I want to buy a good battery for my 1990 5.8. It currently has an Interstate which is about 3 years old. It works ok, but does not have much of a reserve. It does not take much to kill it. 30 seconds of cranking yesterday when my truck wouldn't start and the battery died.

I want to replace it with a really good battery that has a lot od reserve. I would like to eventually get the high output alternator, but I don't want this to be a requirement (like for some sort of special battery).

I also do not want the most ultra-performance, custom racing battery that costs $200!

What I do want is a good battery that I can get easily (I have access to NAPA, Autozone, Carquest, Advance, as well as Sears and other dept. stores). One with a very high CCA and a "reserve." I figure that I would go up to $100 or so.

With all that in mind, any recommendations? Or at least what I should be looking at as far as CCA numbers and reserves and all that? I never really paid much attention to batteries in Florida; but remember that I am in Colorado and sometimes it has to start the truck in below 0 weather (which BTW the Interstate always did). But I think the Interstate is going bad now.

Another long post, but thanks for the help!

 

Had the same problem about the battery for my 86 f150 302. The battery with the most CAs was a Motorcraft BXT-64. It's the only one that fit right too. $80. not too bad. 3 year replacement and 100month pro rating. Would have gotten a Sears DieHard Gold but they didn't make one to fit with the same CAs as the Motorcraft. Sears rating is the best in consumer reports.
And they didn't ask me for a receipt when I retuned one because it went bad.
But, I bought the Motorcraft BXT-64 for the truck. Check it out on-line.
If you can get a BXT -65 into your truck, it's bigger and Sears makes this one,
but not the BXT -64.
Harry

 

I went with an Optima battery for my Bronco 2 years ago when it quit. It does an excellent job of starting my Bronco, and has the best reserve I have ever seen. I can leave the stereo on until it won't run anymore, shut if off for 15 minutes, then have enough to crank my Bronco and start it, not that I like to do this.

They don't contain any water or fluid, so you can mount them in any position, including upside down, plus they won't corrode the battery tray. They even shoot holes throught them with a shotgun, and they keep on working.

I tried the Optima one time, and won't switch to another from now on.

I also live in Colorado, and I haven't had a single problem. They can be found at PepBoys for $119.

Next in line, I would go with a Die Hard.

 

I think Optima is the one that was in the back of my mind when I posted this. I am going to look around and try to get the biggest Optima that will fit in my truck.

Didn't DieHard have some issues a few years ago with Sears selling old batteries and changing the dates on them or something?

 

Optima is worth the money I got one for my Bronco 90 302 it is the best i have ever had. Got one for the jeep after that.

 

Depending on what you plan on doing with the truck turned off, another option is to go with dual batteries. There is a kit that also gives you another battery tray and hold down. Just make sure that you hook them up in series. You will double your cranking amps but still be using 12 volts. If you wire them in parallel, then you will double your volts and fry your electrical. Check in JCWhitneys site for the kit, if not there, call your local 4x4 shop, they will probably have it but not as cheap. This way you can get fair batteries but have a top end cranking reverves.

 

I just need one GOOD battery. I would not be doing much with the truck turned off, except maybe listening to the radio for a little while.

I want a nice dependable battery with a good reserve in case I leave the lights on or something, or have trouble starting the truck. The Interstate battery died after 30 seconds of cranking.

I'm going to go with the biggest Optima that will fit.

 

The Optima is good for trucks that get rolled or beaten regularly, but it's WAAAAY overrated. Its reserve capacity is pitiful and so is its warranty. You can read the official details on the Optima site.

The best battery (for MY money) is the Motorcraft Silver Series, which has half again the reserve & CCA of the Optima, and double the warranty. All at about 2/3 the price. The Sears DieHard Gold is virtually the same on all counts, but there are fewer Sears stores for warranty adjustments than Ford/Motorcraft dealers, so I went with Ford. $80 usually, but sometimes $90.

 

I also went with the Motorcraft Silver series in my '85 Bronco when it was time. I never had a problem. When I need a new battery for my F-150, that's what's going in.

 

OK, does anybody know the CCA and reserve of the Optima, as compared to the Motorcraft? I want the best CCA and reserve, I don't do heavy duty 4 wheeling and am not concerbed with the indestructible aspect of the Optima.

 

I found this info for the Optima Red Top battery (which is what I would be getting).

Cold Cranking Amps: 650
Reserve Capacity: 90 Min.

I see that the silver Series Motorcraft has a CCA 0f 875, which is significantly higher. Does anyone know the reserve of the Motorcraft? It is also less expensive, the Optima is $129.

 

I called Ford, I think the Silver Series was replaced with comething called the Max Tuff series or something like that, it was Max something. He said it was Ford's best battery. They have an 875 CCA, 1000 at 32 degrees battery for $79.95. I might go with that. He did not know the reserve time/

For reference, does anyone know what the strongest battery available to fit my 1990 is, at any auto parts store? I want to get the best battery that I can. Thanks

 

I think it is called the Tested Tough series actually.

 

This may sound silly but I have used WalMart batteries for 12 years in my 89. Just got my 2nd one last year. The 1st one lasted about 8 years. It has a very good CCA rating and I may be wrong, but I think that it is a 3 year free replacement and a 8 year prorated replacement. I'll get the exact specs including name brand and update later on tonight. It also cost about $60.00

 

"The best" battery is kind of like "the best" tire or "the best" oil. Usually, if you have one that works for you, it's what you'd recommend to somebody else.