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Battery help?

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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 10:19 AM
  #16  
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From: FLORIDA
How low or how long do you all let your batteries go? right now my my vlts are about 13.5-13.7 when running,but at first start for about 15-20 secs i have seen 12-12.2 once seen a 11.9. I'm just doing some preventive maintenance i don't what my FICM to go out on me. Thanks fellas
 
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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 01:52 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by PSD2005
How low or how long do you all let your batteries go? right now my my vlts are about 13.5-13.7 when running,but at first start for about 15-20 secs i have seen 12-12.2 once seen a 11.9. I'm just doing some preventive maintenance i don't what my FICM to go out on me. Thanks fellas
That is normal for the time that you stated. The glow plugs stay on for about a 1/2 minute and they are a very heavy load. The alternator does not start charging till the glow plug relay times out thus protecting the alternator. Sometimes I have seen readings in the low 11's.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 03:42 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by PowerStrokeHD
If you not looking to spend a ton of money the Motorcraft batteries seem to hold up fairly well for the money and have a decent warranty. Besides the OEM 750 CCA they are also available in 850 CCA and 900 CCA. The 900 CCA used to have a 4 year replacement warranty, but I am not sure if that is still the case...

If your willing to spend a little more and want something really good, look at the Diehard Platinum P-2 battery which is made for them by Odyssey. 930 CCA. 4 year replacement / 100 month pro-rated. They run about $175 each and are well worth it...
Funny that you would recommend the OEM battery because I can not think of a worse battery. I have consistently had the OEM batteries fail very early in life. It seems that the OE Ford batteries last about as long as as a set of cheap tires. Current sent was, according to the dealer "weak, but not weak enough to trip the warranty threshold" for replacement. Perfect...

-mike

-mike
 
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 07:05 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by IHbase
Funny that you would recommend the OEM battery because I can not think of a worse battery. I have consistently had the OEM batteries fail very early in life. It seems that the OE Ford batteries last about as long as as a set of cheap tires. Current sent was, according to the dealer "weak, but not weak enough to trip the warranty threshold" for replacement. Perfect...

-mike

-mike
My experience is "sort of" similar. My OEM batteries lasted until a few months past the warranty. HOWEVER, replacement Motorcraft batteries have been EXCELLENT. I have run them in my 1997 7.3L and put them in my 2006 truck when the OEM's died (BXT 65 850). I believe the replacement batteries are more reliable than the OEM, but I can not prove it.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 10:11 AM
  #20  
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No comment on the brand of battery but I have done some research on battery tech and how to properly care for your battery. I think a second heat shield on the passenger side battery would greatly extend the life of both batteries. The info I found is here.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...t-came-on.html
 
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 10:32 AM
  #21  
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Very very interesting thread about the battery temps. My passenger side battery always goes "first" and I have no insulator on it anymore. I bet it does soon though. Probably a good old walmart special flipped upside down and holes cut in the bottom--LMAO. Anything against the turbo tube heat.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 10:48 AM
  #22  
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I thought it was useful info, my passenger side battery internal temp is 105 F when engine is at operating temp. That cuts battery life by 50% and increases capacity by 20% this all makes sense and you can see it for yourself if you load test your battery when hot and then cold. The hot load test will tell you the cranking amp that the battery is rated for and also the actual cranking amps when tested. My battery is 850 cca but measured about 1040 cranking amps at 105 F. I am no math wizard but seems about 20% increase in capacity.

Therefore if that number goes up, the battery life has to go down.

Pretty cool stuff
 
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