best battery?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 2
best battery?
It seems that 7.3L Powerstrokes in SuperDuties require hot batteries to crank in cold weather. After difficulty cranking on morning, Advance Auto checked the batteries and one tested weak - around 600 CCA. The other tested fine. If only one battery is replaced, will this be fine? All of the charging tested ok. Also, what brand battery would be best for this truck. Dad always buys Motorcraft batteries for his Powerstroke. I drive a gas, so I get Wal-Mart because Wal-Marts are everywhere, open 24/7, and have a good return policy - I drive a lot all over, so they work for me. However, I didn't see a comparable battery in CCAs compared to the one currently in the truck. Thank you.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
Always replace batteries in pairs unless the other is very new. Motorcraft batteries are pretty good and they last a long time. I have Interstate batteries and they are also hard to beat. One thing to keep in mind, higher CCA ratings means a less durable, shorter life battery. They use a more porous lead to increase surface area to achieve those CCA ratings. If you look at Motorcraft batteries, you'll see the diesel batteries are a 650 or 750, whereas the Interstates I got are 875.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 2
I tend to overthink decisions. You say the higher CCA batteries tend to have a shorter life, but you went with higher CCA batteries rather than the 650 and 750 CCA Motorcrafts, so to you, does the higher CCAs justify the shorter life. (I've always tried to get the highest CCA battery that I could find).
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
I tend to overthink decisions. You say the higher CCA batteries tend to have a shorter life, but you went with higher CCA batteries rather than the 650 and 750 CCA Motorcrafts, so to you, does the higher CCAs justify the shorter life. (I've always tried to get the highest CCA battery that I could find).
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 3
From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Been happy w advance auto's gold line of batteries - longer warranty & free replacement with in 36 months sold me. Diesel's are hard on batteries - 4.5 yrs is the longest a pr has lasted in my 00
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I like the Duralast batteries from Autozone plus they have a good warrenty. The Gold has 850CCA, 1000 @ 32 deg F. Have 5 Duralast batteries currently in service blue, red and gold.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
We finally replaced the original Motorcraft batteries in my Dad's '03 6.0L this spring, and they were still going strong. 8 years is pretty dang good, and that's why my next batteries will be Motorcrafts.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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I've heard some pretty consistent good opinions on diehard platinum series batteries, they are AGM type so a bit pricey but rated at 930 CCA.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 221
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I've heard some pretty consistent good opinions on diehard platinum series batteries, they are AGM type so a bit pricey but rated at 930 CCA.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
Keep in mind, your gasser only has one battery, so a higher CCA rating will have more benefit. A diesel, with two lower CCA batteries in parallel, will have a lot more CCA than your single.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 3
From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
I only got 3.5 yrs out of my original motorcrafts - 4.5 out of the next set, a couple of years out of a pr of napacrapas, then switched to the advance auto gold's this last time. Had them about a year - so far so good. Would have went back to motorcrafts but the prev set of batts (napas) crapped out on a sunday and advance was the only game in town.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,564
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From: Wayyy NoCal, USA
The best? That would be Odyssey. Hands down. Without a doubt. Worth every penny if you can justify them.
The best flooded acid battery under $200? For the last few years I have had best luck with the high end batteries made by Johnson Controls, and for the last few years, they have been consistently sold as Motorcraft, DieHard Gold, Duralast Gold, top line Bosch, and Interstate.
SOME of the high end Wal-Mart and Kirkland batteries are as well. But they are known to constantly switch manufacturers to eke out a few more cents of cost, and sometimes the manufacturer will dumb down the battery to hit cost targets. Kind of like buying no-name gasoline. Sometimes it is the same good stuff the name brands get, sometimes not.
The best flooded acid battery under $200? For the last few years I have had best luck with the high end batteries made by Johnson Controls, and for the last few years, they have been consistently sold as Motorcraft, DieHard Gold, Duralast Gold, top line Bosch, and Interstate.
SOME of the high end Wal-Mart and Kirkland batteries are as well. But they are known to constantly switch manufacturers to eke out a few more cents of cost, and sometimes the manufacturer will dumb down the battery to hit cost targets. Kind of like buying no-name gasoline. Sometimes it is the same good stuff the name brands get, sometimes not.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 2
i have the v-10 in my super duty, and i have always used the everstart-maxx battery from walmart in my truck and in every car since they started making that brand. I have never once had a problem with any of them. I just replaced the one in my truck after just a few months shy of 6 years. The battery is still going strong, actually the only reason i changed it was because i needed a battery for my off-road only cherokee. No point in putting the new one in an off-road only toy so i bought the new one for the truck and used the old one for the cherokee.