Hi folks,
The lovely "jewel" also known as an Interstate brand battery that's in my truck has finally bit the dust. It's been a dying cause since I bought the truck years ago but I'm a firm believer that any interstate brand battery is a lost cause from day 1. Has anyone else made this discovery or have I been blessed with 2 batteries that were just junk?

Since I'm in need of a new battery, I was thinking I'd go a little larger. Does anyone know what the biggest size battery my truck can manage with a stock alternator? I'm not upgrading the alternator.

Also, is there any reason I shouldn't think about a used battery from a junkyard? I don't use the truck that often anymore but down the road I might. But if a used battery is $30 vs $90 for new I might go used. If used is closer to $50 and up I'll just go new.

Thanks folks!
-Al C

 

WOW Al, I swear by interstate, I have two in my truck right now, and have been in there for acouple years now. You can put any size battery you want, the alternator will charge whatever you put in. Look for CCA 800 and above and a reserve capacity the higher the better. i have had bad experiance with exide batteries, thats just me.

 

I sold batteries for over a decade, I saw more 2-3 yr old interstates come in as cores than anything else. Second to them was the DieHards. As far as getting a used, as long as it passes the tests and has sufficient age left on it, I wouldn't be hesitant.

 

I once wanted to know the best battery brand to get, too...but after reading around (here and elsewhere) I came to the conclusion that batteries are pretty much all the same; for every brand you'll find people who swear by them, and people who swear at them.

So I buy my batteries at NAPA, and have never had a problem.

 

On average I get 8 years of a Motorcraft battery, made by Johnson Controls.

 

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Battery life depends not only on its design, but also how it's been handled. Your alternator will work with anything you put as long as it's 12 volts. Due to their weight, batteries tend to get sometimes bumped around which doesn't help their longevity. The old regulators allowed for fine tuning of the charging. The new ones don't. The hardest part of going to a larger battery is finding the space to put it. If your truck uses a size 24, it would be fairly easy to use a size 27. Big truck batteries are bigger and stronger, but placement of it could be a problem. There's nothing wrong with buying from a junkyard, especially if they will give you another battery if the first one doesn't work. Make measurements, check polarity, and check the date codes. Many many years ago I bought them for $10, but they probably cost more now. (Some new battery dealer core charges are $15.) There are "new technology" batteries on the market these days, but their new cost is at least in the $150-175 range. They are sealed, but their warranties probably are no better than a conventional lead/acid. Shop around.

 

Physically most large batteries will kinda fit the tray, if really fitting is important then a 27, 34, or 78. Or if getting the physically largest conventional battery go for a 65 or even better a 31, it will mostly fit.


Group 31 is a common industrial commercial truck size, often a more expensive and better made battery even if the same brand/label.


I've bought used optimas and been happy with them, but only the 34/78 DT. I don't think I'd buy another new one.


I've heard great things about the Die Hard Platinum, that it's a gel cell that has proven itself. I've yet to buy one, I haven't needed another battery yet but planned on getting one when I did.


Batteries are often a product where you get what you pay for. The commercial group 31s, and Gel cells are pricey, up to you if it's worth it. If it's about bang for the buck a group 65 from a reputable store with a good warranty is likely the way to go.

 

I second the Johnson Controls made batteries.

Advance Auto Parts batteries are made by them also and with their "order online-pick up in store" website deals and coupons, I find they have the best deals around.

Down here in the South anyway!

 

Wow thanks all for the replies.

As far as interstate goes I've seen three in the past few years that were utter garbage. In their defense maybe they weren't handled properly early on in their life. I've always believed them to be the "Lincoln" of batteries say next to a diehard. as far as my preference goes, I prefer Walmart maxx batteries. Had a set that came in my powerstroke and they lasted 7 years. When I replaced them I didn't realize it was my starter so I theoretically replaced working batteries. I also put a WM battery in my daily driver car. My feeling is this...Walmart is everywhere and open late so if I had a warranty claim I'm covered. Buuut that's just my opinion from experience.

For whatever reason I thought the size was particular to the amperage of the alternator. I'm pretty sure I can fit one of my powerstroke batteries in the old gasser. Those suckers are 1000 ca and 900 cca (?).

Anyhoo, thanks again, I'm gonna go look for a junkyard battery!

 

I had a group 65 in my 86. Took a little customization of the tray, but she spun nicely.

 

A group 65 is sitting in mine right now. Fits great. I've had the best luck with Interstate batteries. Our oldest one is from 2001 and it's been abused and still works great. Sat for years at a time without ever being charged, get put in to a 10 minute crank fest, charged by a generator for a while. Sit for another year or two, repeat, repeat. Best battery I've ever seen. Die-Hard's have been just that. They DIE HARD. The battery in our van and my dads pickup were installed the same day in 2009. Never a lick of trouble out of them and they sit around a lot.

 

I took the 34/78 Optima out of my 86 F150 this past weekend to put in the Eldorado, then bought a Diehard group 24 at the junkyard for the F150. Fits perfectly. ~Bill

 

A few people touched on this a little bit, but how a battery is treated (from what experience I have had with them), makes a huge difference.

Sitting around all the time not being used is bad and seems to shorten their life.

Deep discharges like forgetting to turn your lights off really seems to shorten their life.

The general consensus is a battery should last at least 5 years. But 90% of the time, if I have a battery in a car I use at least once or twice a week, and it starts very easy with no long cranking events, I get at least 8 years + from them on a regular basis.

 

Supposedly there are "northern" and "southern" batteries, or used to be. On account the high temperatures down south just kill batteries and they were constructed a bit differently to try and get them to last longer. Something to do with the isolaters and quantity of electrolyte.

One thing I don't get is how many people tend to be pretty fussy about some things (oil and filter, fluid changes, washing and waxing) though seem to take some kind of weird pleasure out of torturing the electrical system. Batteries should be charged periodically and tested, like anything else and it pays to replace them prior to outright failure.