Causes of Battery Terminal Corrosion

Automotive battery terminal corrosion can be caused by a number of different factors. Typically, battery corrosion should be taken as a sign your battery is older and may be having issues. Corrosion can affect the way your cars battery works and is acidic enough to destroy almost anything that comes in contact with it.

Faulty Terminals

Battery corrosion can be caused by loose or improperly functioning battery terminals. If the connectors and terminals are not tight, corrosion can build when gases and other substances come in contact with the metal on the battery terminals or posts, causing chemical reactions. Dirty battery terminals will also cause corrosion, because the dirt causes the terminal connection to be looser than it would be otherwise.

Battery Gases

One of the primary causes of battery corrosion occurs when gases from inside the battery escape into the outside air where they come in contact with the battery posts and terminals, causing corrosion to build on the metal of the posts and terminals. Battery gases may escape due to loose or improperly functioning battery terminals or cracks or holes in the actual battery casing.

High Temperatures

The warmer the climate you live in, the more quickly corrosion will build on your battery. Power Battery claims that batteries kept in climates of temperatures where the battery is regularly warmer than 77 degrees Fahrenheit will corrode more rapidly than those in cooler climates.