How To Clean Car Battery Corrosion

If you’ve opened your hood for an inspection or a jump start in San Jose and noticed corrosion on your battery, it’s important to clean it. This task isn’t as intimidating as it sounds and can be done at home to preserve your battery. Capitol Acura covers what causes car battery corrosion and how to remove corrosion from a car battery below!

What Causes Battery Corrosion?

So, what causes battery corrosion? Your battery lets off gases through its ventilation system as it is constantly heating up and cooling down. Over a long period of time, these gases mix with the substances around them to create corrosion at their connection point. You can usually see this substance, but be aware of other symptoms you could experience driving around San Jose:

• Trouble starting your car
• Low voltage displayed on the dash

To check for corrosion, wait until your car has cooled down for at least 30 minutes. Open your hood and watch out for a white, teal, or green powdery material and any rust around the battery parts. If you see this, you’ll need to remove corrosion from the car battery.

How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion

You can remove corrosion from a car battery using materials you can find around Santa Clara or even by making a solution in your Milpitas home. Make sure to wear the proper safety equipment: gloves, googles, and a respirator. Then you’re ready to get started:

• Professional Cleaner: You can find a professional battery cleaner that will have thorough instructions. Usually, you’re supposed to spray liberally on the corroded surfaces and use a wire brush to brush it away. If you’re having trouble finding a solution, you can always consult a parts department. 

• How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion with a DIY Solution: After you remove the connectors, put some baking soda over your battery. Then, start a reaction with some water, dry with a paper towel, and scrub with a sponge.

Get Car Service at Capitol Acura

For battery troubles or any other problem with car maintenance, San Jose drivers can schedule service at Capitol Acura, where our experts are happy to help. Visit our service tips hub for more tips and tricks or contact us today with your questions!