Grease on battery terminals?

[Bluest]

I'm just putting a new battery on the Yanmar and just wondered, is it still the done thing to grease the battery terminals. Looking at my newish car, the terminals don't appear to have anyhting on them. I always used petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in the past, but I haven't changed a battery for years. I notice I can get grease specificaly for this purpose, would that be in any way better?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Yup. I goop up my new cars too. In fact, it only took one year for corrosion to set in on my then brand-new, factory-ordered F150.
I, however, use whatever grease I have handy.

 

[Bluest]

Thanks Eric. I shall, as you say, "goop up", at earliest opportunity!

 

[paulharvey]

I use a little packet from advanced auto made for it, was like $0.99 at the check out. Seems to work better than nothing, without the nastiness of straight grease. Don't keep vasoline just laying around the house so never tried it. I don't do the cars/trucks because those batteries don't leak, but the tractor battery is always a mess.

 

[Bluest]

Thanks Paul, I just noticed I can get those little sachets for next to nothing on Ebay, so I'll pick a couple up.

 

[RalphVa]

Not sure you need anything any more with these gel batteries. However, when we did need something, those felt washers you can buy at auto supply or battery places seemed to work better than gooping up your posts with grease. You put the felt washers over the post and then put the cable grip onto the post.

Ralph

 

[joecdeere]

Di-electric grease inside the cable clamp and all over the post or bolt before assembly. Another little coat all over the entire thing after tightening them up.

 

[Bluest]

I've been trawling Google since I started this thread. Views on the use of grease are mixed. Some say it isn't necessary on modern vehicles as the charging circuit is so well regulated that he battery never emits any corrosive gas.

As I've an old tractor with a dynamo and a conventional lead/acid battery, I think putting some grease on can't do any harm.

Ralph - I've never seen the felt washers you mention. Be interested to see them.

 

[Looking4new]

I use di-electric grease on all of mine AND the big truck. I use it on the trailer light cord on the big truck and the Jeep as well.

 

[oldballs]

I haven't used anything on vehicles or tractors in years. I just keep the posts clean when doing routine maintenance.