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How do I clean battery acid?

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Old Feb 26, 2007 | 08:13 PM
  #1  
King Taco's Avatar
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How do I clean battery acid?

Hello. I got a good amount of acid forming on my battery.

I guess baking soda is the best solution?

DO i hav to take the battery out?

Any tips are appreciated, thnx.
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Old Feb 26, 2007 | 08:20 PM
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good ol' coca cola will eat the corrosion off the terminals. pour some coke on it and let it set for a few then scrub it a bit with a brush. should be good as new.
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Old Feb 26, 2007 | 09:54 PM
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In the automotive secton at walmart next to the car batteries you'll find a spray can of stuff that neutralizes the acid and you can rinse it away with a water hose. It's a white foam that immediately turns red when it contacts the acid. You can spray the top of the battery and then just wash it away. I forgot what it's called but it's for cleaning battery terminals.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 01:32 AM
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Don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Guys,
I am a Battery Marketer for Motorcraft and ACDelco Batteries.
Do not use Coca cola! (acid)

You can use Baking Soda to neutrilize the acid but,

Is it corroded around the terminals or does it have liquid acid ?
If it has green stuff around the terminals is has a crack around or near the terminals. If acid is on top it has a leak in the (non-removeable) removeable caps. Both should not be happening. Talk to your dealer it should be warranty if all else is good.

There is a coating spray for cheap batteries that "gas" around the terminals but you shouldn't need it.

let me know if I can help more
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 02:25 AM
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Here's a tip, with your tongue King Taco.

Butterbean
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Old Mar 8, 2007 | 08:02 AM
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coca cola , but id rather use perriar or sparkling water its not sticky when dry
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Old Mar 8, 2007 | 12:42 PM
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is it the carbonated water that cleans the corosion or is it the citric acid? i always thought it was the acid in the coke.
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 11:03 PM
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Battery acid

First of all if you have corrosion on your battery allready you probably need to take it to the dealer, you dont just want to wash the acid off, you need to neutralize it, if you just wash it off then what ever comes in contact with it is going to start deterioate, you ever noticed in older cars how around the battery it rusts through.... dah! VINEGAR neutralizes and washes it away, then rinse with water.
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 12:02 PM
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I 2nd the spray can from the local auto parts store. I always make sure I have one available in the garage.
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by salsa037
coca cola , but id rather use perriar or sparkling water its not sticky when dry
um...coke will take the paint off anything it touchs if its not washed off, baking soda and water mixed is a base that will mildly clean the acid up
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkSpoon
is it the carbonated water that cleans the corosion or is it the citric acid? i always thought it was the acid in the coke.
adding more acid to acid just makes more acid, I assume its the carbonation, just lifting the acid.
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 05:44 PM
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I use a light solution of baking soda and water all the time when dealing with customer cars. As Dynamic mentioned the baking soda is a base that neutralizes the acid. I've heard the Coke tale for many years and have never seen it actually do anything (other than waste a good Coke!). All of that aside, you shouldn't have any buildup as mentioned above. Back to the dealer with you for some warranty service.
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Old Mar 17, 2007 | 11:28 AM
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I think AKBOSSMAN offered the best advice ...
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