Battery Life
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,840
Likes: 4,131
From: Jacksonville
Pretty awesome. What's your secret?
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 572
Likes: 29
I keep the battery water full and use a Battery Tender charger for a few days if the truck sits for a long time.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 45
From: Lansing, MI
I didn't get 10 years but did get 7.5 our of my original batteries and they might have gone longer. I too went with Duracells from Sam's Club.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 572
Likes: 29
Less than a week before the no start, I tested each cell with a hydrometer and found one dead cell in one battery. There was no issue that caused the testing, just a hunch that 10 years can't be good. I planned to go battery shopping but the first 30 degree morning brought an end to the long run. I live in southern Pennsylvania so we have rather wide temperature swings, last summer was brutal.
20 years ago, I bought a new Tahoe and that battery didn't make it for 24 hours. I've had at least 4 Walmart batteries that leaked and caused damage in less than a year, that will never happen again. My thought is that the Walmart buyers squeeze every last nickle out of their suppliers and the products may have lower quality, despite the general opinion that all batteries from a manufacturer are the same. Yes, Sam's Club and Walmart are related, but the batteries come from different manufacturers. Sam's Club sells the Duracell that is one brand of batteries made by East Penn and I believe that is as good as you can get.
20 years ago, I bought a new Tahoe and that battery didn't make it for 24 hours. I've had at least 4 Walmart batteries that leaked and caused damage in less than a year, that will never happen again. My thought is that the Walmart buyers squeeze every last nickle out of their suppliers and the products may have lower quality, despite the general opinion that all batteries from a manufacturer are the same. Yes, Sam's Club and Walmart are related, but the batteries come from different manufacturers. Sam's Club sells the Duracell that is one brand of batteries made by East Penn and I believe that is as good as you can get.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 4,727
From: Itinerant
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
I'm impressed. I'm on my third set in 11 years and these are four years old this month so I'm overdue for a failure this winter.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 572
Likes: 29
I wonder if some of the batteries that experience short life is due to sitting on dealers lots without being kept fully charged. This truck was purchased the day it was delivered to the dealer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 769
Likes: 156
Just curious why you didn't purchase Motorcraft batteries as a replacement?
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 572
Likes: 29
I have had good luck with East Penn batteries in my tractors so I bought those because of price and convenience. I'm not sure of the current manufacturer of the Motorcraft batteries, they may not be the same as what I had. I do believe that luck plays a part in battery life.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 630
Likes: 30
From: Green Acres, Ca.
I just got two full warranty replacement batteries. Truck is only 28 months old with 10k miles. When I have to buy the batteries myself I will be putting in Duracell AGM's. Which Duracell AGM battery did you end up getting?
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 572
Likes: 29
I bought the standard $109.88 batteries, the AGM were $60 more or $127.20 additional for the pair with the tax. I haven't seen any reliable tests that can justify the added cost.
