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Corrosion forming around car battery terminals is common. At least one in every three cars is affected. 

For many motorists, the occurrence is never a cause for alarm because the battery is not seen as too sensitive to require routine maintenance. Note that acid, terminals, and air create a corrosive environment. 

A pasty substance builds up around the battery terminals, making your car fail to start. This condition prevents the battery from fully charging. 

In the end, this results in the failure of certain accessories and parts like the headlights, being unable to function. Your car radio might also fail to turn on. 

The solution is to get rid of the pasty substance so that the battery can function effectively.

Causes of corrosion

Ronnie Kyazze, an automotive technician says oxidation – a chemical reaction that occurs when metal interacts with air and water – is the leading cause of corrosion. 

Essentially, the battery terminal must be clean and the cables tight to enable charging. Still, charging, undercharging, and overcharging can cause corrosion, especially through the terminals. 

The pasty substance on the negative terminal is a sign of undercharging. This happens with cars that are not driven often – those that are always parked or driven for short distances – leading to the failure of the alternator to charge the battery optimally. 

Overcharging, on the other hand, is reported by the pasty substance on the positive terminal. The acid overflows cause corrosion. 

Also, some motorists are in the habit of overfilling their maintenance batteries with deionised water. When the excess water beyond the upper-level indicator overflows, the battery terminals respond by corroding.  

How to get rid of the pasty substance

Kyazze emphasises that corrosion of the battery terminals should not be ignored. He explains that to deal with it, warm water or sandpaper can come in handy. After that, grease or body jelly completes the process.

“After using sandpaper, apply petroleum or grease. It shields the battery from exposure to oxygen which aids in corrosion. 

That is why grease is applied to a new battery, to prevent corrosion,” Kyazze explains. The battery holder clamp, too, which keeps the battery firm on the vehicle tends to display the same white, pasty substance with time because of the leaking battery. 

If ignored, it breaks. Joel Katongole, a mechanic, says soda (Coca-Cola) can be applied onto the corroded area, washing away the ashy substance instantly. 

“It is fast and hassle-free. Jelly can be applied thereafter to ensure it does not reoccur. Grease would be great, but it is not effective,” Katongole says. He adds that water and soap can also work.