear at the most inopportune moment.
How to lubricate the terminals from oxidation
The main purpose of lubricating electrical connections is to prevent dirt and oxygen from entering the contact point, which helps to ensure that they do not oxidize.
It is desirable that the protective coating does not collect excess dirt and performs its protective functions for as long as possible. There are many different options for protecting battery terminals, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. The main condition should be the absence of a corrosive effect on contacts, wire insulation and surrounding rubber parts, high temperature and acid resistance.
These are compositions, as a rule, based on mineral oil with the addition of graphite powder. They have good water repellency and excellent protection against corrosion. The usual graphite lubricant composition can withstand temperatures from -20 to +70 degrees, but there are also more expensive high-temperature options. In connection with the possible overheating of the engine compartment in hot weather, it is better to use them.
Graphite conducts electricity well, so its penetration into the contact joint does not worsen the electrical contact as much as a lubricant with dielectric properties does.
This type of grease withstands high temperatures, has anti-corrosion properties, adheres well to the surface, but does not conduct electricity. They are made on an oil basis with the addition of special additives and dyes that facilitate the application of a protective coating.
This is a good option for protection against oxidation when using special protection compounds, for example, from LiquiMoly, Addinol, Molykote, Gunk and others.
These lubricants are durable, have a high viscosity, conduct electricity well, withstand high temperatures (from -35 to several hundred degrees), perfectly protect against corrosion, moisture, and burnout.
Special copper lubricants for electrical contacts are available in the form of sprays, such as Berner, as well as copper dabs for highly loaded moving joints. They have different properties, but both options can be used to protect battery contacts.
These lubricants withstand temperatures from -30 to +130 degrees, have an average viscosity, adhere well to the surface and provide high tightness of electrical contacts.
A good wax-based compound is Presto Batterie Pol Schutz, which can withstand temperatures from -30 to +130 degrees and is easy to apply with an aerosol spray.
This is an excellent option for protecting contact joints with good resistance to hot vapors and disinfectant solutions. Silicone grease adheres well to surfaces, is neutral and can operate in a wide temperature range from -40 to +150 degrees. Produced by many trusted manufacturers, including Shell, Fuchs, Molykote, Roco and others.
The disadvantage of silicone lubricants is the need for regular renewal of the protective coating.
These include such common compounds as grease, lithol, cyatim 201, petroleum jelly. These compounds are used to protect against wear of rubbing surfaces, have a high fluidity, which increases with increasing temperature in the engine compartment, so they are not very suitable for protecting electrical contacts. In case of serious problems with the oxidation of contacts, they can be used to protect the terminals, but it is better to do this only in the winter season, when these lubricants are less fluid.
There are special formulations based on mineral oils containing special additives that improve their temperature resistance and therefore make them suitable for terminal protection. These include:
- Liqui Moly Kupfer Spray is a copper powdered oil lubricant designed for brake pads. It can also be used as a protective coating for the outer surface of the contacts;
- Liqui Moly Batterie Pol Fett is a special protective lubricant with a red dye. Permissible temperatures - from -40 to +60 degrees.
- Vmpauto MC1710 - a mixture of various oils, as well as silicone with a blue dye. Can be used at temperatures from -10 to +80 degrees.
These lubricants are designed to form a dry coating on rubbing parts. They are not well suited for protecting electrical contacts due to their high penetrating power, which can impair electrical contact.
Breaking the contact in the battery terminals, where very strong currents flow, is not only undesirable, but also dangerous. In this regard, it is not recommended to use Teflon lubricants on contact joints.
How to properly lubricate terminals
The protective properties of the lubricant are provided only with serviceable and good electrical contacts in the protected joints. If it is not there, then applying lubricant will not restore it.
When applying lubricant to the terminals, it must be understood that it is not necessary to apply it between the contact surfaces so as not to impair conductivity. Before connecting the terminals to the conductors, it is necessary to achieve the ideal purity of the metal on the contacts, up to processing with a coarse cloth or fine sandpaper, wipe them with alcohol, and only then twist them. After that, it is necessary to apply a protective composition to the joint assembled and tightened with the necessary force. If the lubricant is thick, then it can be smeared on the contacts with a rubber glove, and when using a spray, treat the protected surfaces from a can.
The application of conductive copper grease inside the contact pads can be justified in case of their poor quality, the presence of large irregularities that reduce the total contact area.
Attention! If dielectric grease gets into the space between the contacts of the battery with the wiring of the car, this will worsen the conductivity of the contact and, at high current, will lead to burnout, an even greater deterioration in conductivity, as well as the risk of melting the wire insulation and even fire due to high temperature.
Precautionary measures
As a rule, all technical lubricants are toxic to the human body to one degree or another. Therefore, work on their application must be carried out with gloves. If technical lubricants come into contact with the skin, immediately wash them off with warm water and soap.
Important! When applying a protective lubricant, make sure that it does not get on rubber tubes, gaskets and other surfaces that do not need such treatment. This is necessary in order to avoid the damaging effect of the components contained in lubricants on these materials.
Battery terminals are small but important parts, without which the car battery cannot work, and therefore the entire electrician of the car. Often, motorists forget between one and the other maintenance to take care of the correct operation of down conductors. As a result, the spare part fails by oxidation and increased heating. This leads to detrimental consequences for the car and its owner. Possessing a high resistivity, voltage power up to 600V, the failure of the battery contacts can lead to the melting of nearby plastic elements. There is a risk of fire not only one part, but the machine as a whole. Let's analyze the question in more detail.
Under the influence of external factors in combination with the oxidation process, which is provoked by electrolyte vapor, battery parts are exposed to oxide. To protect against oxidation, the elements are treated with special lubricants.
Unfortunately, not a single product fully meets all the necessary standards, so the car owner himself chooses what to donate from a huge number of options on the market. In addition to the basic properties, there are several types of lubricants:
- Silicone grease has one drawback: increased fluidity. Otherwise, the product has the necessary qualities, including a temperature range up to -60C, which is indispensable in the domestic climate.
- Teflon-based lubricant
It is an analogue of the "liquid key" tool. Due to the silicone in the composition, it is discussed by motorists on the forums. But in the context of application in solving the problem of protecting parts, it should not be considered. - Oil based lubricants and sprays
The most effective means to prevent the appearance of oxide. A large number of professional products are presented on the modern market, but some motorists resort to "old-fashioned" methods and use grease, petroleum jelly and cast to process down conductors.
Ciatim 201 also has the necessary qualities. Affordable price, quick drying, resistance to low temperatures, strong dielectric abilities - everything that is needed for processing terminals. - Copper lubricants
High viscosity and resistance to high temperatures are the main advantages of the product. Motorists note the long-term effect of preventing the oxidation process. Also oil based. - Wax products
They have a high dielectric capacity and increased tightness with the surface. - graphite lubricant
Some car users use for their cars, but the product has a high density and does not pass current. The car owner does not need the risks of overheating and ignition of spare parts, so graphite grease is not recommended for these purposes.
How to properly apply lubricant to battery terminals
Lubricant for battery terminals performs a protective function, but does not remove oxide from the surface. Therefore, applying the product over the lesion will not solve, on the contrary, it will aggravate the situation. In order not to use the material in vain and not to spoil the car part, follow the following sequence:
- Disconnect the terminal from the network;
- Clean with sandpaper (with low abrasiveness);
- Spray or spread (depending on the agent used) the product on the outside of the element;
- Install the item back.
When asked whether to lubricate the terminal with a protective agent or not, the answer is an affirmative “yes”, since the use of such products extends the life of the car. The failure of a car part on the road is a dangerous event for the life of passengers, so you should be as careful as possible about servicing individual parts.
Video about lubricating battery terminals
Many little things play a decisive role in ensuring the reliability and long life of the car. The little things that bring, in an inexperienced look, little use, include grease for car battery terminals. An inexperienced motorist will say that modern equipment does not need such care methods, and the resulting gain does not pay off the costs. Theoretically, this point of view has the right to exist, but practice shows its fallacy.
Why do terminals need lubricants?
During engine cranking, the starter must overcome considerable resistance from the massive, cold mechanism. High loads lead to an increase in current consumption, amounting to hundreds of amperes at start. The only source of electricity at this point is the battery.
To create the necessary current in the circuit, two conditions must be met:
- Provide sufficient voltage at the terminals and the degree of charge of the battery;
- Take care of the minimum resistance in the circuit.
Status monitoring and timely charging of the battery solve the first problem. Problems often arise with the solution of the second one. It is easy to calculate that with a current strength of 100 A, 10 V will be lost at an insignificant resistance of 0.1 Ohm. Accordingly, even an extra fraction of an Ohm in the battery-starter circuit is fraught with difficulties in starting the power unit.
One of the causes of trouble is oxides in the contact zone of the on-board network terminals and battery terminals. Every motorist had to observe them - the surfaces of the contact pairs are covered with a light gray coating of various shades.
The term "oxides" refers to the entire spectrum of substances formed on the terminals:
- oxides of lead and other metals and alloys used in the manufacture of contacts;
- salts of different composition.
In terms of electrical conductivity, they are inferior to metals and alloys used for electrical connection elements and create additional resistance in the circuit. The appearance of oxides is dangerous and accelerates the self-discharge process of AB.
How are oxides formed?
There are several reasons for the formation of oxides and salts on contact groups;
- Lead and its alloys, which form the basis of battery terminals and terminals at the ends of the on-board network conductors, other metals, react with atmospheric oxygen to form oxides (surfaces are covered with oxide films). The intensive course of reactions is promoted by the high temperature of the air under the hood.
- When moisture enters the gaps between the contacts, electrolysis begins, the products of which activate the oxidation processes. The phenomenon is especially noticeable on older cars where copper terminals are used. The lead of the AB leads and copper form an electric pair that creates an EMF, under the influence of which the electrolysis proceeds more intensively.
- In the event of leakage of electrolyte and its vapors from the battery (in case of violation of the integrity of the case, loose closing of plugs on the banks of the battery being serviced, loose sealing of the terminals or their loosening from constant vibrations), the effect of sulfuric acid leads to the formation of sulfates on surfaces and in contact gaps.
In a word, oxides are formed as a result of external influences on the junctions of the conductors of the electrical network of the car and the terminals of the battery. To prevent the development of processes, the contact points should be isolated, which is successfully performed by lubricants.
What lubricants to use for a car battery?
The fact that the lubricant will protect the place of contact from the negative impact of external factors, motorists guessed for a long time. Initially, ordinary liquid oils were used for these purposes, impregnating felt or felt pads. One such gasket with a round hole was put on the battery pin, then the terminal was screwed on, and the second gasket was attached on top.
This method of protection still works today, but manufacturers offer materials that demonstrate much greater efficiency.
These include:
- greases;
- sprays that clean and protect electrical contacts;
- specialized lubricating pastes.
Advantages and disadvantages of greases.
When talking about the lubrication of AB contacts, manufacturers, experts, users mean greases. It is believed that the protective layer they create is reliable, and these materials are retained on surfaces longer.
In the recent past, grease, Litol and the like were widely used to protect battery terminals.
But these outdated materials have some drawbacks:
- over time, under the influence of high temperatures and other factors, they harden, forming an additional insulating layer when it enters the gaps, which increases the resistance of the transition contact;
- loose structure does not allow for long-term protection; when using car shampoos, they are easily washed off;
- The composition does not contain specialized additives and additives.
Well-known manufacturers such as Gunk and Liqui Moly offer specialized battery protection options.
They have an oil base, excellent adhesion to contacts and resistance to external factors (car detergents). It is more convenient to work with them due to the bright color.
A common disadvantage of greases is that they are dielectrics and, if they enter the gaps, violate the reliability of the electrical connection.
protective sprays.
Such products for motorists are represented by dozens of brands, such as Hi-Gear, Permatex, SVITOIL, etc. The materials are based on refined oils (vaseline, etc.).
When applied, sprayable protective agents displace water from the surface and quickly form a continuous thin layer. They have advantages similar to greases, but are inferior to the latter in terms of strength and durability of the protective coating.
Lubricating pastes like Molykote HSC Plus.
The composition of the paste includes mineral oil and solid lubricants. The main difference from the consistent ones is a finely dispersed metal filler (copper or tin). As a result, the paste acquires conductive properties, which allows it to be used for lubricating electrical connections (contact improves).
Additional advantages are a wide range of operating temperatures (operation is allowed in the range from -30 to +100 degrees), high stability, preservation of properties during heating and other external influences.
How to use lubricants - instructions.
Inexperienced motorists make a mistake (often they get incorrect information from poor-quality translation of instructions for materials from foreign manufacturers) by lubricating the battery leads before putting on the terminals. As a result, instead of protection, deterioration of the transitional contact, problems with starting the engine and danger to the battery are obtained.
VERY IMPORTANT! Terminal protection grease must be applied externally only!
Regardless of the quality and cost of materials, they do not remove oxides! Before protecting the contact point, it is necessary to ensure a reliable connection. Oxides are removed by washing the contacts with soda solutions (at a concentration of not more than 10%) or similar alkali-based preparations. Avoid the use of gasoline and acetone thinners, which can damage conductor insulation and plastic structures such as the battery case. A good method is to clean the contact surfaces with abrasives - fine sandpaper or special brushes (the AkTech manufacturer, for example, includes a recommendation in the battery operating instructions).
The protection technology is quite simple:
- Disconnect the battery from the vehicle's on-board network, remove if necessary;
- Carry out the processing of contacts by removing plaque and oxide films (both the battery terminals and the internal surfaces of the terminals of the network conductors are processed);
- Install the battery, put the terminals on the contact pins, tighten tightly.
- Apply protective lubricants on top.
