"Elle" > wrote in
ink.net:


>
> The point is to regularly clean off and grease the terminals. Say at
> least once or maybe twice a year. Don't wait until there's a sizable
> buildup of the white powder.



That "white powder" is lead oxide, not the same thing as the bulky greenish
lumps that result from a broken seal. Lead oxide is caused by simple
exposure of lead to oxygen in the air and in moisture (just like rust or
aluminum oxide). It's that oxidation that you prevent by spraying the
teminals with grease.

If the battery's in good shape and the terminals are sprayed with grease,
that white powder never appears, even if you never clean the terminals. If
your case seal is broken, the corrosive gases escaping will overwhelm the
grease on the terminals, eventually causing corrosion anyway.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/