[bullheimer]

i don't get it. i am getting white powder UNDER my batteries in both my truck and in my grand am. i have a big, all be it old, braided metal ground strap in my truck. and the stock 55 battery tray. good batteries in both. i have a plastic bag under the bat in my grand am. i washed it off and now have rust lookin marks on my frame. used to be just on the terminals, so what gives? any guesses welcome as well.

[cobalt327]

For whatever reason, it would seem that you've got sulfates forming. Sulfates can be acidic so their formation can set a domino effect into motion.

Can also be because of how the battery vents are configured, or the voltage regulator/alternator is allowing a too high charge rate, or even cheaply made cables/terminals can cause this. Might be a good time to do a complete charging system check. You can start by checking the alternator output.

As long as there's no leakage caused by a bad connection of the case to the terminals, a good cleaning followed by that red spray (or fill in the blank w/your favorite concoction) that's sold in the parts store, etc. should keep new formations at bay. Some swear by those circular pads that are placed onto the terminals (top mount style batteries) before the terminals are installed.

A good ground is important- ground the battery to the engine AND chassis w/good diameter ground straps. Keep the terminals and connections clean and tight.

No chance there was some baking soda/water solution used at some point in the past? If so, when dry, the soda will re appear as a white powder.

[bullheimer]

THOSE pads suck. i have put baking soda in water and ******d it out but that aint it. it be fuzzy. the terminals are all ten years old and no replacement ends on them. the batts are both new.

[oldschoolrods]

I been using the red spray-on corrosion prevention stuff, use it almost everyday on stuff, works great

[red65mustang]

LOL but serious,,,
go buy a plastic marine batt type box or similar if the appearance bugs you,,,,cut it down to be just a tray under the batt....

the "white stuff" is telling you the batt is venting correctly (acid fumes) for batt explosion prevention safety when to much voltage and amps is present at the batt (commonly when first re-charging the batt after starting the motor)....

at 14.4V there's some slow gas bubbling in the cells,,,,at around 15.5V the cells look like a pot of spagetti boiling...

if the gassing off is excessive it will deplete the cells liquid so pop the caps and check the fluid levels....

if the voltage regulator input sensing wire is getting a incorrect Volts reading for actual batt charge state and it will tell the alt to put out to much for to long when recharging (overcharge the batt to 16V?)....

it can definitely be other things,,,,time to get out the volt meter and do some actual testing....

the white stuff is telling you the charging system is abit out of balance

[bullheimer]

i think it must have something to do with one wire breaking off my alternator, it thinks it has to charge more now than it has to

[Rickracer]

I run Red Top Optimas in everything of mine, no more corrosion,