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eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
Car Battery Cleaning Made Easy
by Michael Walker
Did you ever go to jumpstart your car, and notice that
you can barely see your battery underneath all the gunk?
This 'gunk' is actually battery corrosion, which is
formed by acid condensation. Since this is formed by
acid, a basic chemical solution will do the cleaning
trick. Battery acid is actually very easy to clean away
with a common household item- baking soda! But still,
precautions must be followed. This article will inform
you step by step how to clean the battery while keeping
safe.
First, you will need to gather supplies for this
project. Most of these items you may already have in
your home. Safety glasses or goggles Box of baking soda
Adjustable pliers with insulated handles Screwdrivers
with insulated handles A small, stiff-bristled brush (an
old toothbrush will work just fine!) Assorted small
open-end and box wrenches Small metal or plastic scraper
Special battery tools, including a cable puller and
cable terminal cleaning brushes A turkey baster or small
funnel All-purpose household cleaner in a spray bottle
Sponges or clean cloths A source of ample clean water
such as a garden hose or a large bucket and sponge
Rubber gloves for protecting your hands
There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when getting
ready to clean the battery. First of all, you safety
glasses and gloves must be worn to protect your eyes and
skin from sulfuric acid that can linger in the corrosion
deposits. Also, this material can eat away at your car's
paint, so keep it away from that as well.
Because the amount of dirt and corrosion on batteries
may differ from one another, battery cleaning will vary,
so some of the steps below may or may not need to be
performed. Sometimes, to thoroughly remove severe
corrosion and dirt, you may even need to remove the
battery from the vehicle.
First, scrape off any white or greenish corrosion
deposits with the stiff-bristled brush or small metal or
plastic scraper. Next, use the solution of baking soda
mixed with water, approximately one heaping tablespoon
to each pint of water. Carefully apply it to the outside
of the battery and its cable connections with the turkey
baster or small funnel. Then, you can use your brush to
work the baking soda solution into the heavily corroded
areas. If you find that the cable clamps or terminals
are badly corroded at the battery, you can disconnect
them for easier cleaning. For this, you may need to use
pliers, assorted wrenches and a small battery cable
puller to disconnect them. You should disconnect the
negative first, followed by the positive.
Then, use your battery cable scrapers or brush to remove
the corrosion from the terminals, battery posts and hold
down clamps and brackets. Flush these parts with your
baking soda solution to rid them of any trace of
corrosion. After this, wash the outside of the battery,
the cable ends and the hold down parts with a liquid
cleaner in a spray bottle. After that, use a sponge or
rag to get off any remaining dirt or grease. After
everything is clean, dry off the battery and all its
parts with a dry rag or cloth.
The final step is just reinstalling any part that was
removed and tightening everything so it is secure.
Reconnect the battery, positive cable first. You're
done! You're battery is now safe and clean.
About the Author
Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and
hints on engine related topics such as JDM engines and
remanufactured engines. |
