Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Batteries

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 06:35 PM
  #1  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
Batteries

Hey All,

Found my truck dead after it sat for 2 days this past weekend. Load tested the batteries found that the passenger side battery had a dead cel and needed replacement, driver side tested ok.

So I had a set of Motor Craft 850 CCA's in it, this will be the 3rd set of batteries in 10 years, and I've kept track and it seems, for my truck anyway, its always the passenger side battery that poops first. It makes sense I suppose as its more exposed to the heat and such. This time I'm trying a set of A/C Delco Professional AGM's. I'm hoping that maybe they will deal with the heat and vibration better than a regular battery.

I almost thought about Optima Batteries but I've never had good luck with them. I'll keep everyone posted.

Sarge
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 06:43 PM
  #2  
69cj's Avatar
69cj
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 26
From: Middle Tn.
Hey Sarge, same scenario here when I had my 6.0. I would usually go back to AZ at app. 30 months and have them do a seperate load test. Usually got a free set. No ryme or reason just the way it was.
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 07:00 PM
  #3  
rhjj's Avatar
rhjj
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
The batteries in my 2005 plow truck are replaced every 4 years.These truck are rough on batteries.
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 07:41 PM
  #4  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
Passenger side drives the glow plugs, why it eats that one first.
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 08:11 PM
  #5  
texastech_diesel's Avatar
texastech_diesel
Token Redneck
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 350
From: Breckenridge, TX
Club FTE Silver Member

I rotate the two batteries once or twice a year, and keep the trickle charger on the driver's side. My Motorcraft 750cc (original OEM spec) died every 3 years with the stock alt, but they died equally for the most part on the load tester. IDK if the DC Power alt and Ed's cables will help since my GP-cycle voltage is in the 12s and not the 10s now.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 07:16 AM
  #6  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
I have a DC alt and Cables as well, doesn't look like its made much of a difference as far as how hard these trucks are on batteries.

Sarge
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 09:40 AM
  #7  
rhjj's Avatar
rhjj
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Have you checked for a draw? A big draw can kill the charge and the batteries don’t like that.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 10:11 AM
  #8  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
Ive checked the draw, alt. output cables for corrosion etc all well within spec.

Sarge
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 12:02 PM
  #9  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
the big draw is the glow plugs.
Switch to AGM batteries.
Stay away from the Optima crap... buddy of mine has them in his 250, every couple years there eat themselves.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 01:28 PM
  #10  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
Well...I'm gonna find out first hand how the A/C Delco Professional AGM's are.

Sarge
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2015 | 03:55 PM
  #11  
LivingLarge's Avatar
LivingLarge
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,410
Likes: 6
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
I'm a nut! I use the motorcraft 850's and replace them at 24 months regardless of how they are.
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 05:05 AM
  #12  
87crewdually's Avatar
87crewdually
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
Likes: 94
From: So. Jersey
Originally Posted by WatsonR
Passenger side drives the glow plugs, why it eats that one first.
And don't forget the starter. The two highest amp draw items pulling primarily from the passenger battery, with the drivers side battery only helping through the long wire in front of the radiator that naturally has resistance supplying less available amps. This is why when you jump start you use the passenger side battery.
Rotating them left to right is a good practice.
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 08:29 AM
  #13  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
I guess I will add the rotation of batteries to my maintenance regiment....if I have the truck that long.

Maybe upgrading soon

Sarge
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 10:33 AM
  #14  
jsm180's Avatar
jsm180
Fleet Mechanic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
The batteries are tied together, if you are losing one over the other you need to check the cables and connections, including grounds. Any voltage loss to the drivers side battery will have to be made up by the pass side. Same goes for charging, alternator is charging the driver side battery through the same cable.
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 12:13 PM
  #15  
Sarge261's Avatar
Sarge261
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Club FTE Gold Member
All cables connections and alternator are fine...already checked all of that.

Sarge
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:19 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE