Corrosion on battery terminals is a common problem that can cause reduced battery life and electrical problems in vehicles. Corrosion occurs when corrosive gas or liquid from inside the battery comes in contact with the metal on the outside of the battery, resulting in a chemical reaction. There are several reasons why this can happen, including:

• Undercharging: Corrosion that appears on the negative battery terminal is a symptom of undercharging. This can happen if youre taking short drives and your battery isnt getting fully charged.

• Leaking fluid: If your battery is cracked or damaged, battery acid can leak from the casing and cause corrosion around the battery terminals.

• Overcharging: Overcharging your battery can cause it to heat up, allowing the corrosive liquid to come through the vent holes and onto the battery cables.

• Battery age: If your battery is nearing the end of its 5 to 7 year lifespan, corrosion can be expected.

To prevent or slow down battery terminal corrosion, you can take the following steps:

• Protect: After a thorough cleaning, coat your battery terminals with dielectric grease or battery terminal protector to prevent corrosion in the future.

• Avoid under or overcharging: If you notice corrosion on your battery terminals, avoid undercharging or overcharging your battery.

• Check your battery: If your battery is more than five to seven years old, it’s probably nearing the end of its useful life and slowly losing its ability to hold a charge. When batteries reach this stage, corrosion around the terminals is to be expected.

If you do spot any corrosion on your battery terminals, it’s best to get a professional opinion from your local auto technician as to what the cause may be. They can perform a Battery Guard service to clean the corrosion from the battery and protect it from coming back.