Ford F-150/F-250: Car Battery Reviews

This article applies to the Ford F-150 (2004-2014) and F-250, F-350 Super Duty (2005-2014).

Not only do you want to choose a battery that fits your specific vehicle, you also want to choose one that fits your climate and driving conditions. High temperature is hard on battery life, it increases corrosion and vaporizes electrolyte more quickly, making the battery life and warranty length more important. Likewise, cold cranking amps and reserve capacity are important in cold climates. Take a look at four of the most popular options below and see which one is best for your application.

The reserve capacity is a time measurement that explains how long a fully-charged battery can deliver 25 amps of current in an 80°F-environment, before the battery is discharged down to 10.5 volts.

The crank amps can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live, specifically how cold it is where you live. The two factors are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with. The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the car battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

Car Battery Comparison

	Motorcraft	Optima	Duralast	Kirkland (Costco)
Price	$140	$220	$130	$67
Looks	Black	Yellow and white, Red and grey	Black, Clear	Black
Weight	30 pounds	46 pounds	30 pounds	30 pounds
Performance	750 cranking amps, 750 cold	870 cranking amps, 750 cold	760 cranking amps, 610 cold	760 cranking amps, 610 cold
Reserve Capacity	90 minutes	120 minutes	90 minutes	90 minutes
Warranty	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years

Motorcraft

Price: $140

Looks: Black

Weight: 30 pounds

Performance: 750 cranking amps, 750 cold

Reserve capacity: 90 minutes

Warranty: 3 years

Motorcraft batteries have an excellent 100 month warranty and offer a 36 month free replacement if something goes wrong. They are also relatively inexpensive and offer good cold cranking power and reserve capacity. Unlike most Motorcraft parts however, they don't have the best reputation among community experts. Many users report failure within 2 years or less. Since the 36 months replacement is only good once, many buyers have been left in the cold as a result. Recommended if you are looking for the best warranty.

Optima

Price: $220

Looks: red or yellow and grey

Weight: 46 pounds

Performance: 870 cranking amps, 750 cold

Reserve power: 120 minutes

Warranty: 3 years

Optima batteries have a stellar reputation, especially among those who add on extra accessories that drain more battery power, such as amplifiers or extra lighting. You will also pay a lot more for one over the rest of the competition. But Optima's design is inherently stronger, resistant to vibration, and holds up well against the rigors of off roading. If you opt for the yellow top, expect to pay around $20 more for superior deep cycling over the red top. If durability is your main concern, Optima might be worth the extra money. Recommended if you are looking for a powerful battery to support all your accessories.

Duralast

Price: $130

Looks: black or clear

Weight: 30 pounds

Performance: 750 cranking amps, 610 cold

Reserve power: 90 minutes

Warranty: 3 years

Duralast batteries are cheaper than most options and have relatively good reviews on the community discussions. The Gold series of Duralast batteries are inherently better than the standard option, however. The biggest complaint more reviewers have is that they got a shorter life out of their battery expectancy, typically around 2-3 years. But with most batteries. Recommended if you are looking for a powerful battery at a cheaper price.

Kirkland (Costco)

Price: $67

Looks: black

Weight: 30 pounds

Performance: 760 cranking amps, 610 cold

Reserve power: 90 minutes

Warranty: 3 years

Kirkland batteries, sold by Costco, are a bit of a well kept secret in the automotive world. These batteries are both cheap and of excellent quality, making them the best choice of our group for normal use. You will be hard pressed to find a bad review of a Kirkland battery online, and for good reason. Performance is on par with an Optima battery, for 1/4th of the price. You don't get the same technology or durability that Optima has, but for normal use, they are a no brainer. On top of that, they are tied with Motorcraft for best warranty. Recommended if you are looking for a reliable battery without spending too much money.

Related Discussion

• Super Duty Replacement - Ford-trucks.com