battery terminals

95strokerPSU said:

Wouldn't build up mostly be due to the battery? What kind of battery do you have? I've had my Optima for two years and theres not even a spec of build up on it.

But clean the terminals and posts with water and baking soda.

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Build-up is usually caused from the different metals being in contact with each other. Corrosion is inevitable, at some stage or another. A lead acid battery has lead plates and the two battery terminals are lead. This should be obvious because the terminals are very soft. With steel or brass terminals, electrolysis occurs and corrosion is it's by-product.

Another is caused from acid fumes from over charging. Lead-acid batteries vent hydrogen gas, which is the reason for the vent caps. But sometimes, fumes from the acid mixture can vent past the caps, and find it's way to the terminals.

And the reason your Optima battery doesn't corrode is because it's not a lead-acid battery.

Clean the terminals on the battery and connectors with a terminal cleaner tool (2-3 bucks at autozone), reinstall the connectors and spray the preventive spray. It helps.
Scott