Winter Prep guide

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Oct 3, 2006 | 10:32 PM

#16

luvemhot

More Turbo

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 669

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From: Idaho City Idaho

not sure what the numbers should be but make sure the batts are seperated

Oct 4, 2006 | 12:44 PM

#17

sneak

Elder User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 682

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From: South Eastern MN

Truthfuly you should load test both of your batteries seprately. That will give you the only real idea of what kind of shape that they are actually in.

Oct 4, 2006 | 03:14 PM

#18

ponch37300

Laughing Gas

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 947

Likes: 1

Does anyone know what the voltage is that i should be getting to tell if these batteries need to be replaced.

Oct 4, 2006 | 04:09 PM

#19

sneal

Too old for this

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 144

Likes: 1

It takes a special battery tester to do it. Go to the local auto parts store and they can do it for you. General rule...3 to 5 years is all you get, yes some last longer and some not so long depending on useage and enviroment. Have no clue on gpr reading.

Oct 4, 2006 | 04:51 PM

#20

Spamjohnson

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 249

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A reminder, with a 500 mile range, if you are running Georgia Fuel and head up north, remember to Fuel up perodically with local winterized fuel. Otherwise you might have problems when you hit Maine.

http://tdiclub.com/TDIFAQ/TDiFAQ-10.html

Graph stolen from the TDI club

Sam 1999PSD350CCLB Minnesota

Oct 4, 2006 | 11:56 PM

#21

ryaneverk2

Logistics Pro

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 4,221

Likes: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponch37300

Does anyone know what the voltage is that i should be getting to tell if these batteries need to be replaced.

You can't quite tell with a standard voltmeter. A low voltage reading (below 12 or 12.5) could just mean the battery has been drained and not recharged (headlights left on overnight or something like that). The way to tell if it needs replacing is to take it to a place like Autozone where they have a machine they'll hook to it that will place a load on them and see how it performs. If you have them test yours, make sure they're tested individually (and not hooked up to each other at the time, I think).

Oct 5, 2006 | 10:41 AM

#22

doc526

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 253

Likes: 0

From: Dallas GA

mjlewis, Im not too far from you, I live in Dallas, GA. I have not had a problem starting my 7.3 in the past few winters that (I have owned it) without plugging the heater in. I run the 15W-40 Shell Rotella year round and occasionally run a bottle of Diesel Kleen in the tank. Due to some hard starting during the summer, I replaced the batteries. (The orginal ones were 6 years old anyway) The other thing I did do before winter was purchsase the coolant test strips from a local Napa store. I was curious of the SCA levels and freeze point of the antifreeze. Hope this helps.

DEAN

Oct 5, 2006 | 08:39 PM

#23

rjmay

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 206

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From: St Lawrence PA

additional winter idea

Like others, I use syn oil and block heater on for 2 hours.

I added a battery charger and wired together with block heater.

Ran a former extension cord under the frame to the rear bumper because I like to pull out each morning rather than backing out.

Just hitting those batteries with a charge prior to use brings up battery temp.

There is a great chart somewhere showing real battery CCA decreasing with temperature dropping.