That Time of the Year Again: I Think It's Battery Time

[lotzagoodstuff]

We had our first real frost this weekend, 26 degrees or so, and my batteries are starting to sound a little slow. Rather than waiting, I think I am going to try to be proactive and change them prior to the really cold weather. The current batteries made it through last winter, which is pretty shocking as I think the stickers say they were manufactured in 2007.

I really want Group 31s as you can't beat the price and availability of the big truck stuff, but after much searching it appears that Group 31s are doable in a bricknose but not an OBS truck.

So two questions: a) is there anybody who makes a tray to put Group 31s in stock location OBS trucks? b) what's the general concensus on the best Group 65 brands? I am leaning towards the Interstate MTP-65 over the Wally World brand if I can get them for a reasonably close price (Walmart looks to be 99-109 each).

Thanks

 

[icanfixall]

I have had great service from the Interstate batteries. I too someday will upgrade to the big rig diesel battry

 

[sjwelds]

I'm using group 31s in a OBS. Cut a piece of aluminum plate 1/4" thick to lay in the battery tray so the edge of the tray wouldn't rub on the battery. I want to do it right one of these days and modify the tray to be the right length, and lose the aluminum spacer. The batteries stick up far enough to touch the hood insulation now, so I'd like to see if I could drop them down a little as well. I have them oriented so the ground posts are on the outside, as the shape of the hood is such that the positive posts will never touch the hood with them this way.

Just sayin, it does work, but I do need to make some modifications.

 

[snicklas]

See if you have an Interstate All Battery Center close to you. I live just outside of Indy and we have one in Indy on the way home (Hopefully you are that lucky). I have been running the Interstate Economy Line Group 65's. Reason being, they are only ~$40 a battery. They have a 30 day warranty, but for less than a hundred bucks out the door, they are hard to beat. Really, if they don't fail in the first 30 days, you are more than like good to go anyway...... I have bought 7 Economy's over the years, and never had an issue. This has been 2 sets for the Ex (one 4+ years ago, and one set this spring, which is a long life for a battery in a 6.0) and one each in my Sable Wagon (car was totaled), my VW and my P71. I won't buy any other battery if I can help it........

One thing, you have to ASK for the Economy's.... they are not an advertised thing (like the secret menu at most fast food places).... but if you know about them and ask, they are more than happy to sell them.....

Looks like your closest Interstate All Battery Center is in Rockford on American Road...

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/....aspx?dealerId=146&storeId=9097&name=Rockford

 

[riotwarrior]

Take a grinder with cut wheel and on end of bat tray near fan cut short vertical slits just down to flat base...bend the tabs over and a 31 fits in the tray.

JM2CW

 

[sjwelds]

Me I plan to cut battery tray in center or thereabouts and add a section to make it wide enough for G31 batt...that way have lip on all 4 sides keeping batt in place

 

[Greg5OH]

which group 31 is recommended for the bricknose?

 

[laserjock]

Group 31 is a size. They should all be the same if they are standard.

 

[chris142]

I'd just go with group 65's but AGM batteries so they don't corrode everything.

 

[riotwarrior]

Gr 31 stud tops!!! Get my vote

 

[fields_mj]

Out of curiosity, the big truck Group 65s that you guys are talking about, are then a deep cycle battery or just a slightly larger standard lead acid battery? My guess is standard, but I can find them both ways. The deep cycle is only 550CCA. The standard Group 31 is 950CCA, and our standard Group 65 is 850CCA.

Why is everyone running the Group 31s? Just curious. From the sounds of it, it's primarily a cost issue. Haven't checked the truck stops yet, but it looks like they are about $110 ea at NAPA. That's $40 less than some of the others that I've found. However, if I could find the Econo batteries that Snicklas is talking about, that's the route that I'd go. Given the age and shape of my truck, I'm less concerned about batteries that will last longer, and more concerned about how I'm going to be able to afford its replacement. AGM would be nice, but at 2X to 4X the cost of the other options, not an option for me. Having a really good battery in a dead truck doesn't do me much good

I'm guessing that the extra 100 CCA is nice, but in reality does it make much difference? Even at -20F, so long as my batteries are in good shape, I've never had a need for more power. If they are starting to go south, the extra 100CCA may buy a little time, but mine have always gone south rather quickly at that point.

 

[79jasper]

The big truck batteries are the group 31.
Deeper cycle, I believe.
In general, I think they're actually more than a normal 65.

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[snicklas]

Out of curiosity, the big truck Group 65s that you guys are talking about, are then a deep cycle battery or just a slightly larger standard lead acid battery? My guess is standard, but I can find them both ways. The deep cycle is only 550CCA. The standard Group 31 is 950CCA, and our standard Group 65 is 850CCA.

Why is everyone running the Group 31s? Just curious. From the sounds of it, it's primarily a cost issue. Haven't checked the truck stops yet, but it looks like they are about $110 ea at NAPA. That's $40 less than some of the others that I've found. However, if I could find the Econo batteries that Snicklas is talking about, that's the route that I'd go. Given the age and shape of my truck, I'm less concerned about batteries that will last longer, and more concerned about how I'm going to be able to afford its replacement. AGM would be nice, but at 2X to 4X the cost of the other options, not an option for me. Having a really good battery in a dead truck doesn't do me much good

I'm guessing that the extra 100 CCA is nice, but in reality does it make much difference? Even at -20F, so long as my batteries are in good shape, I've never had a need for more power. If they are starting to go south, the extra 100CCA may buy a little time, but mine have always gone south rather quickly at that point.

The closest Interstate All Battery Center to you is in Terre Haute....

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/...px?dealerId=303&storeId=9221&name=Terre Haute

The Economy's are what is under the hood in all 3 vehicles in the driveway. The Group 65's have done me well, and ask any 6.0 owner, they are VERY ******* batteries..... If you can get down there, I think you will be happy with the batteries. Actually, the offer I made if I had been closer to use mine to test with, would have been economy's... and putting your possibly questionable batteries in my 6.0 to test will show a bad one quickly....

The difference between a Deep Cycle and a starting battery generally is in how they are discharged. A "starting battery" is designed to put out A LOT of current at the initial draw, but they have a smaller reserve capacity, meaning they can put out the 850 amps, but for a short time.... this is when when your are cranking for an extended period, they peter out fairly quickly..... rrrr rrrr rrr rrr....rrrrrrr click click

A deep cycle has less cranking amps, but the amps it can deliver, it can deliver over a longer period of time. They also can be "run dead" and charged over and over without shortning the life of them as much as a "Starting battery".... if you run a starting battery flat dead (left the lights on).... it will "never be the same"... meaning its life, capacity, reserve and CCA have been reduced some. This is why a "deep cycle" battery is used in applications like an electric golf cart or running a trolling motor on a boat. You don't need to spin the drive motor (wheels or prop) over hard, or quickly... but you need them to run for a looooooong time.......

A Group 31 usually has a higher reserve than a Group 65 at a similar CCA rating... like you found of 950 vs 850..... but it can maintain the 850 longer than the Group 65.... meaning rrr rrr rrr rrr rrrrr rrrrr rrrrr rrrrrrr rrrrrrrr rrrrrrrr click click...... So in the case of your air intrusion, you can crank on it longer (battery wise, you will still cook the starter just the same if you don't let it rest) and have a better chance of it starting..... If you have ever seen/heard a "Big Truck" start when it's cold out, you will understand why they need the reserve.......

 

[dunk]

I say group 31 if they will fit. Look for highest CCA and reserve capacity without jumping ridiculously in price, or my measure was actually weight. I got a pair of NAPA group 31 and they price matched Tractor Supply for $100/ea. NAPA batteries were either 50 or 100 CCA more and several lbs heavier. I think weight is the best way to tell a quality battery when dealing with standard lead acid. Made new 2/0 cables with crimped+soldered ends and couldn't be happier with their performance.

Worth every penny to know it'll start the same in single digits as a warm summer day. It sucked the previous winter only having one shot in the morning to get it started. Glow too long and it wouldn't crank fast enough, not long enough and you wasted your 3 revolutions. Also, 5w40 synthetic cranks a lot easier than 15w40.

 

[79jasper]

For example. https://youtu.be/z2y-EgVqllM
I doubt you could crank a idi over that long with brand new 65's.

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