Grease battery post/cable connection?

[Stan in Oly, WA]

A few days ago, my pickup wouldn't start. Totally dead in the morning after no sign of a problem the night before. It turned out the brass clamp which connects the cable to the positive battery post was broken. It took me less time to make a replacement out of copper than to go to an auto parts store to buy one. The brass clamp broke because I'm not careful to keep it clean, and the corrosion weakened it. Would it be a good idea to put grease over the fitting and the post now that they're all cleaned up and snug?

Thanks, Stan
 

[js305]

For years I have used plain old Vaseline. You don't have to use much. I put about a thimble full on top of the post and smear it out a little. After the vehicle is run a little it melts and runs all over the connection. Yes, it draws some dirt, but it keeps the air/fumes from the battery from reacting with the metals in the connections and stays clean for a long time.
 

[rabbit]

I usually do grease battery connections before assembly, and often spray them down after connection... Think it helps reduce corrosion and prevent problems later. Over the years, I have had numerous incidents whare a battery would simply stop working. Take connections off, brush them - reassemble, and good to go.... Corrosion would happen seemingly over night.
 

[John T]

Stan, sure if oxygen and moisture are kept off of a connection OXIdation (rust) and corrosion and reaction is reduced. HOWEVER Id highly recommend more like the regular red battery terminal anti corrosive spray then grease. Grease isnt that good of a conductor and if it gets hots and liquifies and flows down and gets in between between the post and connection thats NOT a good thing now... Id much prefer lead to lead or lead to the brass terminal then lead seperated by a film of grease YUKKKKKK thats not a good way for low resistance electrical current flow.........

John T Longgggg retired Electrical Engineer
 

[MarkB_MI]

I like to use a bit of anti-seize compound where the post and clamp come in contact. I've had no problems with corrosion when I've done that.
 

[S.Crum]

I have a squeeze bottle of Ideal Noalox terminal grease that Gary the old electrician at work gave me. It's an anti-ozidation grease for high voltage connections. Works good on battery cables and most other electrical connections including trailer plugs.
 

[2x4]

whenever I check the motor oil, I hold the dipstick over the connections & let the excess oil drip down on them. Worked ok for 30 yrs now
 

[Mike Groom]

You can use dielectric grease or they make a spray that is yellow in color that I have used for years to protect battery post. Both are available at most auto parts stores.
 

[KIP in MX]

Dow-Corning #4 dielectic compound. Comes in a tube and is a clear grease type product. We use it on electrical and battery connectors in helicopters that operate in offshore, salt air enviroment.
 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Who sells that, an electrical supply house?
 

[Stephen Newell]

Any auto parts store has a battery protector in a rattle can to spray on the terminal.
 

[ASEguy]

No grease. When it warms up grease will get between the post and the terminal. You can use vasoline.
 

[Dusty MI]

[D7fever]

What is the difference between vaselene and grease anyway? I grease up the post and the inside and outside of the clamp ,plenty of grease, prevents corrosion. The grease does not insulate the electrical connection. I have done that for years.
 

[PaGlenn]

What about those small felt donuts that slide over the terminals. They seem to do the job for me.