Did you know that it is possible to clean a corroded car battery with coca cola? Yes, you read that correctly! Besides being a thirst-quenching fizzy drink, coca cola can also be the solution to corroded battery terminals.
A corroded car battery will eventually prevent you from starting the vehicle to take it out on rides. Therefore, it is important that you address it as soon as you notice corroded battery terminal symptoms.
Even the most attentive car owners encounter a corroded car battery once in a while. Thus, it is useful to be equipped with the needed knowledge and equipment ahead. Remember, in the car realm: precautions and preventive measures are the priorities.
So, how to clean a corroded car battery with coca cola? We will take you through everything you need to know in this article, including the necessary materials and steps.
Briefly, the cleaning procedure is as follows:
- Locate the car battery and disconnect the cables to start cleaning
- Apply the coca cola and let it work its magic
- Scrub the rust and corrosion off with moderate force
- Dry off the car battery with a towel or napkins
- Reassemble the car battery setup and do a final check
Obviously, there is more to know about each step. You can find out as you read. Go on!
Table of Contents
- 5 Steps to Clean a Car Battery with Coke
- What You Will Need to Have
- What You Will Need to Do
- Pre-Cleaning Step
- Step 1: Locate the car battery and disconnect the cables to start cleaning
- Step 2: Apply the coca cola and let it work its magic
- Step 3: Scrub the rust and corrosion off with moderate force
- Step 4: Dry off the car battery with a towel or napkins
- Step 5: Reassemble the car battery setup and do a final check
- Conclusion
5 Steps to Clean a Car Battery with Coke
With this guide on cleaning a corroded battery using coke, you will never have to seek help from costly services and mechanics again. You can take care of your car’s battery terminals effectively on your own with a soda you probably already have at home! What more can you ask for, right?
What You Will Need to Have
- A pair of gloves
- A pair of goggles
- A face mask
- A cloth or rag
- A spray bottle
- A funnel (Optional)
- Some swabs
- A stiff-bristle brush
- A cup (Preferably paper)
- A microfiber towel or napkins
Once you have everything ready, go ahead and dive into the next section with all the necessary steps.
What You Will Need to Do
Pre-Cleaning Step
Before you get your hands dirty, put on protective gears: a pair of gloves, goggles, and a face mask. When it comes to car care and maintenance, remember: better safe than sorry.
Step 1: Locate the car battery and disconnect the cables to start cleaning
To start, pop up your car’s hood and locate the corroded car battery. Disconnect the negative cable, then the positive, and set them both aside. Make sure that you place them on a cloth or rag to insulate. You can also tie them out of the way if you want.
As long as they will not be accidentally contacting the battery and causing shocks. If the corrosion is preventing you from disconnecting the cables, swab a bit of coke onto the connection parts. Give it one to two minutes; the corrosion should soften or be broken to give you access.
Step 2: Apply the coca cola and let it work its magic
Transfer the coca cola that you have prepared into a spray bottle. To make this easy, it helps to have a funnel. Cap the bottle tightly and give it a spritz test. Hold it over the corroded parts of the battery at about a finger’s length distance. Spray section by section evenly. Cleaning battery terminals with coke is the most straightforward approach since the slight acid in this drink can neutralize and eat away the rust effectively.
Another option: Detailed Guide on Cleaning Car Battery Terminals with Vinegar
Step 3: Scrub the rust and corrosion off with moderate force
Grab the stiff-bristle brush or a toothbrush and scrub the parts you have just sprayed coke on. Use side-to-side, up-and-down, or circular motions, as needed.
Top Tip: Make sure you invest in a good quality stiff-bristle brush and only use the toothbrush when you have no other choice. If you do not yet have a reliable brush, then take a look at these commonly recommended options in the market: OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set, Amazer Scrub Brush Comfort Grip and Flexible Stiff Bristles, and Chemical Guys ACCG25 Induro 7 Heavy Duty Nifty Interior Carpet/Upholstery Detailing Brush.
The buildup should be tearing away from the battery terminals. Do not forget to apply just moderate force. In another hand, hold a cup to collect the brushed-off gunks. This way, you can save yourself work cleaning up later; simply throw the cup into the trash.
Take your time with this step and be extra attentive in reaching all the nooks and crannies. Depending on how severely corroded the car battery is, you will have to spend more or less time scrubbing.
Apply more coca cola as you work. Make sure that you are working section by section. Try to work from the top to bottom so you will not accidentally leave out any parts.
Step 4: Dry off the car battery with a towel or napkins
Wipe the car battery down with a microfiber towel or napkins. Use it to remove all the coca cola and any gunk residue. If you use a towel, make sure you rinse it with clear water as you go. Or, if you use napkins, switch to new ones as needed.
Otherwise, you risk re-spreading the filth and backfiring what you have done until now. Do this until you know for sure that the car battery is clean and dried completely.
Step 5: Reassemble the car battery setup and do a final check
Reattach the battery cables, starting with the positive one and following with the negative one. If the cables spark during this, do not freak out.
Just check that the connection points are secured. Then, close the hood, and do a final check by running the engine.
With that, you have gone through all the steps to clean the battery with coke. It was easier than you expected, right?
Conclusion
Cleaning a car battery with coke is no longer a far-fetched scenario now that you have reached the end of this article. Hopefully, it was easy to follow and helpful.
To recap, the procedure to clean battery terminals with coke includes 5 steps, which starts with locating the car battery and disconnecting the cables and finishes with drying and reassembling the battery setup.
If you are dealing with a corroded car battery right now, just apply what you have read; good luck! If not, bookmark this article in case you need it in the future. You never know when the battery terminals will be attacked by corrosion.
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