battery question

[crusader33x]

hello! i have had an optima battery for about 2 1/2 years now. about four months ago, i left my headlights on at work and the battery drained. so later that night i jumped started it for about 2 minutes. since then i have been driving it ( i had forgotten about the situation as i was originally planning on perhaps having it recharged) but it has been fine. should i still have it recharged?

and also whats the best way to keep battery terminals clean? will they always have corrosion even if i cover them? do they need regular cleaning?

thanks

[curtis73]

I should say its fine. Most alternators are capable of recharging a dead battery in about 20 minutes of driving.

[UncleBob]

if the car is running, the battery is recharging. There is nothing different that a charger would do to the battery that the alternator already did.

So in short, no, there is no benefit at all to put the battery on a charger. Since the vehicle starts, its as charged as it going to get.

[crusader33x]

thank you! so what do you think about keeping the terminals clea?

[UncleBob]

uh, yah. Keeping them clean is a good idea, as with any electrical connection

[curtis73]

If the terminals get cruddy, simply make a paste of water and baking soda. It should be about the consistency of a milkshake. Remove the terminals from the posts and dump the slurry on everything; posts, terminals, battery hold down bracket, battery tray... anything with that corrosion on it. Wait 20 minutes and then come back and rinse it off with water. Super simple.

[crusader33x]

good looking out! thanks again! man, you guys sure know your stuff! (or at least i hope so! hehe j/k j/k)

[LonelyDriver115]

Thats what I did too when my battery was all coroded on my '96 Cavalier. But i first got the terminals with a wire brush to make sure to get all the thick stuff was off first then used the water and baking soda.

[importloverh22]

God, is there anything Baking Soda can't do? My mom swears by it using it for cleaning and getting rid of unwanted smells in the fridge and pantry.

[Anil]

you can also use hot water and pour it on the terminals it works the fastest

[bluevp00]

As added protection, once you get the terminals nice and clean, coat them in some vaseline. This prevents them from getting dirty again.

[Anil]

yea nice point there