I read on another forum that NAPA Batteries are now made by Deka. They seem to have a very good reputation.

 

Let's see, 8 years and 180 K miles. Seems like a no brainer to me. I've never had a battery last that long.

 

Most cranking batteries are built equal. No need to spend a lot of money unless you need products that will last longer when exposed to severe vibration. CCA rating is a measure that gives you some idea of the ability of the battery to deliver high current for cranking the engine. The greater the CCA rating the more plates and thinner the plates. The greatest CCA ratings will be more susceptible to failure since the plates are not so strong and can be damaged more easily. The best compromise is usually a CCA rating in the middle of range of options, which is basically what Ford provided from the factory.

If you really need a boost in cranking speed then the Optima battery is a good choice. Instead of rectangular plates submerged in liquid, Optima uses a jelly-like sheet that is rolled into cylinders. This increases surface area and CCA rating, and also eliminates liquids from spilling and the battery can be oriented nearly any way you like. Optima batteries don't have as good a reserve capacity to power electrical loads without the engine running, but most people with special needs in this area opt for an extra set of deep cycle batteries anyway (like for RV's).

The red top is a cranking battery that will provide the best cold weather starting. The blue top is a deep cycle battery. The yellow to is apparently a hybrid of the two and based on the spec sheet doesn't seem to do either job well.

 

Ditto. I still have the original batteries in my 2000 7.3L. This year I'm finally seeing the engine struggleto crank and am expecting to replace the batteries before cold weather sets in. The engine had a bit of a hard start the other morning at mid 20F. Unfortunately, the costs might tally up because I think my Jeep Cherokee might also need a new battery if it gets as cold as last winter (-20F). But I hope it is doesn't get that cold so I can squeak out another year on the Cherokee battery.

 

What do you mean by this? The alternator cannot be overloaded. It has a maximum output that it can deliver and that's all you get. Any electrical load beyond alternator capacity comes from the batteries. And the alternator can run at full output for the entire design life.

 

I would be wary of Optimas, made in mexico now, I bought mine right before they moved down there but ended up with one made in mexico and one in the US. I cant complain as they are a year old and still running, but well see how it goes. If I could do it all over again I would buy the cheapest 1000CC batteries and be done with it. I would add that MoterCraft batteries seem to last a long time.

 

Go motorcraft oem or interstate!!!, never go cheap on batteries

 

My last Ford truck was made in Mexico, no complaints!!

 

There is a difference between designed in Mexico, and assembled in Mexico. I don't think anybody here would buy a vehicle designed by a Mexican auto company.

Off topic a bit, but the American factory worker is a dying breed because it is being exported to lower cost labor- and that's not good. If you want to find the next center of power and wealth then you just need to look for who makes the most goods from raw materials. It's going to take much more then a "buy American" campaign to rebalance in our favor. I don't know what is the fix but I do know that people are going to have to be willing to sacrifice financially so that we can be competitive in a global economic environment.

 

I just replace mine with Interstate MTP-65. I own my own shop so they were about $65 per battery. Im a Interstate lover. I've never seen one go bad in less than 5 years and being in Alaska we beet everything up.

 

walmart batteries 2 year free replacement, and another year pro rated. cant beat them.

 

my red optima is dying after a year and a half.. fwiw.