Battery and terminals

[Spartan1]

One of the benefits to putting my car in storage for 4 months a year I guess. Will inspect the terminals twice a year.

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[ORRadtech]

So what who cares, if they put in a crappy battery. It leaks down the road, takes out terminals or worse starts working on the unibody . I ask what was gained ?


My question is more about, is it a Ford battery that has leaked .

One absolutely gets what they pay for battery wise.

All I'm interested in, again who is the manufacture of the battery, easy question ?

The brand name on the battery means very little. There are really only a handful of companies that actually make batteries. A few years ago Johnson Controls made most batteries that went in new cars including Ford. Don't really know about now but I don't imagine much has changed.

 

[Bikeman315]

The brand name on the battery means very little. There are really only a handful of companies that actually make batteries. A few years ago Johnson Controls made most batteries that went in new cars including Ford. Don't really know about now but I don't imagine much has changed.

For what it’s worth, OP did say it was the “stock” battery. I’ll presume that would be a Motorcraft.

 

[Rapid Red]

The brand name on the battery means very little. There are really only a handful of companies that actually make batteries. A few years ago Johnson Controls made most batteries that went in new cars including Ford. Don't really know about now but I don't imagine much has changed.

I hear ya, but there is also this, there is more going on besides. A manufacture just slapping on a label and calling it a day.

Companies contract XYZ to make a battery for say a NAPA. NAPA will be offered different quality levels of materials. To be used to assemble the end product.

So a NAPA & Auto Zone battery, made by XYZ. Will in fact be a different battery. Just like your Mustang, all Mustangs are made by Ford not all are the same.

 

[Gregs24]

This is nothing to do with Ford using 'cheap' batteries. It is Hydrogen escaping from the battery which is completely normal and then depending on use, environment, differing metal types etc causes the corrosion. It happens on lots of different cars. Once the powdery corrosion is there it attracts water which makes the whole thing worse.

Battery terminal grease (or just petroleum jelly) speared over the terminals once connected is the solution that has been used for decades.

 

[WD Pro]

I hear ya, but there is also this, there is more going on besides. A manufacture just slapping on a label and calling it a day.

Companies contract XYZ to make a battery for say a NAPA. NAPA will be offered different quality levels of materials. To be used to assemble the end product.

So a NAPA & Auto Zone battery, made by XYZ. Will in fact be a different battery. Just like your Mustang, all Mustangs are made by Ford not all are the same.

Yes and the battery will be most likely be untraceable to the actual manufacturer as Ford will have them brand it Motorcraft (or whatever brand your part store uses etc). Someone who works in the industry would be able to identify the battery (even if branded Motorcraft) by box / lid set, manufacturing techniques, process identification markings etc - but that's not likely to be the guy at your local parts store, it would need someone with inside knowledge.

This is nothing to do with Ford using 'cheap' batteries. It is Hydrogen escaping from the battery which is completely normal and then depending on use, environment, differing metal types etc causes the corrosion. It happens on lots of different cars. Once the powdery corrosion is there it attracts water which makes the whole thing worse.

Battery terminal grease (or just petroleum jelly) speared over the terminals once connected is the solution that has been used for decades.

It can be more prevalent in a cheap battery due to lower cost components, poorer manufacturing and QC etc.

Substandard box to lid seals, lid to insert bonding or cap burning can all allow passage of electrolyte (which is very searching). Even a perfectly assembled battery can still leak if the electrolyte level is incorrectly set at end of manufacture.

Hydrogen is not the source of corrosion. As the hydrogen (and other gasses) exit the battery they will bring with them a slight misting of acid which will settle as it is dispersed. Battery vent design can have a big influence on the amount of mist that is allowed to pass.

The settled mist will start with an SG the same as the battery, but it will get stronger as it looses water content. At the same time it attracts water and it will balance itself out around 1400. You will soon see corrosion starting to form and it will be naturally attracted to the positive terminal.

Grease and regular checks are the way to go

WD

 

[Rapid Red]

Yes and the battery will be most likely be untraceable to the actual manufacturer as Ford will have them brand it Motorcraft (or whatever brand your part store uses etc). Someone who works in the industry would be able to identify the battery (even if branded Motorcraft) by box / lid set, manufacturing techniques, process identification markings etc - but that's not likely to be the guy at your local parts store, it would need someone with inside knowledge.



It can be more prevalent in a cheap battery due to lower cost components, poorer manufacturing and QC etc.

Substandard box to lid seals, lid to insert bonding or cap burning can all allow passage of electrolyte (which is very searching). Even a perfectly assembled battery can still leak if the electrolyte level is incorrectly set at end of manufacture.

Hydrogen is not the source of corrosion. As the hydrogen (and other gasses) exit the battery they will bring with them a slight misting of acid which will settle as it is dispersed. Battery vent design can have a big influence on the amount of mist that is allowed to pass.

The settled mist will start with an SG the same as the battery, but it will get stronger as it looses water content. At the same time it attracts water and it will balance itself out around 1400. You will soon see corrosion starting to form and it will be naturally attracted to the positive terminal.

Grease and regular checks are the way to go

WD

Vasoline, was used for years, for the same purpose. Onboard with grease longer lasting.

Was not aware of exactly how or where the corrosion starts. Falsely assumed it had something to do with a loose clamp and post.

What is your impression of a sealed battery? Would be interesting to read.

Good write up BTW

 

[WD Pro]

Thanks

Yes Vaseline / petroleum jelly is also very good and was used for years by the OE's to protect the lead / copper connectors on traction batteries. After the connectors had been burned on it was applied whilst the connector was still warm, it would melt / flow / creep all around the connector and joint before cooling / setting and before the shrouds were fitted. Specialist greases have now taken over, but they are not quite as easy to get hold of in small quantity's for the average consumer.

Loose clamps are most likely to reveal themselves by causing electrical gremlins in low current applications and heat / terminal meltdown / fire in high current applications.

Sealed battery as in a flooded battery 'sealed for life' or a gel / AGM battery battery ? The definition can get somewhat blurred ... lol

All the technologies can be compromised by manufacturing error, but in general and under correct operation, a gel / AGM battery 'should' stay clean for life.

Having said that, so should a well designed, correctly manufactured, correctly operated flooded battery. Here's the one on my Kia that's a month short of its ninth birthday :

WD

 

[Rapid Red]

All good and yes flooded is good, but. So to hedge my bet gel, will be the replacement when required .

Lots of talk around the AGM, seems they are a bit finicky, for now. Leting the design develop some more. And not wanting to be a bata field tester. Holding off see what way the wind blows..

Interesting post how the Vaseline was applied.

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