22 Years' Battery Customization
Mar 04, 2022 Pageview：863
Apart from the alternator, the battery is another most important component of a car’s electrical system. It determines how your battery performs. The vehicle will not start without a battery, and all electrical components will not work.
And that’s why proper maintenance of a battery is crucial. Old batteries will probably never work well. You will need a replacement. There is no other option.
Sometimes, however, the battery might be operational, but other components that boost its performance might not be. A good example is the terminals.
Corrosion is a common problem that could be causing your battery to fail. Before you rush looking for a jump starter, make sure the connections are clean.
When terminals are cables are corroded, the vehicle will not start. It can also lead to other car issues, including damage to the chassis, electrical wiring, AC lines, and many other parts.
It’s essential to learn about such issues. You might just save a trip to the mechanic or spend too much.
What Is Car Battery Corrosion?
Car battery corrosion is not different from other forms of corrosion. You can easily identify it too. Look at your car battery terminal when they are still new. They are clean, and you can see the lead metal clearly.
However, you may notice white, green, or bluish staff forming on the battery posts, terminals, or cables. The white stuff could be either lead sulfate or anhydrous copper sulfate.
When exposed to moisture, copper sulfate turns blue. And that’s why you see some bluish substance when the battery has been used for a long time.
The bluish substance is hydrated copper sulfate. The same happens with copper connectors.
So why does a battery fail to start the car when corroded? It’s because corrosion causes poor conductivity of electricity. Also, it increases resistance within the circuit.
The increased resistance results in transient current flow. Your car will not start then. Luckily, it’s something you can easily clean and continue using the battery.
What causes corrosion on car battery terminals?
Several things cause battery terminal corrosion. Here are the most common ones:
Vented Hydrogen Gas
Traditional wet battery cells are made with sulfuric acid and water electrolyte solutions. This is part of the components that cause a reaction – generating electric current.
The chemical reactions result in hydrogen gas released through the venting blocks at the top of the battery.
Sometimes the gas leaks too. Then, it reacts with other gases and substances inside the engine compartment, leading to corrosion.
If corrosion is more on the negative terminal, it’s undercharging. If it’s on the positive terminal, it’s overcharging.
Leaking of the Electrolyte
A lead-acid battery with a damaged cover can cause leakage of the electrolyte solution. The solution will then accumulate at the terminals, leading to corrosion.
You must always check your battery. Any leakage can easily be traced and stopped.
Overfilling
Conventional lead-acid batteries require regular top-up with water. You need an expert to help you. Or carefully read the refilling instructions.
If you overfill, the electrolyte might leak from the battery vents. It can overflow to settle on the terminals, corroding them.
Check the highest marker and top your battery to it. Don’t give it more water than it requires.
Overcharging
High temperature has the biggest adverse effects on battery performance and lifespan. Overcharging can raise it even higher.
When this happens, the electrolyte volume expands. It can even boil and steam the acidic gases out from the vents.
The leakage of sulfuric acid, both liquid, and steam will corrode battery terminals.
Chemical Reaction Along With Copper Clamps
Terminal clamps are made from copper because of its high conductivity. Also, it does not corrode easily.
But, if sulfuric gases leak, they can combine with the electrical current to build copper sulfate. This substance causes corrosion.
Copper sulfate is the blue-green substance that appears on the terminals. It’s a poor conductor of electricity. Hence, it blocks your battery from producing the current required to start the car.
Aging
Battery terminals corrode as the battery ages. You have no control over the reactions that happen along with these terminals. Besides, the battery loses its ability to hold a charge.
If your battery is about 5 years, you will need a new one. You can only use a battery that still has its capacity full.
What Causes Corrosion on Car Cables?
Corrosion in car batteries generally comes from the reaction of hydrogen gas released from the sulfuric acid in the battery. The gasses react to the ambient atmosphere, creating a corrosive atmosphere.
Other elements, like water and salt, can accelerate the process. For the battery terminals, corrosion on the negative post means undercharging. The alternator is not offering sufficient time to refill the lost battery capacity due to high electrical load demand from the car. Relatively short uses of the car may have similar effects.
This effect extends to the cables. Most car battery cables are made from copper. This is one material that does not corrode easily.
However, it can still corrode when in contact with sulfuric acid and other substances. Corrosion can lead to serious battery performance issues, whether on the negative or positive terminals.
Is Car Battery Corrosion Dangerous to Touch?
This is one of the most popular and important questions you will come across. Battery corrosion affects anyone with a battery. So, when it comes to cleaning it, you need to know whether it’s safe to touch.
It depends on the type of battery. Lead car batteries produce lead salts, which cause corrosion. They are harmless to touch but toxic when ingested. One must always wash their hands after touching.
For alkaline batteries, ammonium salts result from chemical reactions. It’s also harmless to touch but toxic when consumed. If you have a punctured alkaline battery, you should know the gel inside is corrosive. Handle it with great care.
High-powered batteries like lithium-ion may react with more serious damage. They can burst and combust. One must be careful when handling them.
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