Battery Oppos: WTF?

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 01/14/2020 at 17:04 • Filed to: Project Dumpster Fire

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I’ll start by admitting my setup here is quite... shoddy. The stock battery hold down+heat shield for these is hard to come by and I haven’t bothered sourcing one. Instead I used a piece of u-channel, painted and conformal coated it, and used a generic hold down kit. Then I slapped on some generic heat shielding as the battery sits right next to the exhaust manifold and turbo.

There were reasons for all of this just go with it.

Then I added an aftermarket disconnect because I was doing a lot of electrical work.

That said, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the powdery stuff there before. Is acid leaking out of the covers?  The corrosion under the positive terminal is blueish whereas the stuff around the bars is white.

I’ll go ahead and replace the battery, but what should I do to prevent his?

koawaft1 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/14/2020 at 17:13

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I have had that in a few cars just sprinkled baking soda on it and rinsed off. Always cleaned up nice. It never came back quickly just slow over time and u usually got 5 plus years life out of batteries. If you don’t clean it will start making bad contact and cause various issues. I usually knew it was time to look if my car was having issues start.

This from someone whose only mechanical a bility is doing his own brakes.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/14/2020 at 17:16

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I use those little squishy washers you can buy for 16 cents and terminal lube. Had a battery in a 2000 Tacoma that has more powder on it than Al Pacino’s nose.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/14/2020 at 17:25

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This makes my brain hurt... but I think I found your problem:

I’m counting like 5 different metals in this picture: whatever the heat blanket is made of (aluminum?) , stainless steel, mild steel, whatever the terminals are (lead?), the copper bus piece, and are those clamps for it brass?

I think you have some galvanic corrosion going on here.  The blue part in particular (that’s why I used a different color), looks like the paint is peeling up on your DIY hold down bar.  

Dogsatemypants > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/14/2020 at 18:02

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It is a product of your electrolyte evaporating/off gassing during charge. Keep the battery topped off with distilled water and pour coffee or coke on the furry stuff. It tends to be white green or blue.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/14/2020 at 18:44

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Baking soda and water would be easier than rethinking your battery arrangement. Just beware of the stuff splashing onto your pants or shoes when you apply it. When I used it, I made a mix with water and poured it on.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/14/2020 at 18:50

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Those would just clean it.  I’m suggesting that this may very well happen again even after being cleaned and/or the battery replaced.  

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/14/2020 at 19:36

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Yes. I was suggesting the lazy man’s route. This process twice a year versus re-thinking the battery box.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/14/2020 at 21:19

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As a (former) electrician, this seems dangerous to me, particularly the metal strap. If the corrosion damages the coating on it and Akio slips taking it off or drops it, or something like that, it could buck the terminals.

We had a Chief in the Navy drop a long s crewdriver across the terminals of his cars battery and it blew up and basically blasted him in the face like a shotgun.  Needless to say, he didn't make it.  

coqui70 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/14/2020 at 23:43

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Wipe it down clean, refill with distilled water and ensure the caps are on tight. Replace the corroded hold down bar (maybe a sturdy 3d printed plastic piece) . Get rid of the worn blanket. Spray some WD40 on the terminals after cleaning them up and reconnecting everything.