legacycentral bbs

Over the years, I've had this white powdery stuff on the battery bracing. When I bought a new 84 month batter on 12/10/2007, I cleaned the metal supports with baking soda and water (per the Internet). Sure enough, it came back with time.

Looking online, some suggest it's from a leaking battery. Since this happened with both the old and new battery, I don't think this is the cause.
Some posts suggest it's from overcharging. I installed a new NAPA alternator around 9/1/2007. My radar detector always shows ~14V while driving around town. That's normal voltage, so don't think that's the problem either.
Some posts suggest it's from a constant draw while the car is off. I do/did have an alarm system (Python 700).

I do use the felt washers on each terminal, which some posts suggest it helps to prevent the white stuff. Haven't used any sort of dielectric grease though.

I scrapped off some of the white powder before taking the picture, but you get the idea of the growth:



Is there any way to prevent this from occuring?

It's corrosion.

Your best bet is to replace the hold down with a new one. Once they start to corrode, they will continue. About the only other way to make it stop is to use a sealed battery.

And use those felt washers (I see the green one on the negative terminal, but do you have a red one on the positive terminal) and dielectric grease to keep the battery terminals insulated.

Mine's done that since I bought it in '98. The felt washers reduce it a little, but it still happens. Nothing to worry about, just an annoyance.

You can't just remove it, clean it, sand it, and prime, and paint with 3-5 coats of rust paint and seal (optional) ?

You can, whatever's left of it, but it won't stop it from coming back. Probably less work to just replace it every few years. Another idea might be to get a battery tray that uses a hold down strap instead. Not as good, but it's another option.

Cleaning, sanding, and repainting it should make it as good as new, and, really, that plus dielectric grease all over the terminals does help keep it from happening again.

I've always had it come back doing the same thing. Cheap batteries, perhaps, since I always get the cheapest name brand.

It's tough to sand in between the folded metal, so if you want to go that route, you can dump some Pour 15 or Step One rust converter in it. yours doesn't look bad. Mine was as thin as a Coke can in several spots.