It's about time for me to replace the battery in my 04FX4 5.4L and i was wondering what those of you in the colder climates are running I'm thinking about a Kirkland Signature/Costco Made by the same people who make the diehards cost signifigantly less and are better rated by consumer reports. i do a lot of snowmobiling in Maine and NH so i need a battery thats going to fire the truck up when its cold
Thanks
jbs

 

AC Delco was recently bought by interstate (which is also junk imho)- The diesel guys use to luv the AC Delco batteries- I would check if they are still built on the same line- if not I would recommend Odyssey batteries- built in the US at a family owned plant in SoCal.

 

Don't forget to protect your battery terminals with Fluid Film. It will last at least 12 months protecting them from any corrosion. If you haven't tried it yet and live in the US, just PM me your shipping info and I'll get a sample can out for testing.

Manufactured in the USA.

 

get one with 860 plus cranking amps always had good luck with ford ones added a new 860 amp last fall around $120

 

While im NOT a fan of Autozone,I can honestly say that their Batteries are excellent,and covered by a good warranty.I never buy anything else there but Oil and Filters,but Ive never had one of their batteries let me down....My .02

 

I live in central Maine I bought my battery at NAPA, $99, 900 CCA. Can't beat it, going on two years, no issues.

 

I usually get the gold batteries from A.Z. and also have no complaints. BUT the boat batteries are another story. Those are all the blue ones. I had replaced one, two weeks, problem, 6 months, I just got another NC from them so I'm not complaining but the old one two years no sweat. So final opinion is Gold OK, Blue ?????

 

I used to be Die Hard loyal, but they have replaced the last 3 batteries I purchased from them. Since then, I have stuck to consumer reports recommendations. Their testing shows NAPA making an excellent batttery, and it is what I switched to. Excellent cold cranking performance. May try an optima in the future though...

 

I just replaced my stock battery with a Kirkland from Costco. The $48 replacement based on the fit guide is smaller than the stock battery. I forgot the group number, but I took the next bigger size that costs $70. It's got a few hundred more CCA's than the former and has more capacity to let me run my electricals a tad longer with the engine off.. Fits perfectly.

The higher CCA's should let you guys in the cold start easier.

BTW, the Kirkland batteries are OEM'd from Johnson Control. They're the same guys who make the DieHard Gold and maybe Platinum batteries including some other brands. Same battery, same specs, same 100month warranty, different sticker, <2/3 the price. Good stuff.

 

Dont get a (N)everstart from Walmart or the (N)eveready from where ever. Motorcraft have a great reputation but I would not recommend the BXT-59. Any of the 65 series are pretty good but the prices have gone through the roof lately. I think we are selling BXT 65-850 for 125.00

 

I am not in the north country, but the heat where I am from does a number on a battery. My advice is to go with anything made by Johnson Controls or East Penn. Personally I like to buy a battery with the most CCAs and longest warranty from a well known and widely available chain. The Wally World Everstart Maxx in my area are made by Johnson Controls and come with one of the best warranties out there. I have 3 years free replacement, and no matter what part of the U.S. I am in, there is always bound to be a Wally World around the corner. That battery is in my Dodge. In my wifes F-150, I have the Autozone Duralast Gold. Same deal with this one as the Wally World one.

I understand that no battery will last forever, and personally dont want one over 4 years or so anyway. But having a distributor just around the corner almost no matter where you go, to cash in your warranty should something happen on the road is convenient, especially if it is in free replacement.

 

Get a group 31 battery of the manufacture of choice, big cca's (like 950 and highly minimum) long reserve capacity.

 

I would get the highest CCA battery that would fit your truck. Johnson Controls also manufactures the Advance Auto Parts batteries. Their Titanium series has been reliable. They look identical to Motorcraft except for the stickers. In fact, I have even used one of their batteries in a Mustang and just swithed the decals and caps on the batteries and you cannot tell the difference.