Inline vs plug block heater

u2slow

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I didn't pay $40cad/pair either. Got them at a battery shop. No rubber boots on them.
 

Daniel McCurdy

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If these batteries keep dying on me im thinking about going to a single group 31 battery, would be cheaper than 2 g65 batteries and i would have the 3/8 stud terminals. Think that would be a good option
 

Daniel McCurdy

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yea thats what iv done and there back up to 12.7 volts so hopefully it was just that and the batteries are good.
 

u2slow

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As hungry as my fords were with glow plugs and hard starting... Don't think I'd ever drop down to one batt. On my e350 I moved them inside and went to big cables. That helped.

I run a single 31 on my dodges, but I would switch to 65's for dual. Better value for cca's IME.
 

tradergem

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Battery blankets really help when the temps stay below freezing. When I was living in Minnesota I lost a set of Diehard batteries the first winter when it got below zero for the month of January. I replaced them with the cheap Walmart 650 CCA batteries and battery blankets and they lasted for the next 4 years. Warm batteries and engine block make starting in the cold so much easier even if you have perfectly working glow plugs.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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@Daniel McCurdy just to point out: if you have original cables for batteries and starter that could also be a major cause for energy loss. Same if you have an old starter or remanufactured starter from a box store. The Powermaster starters are great.

I guess if the batteries are partially frozen that would hurt them. I've never run into that(that I know of) but we rarely get overnight temps below the teens here.

Something is wrong with the battery terminals...they should never come loose even with anti-seize on them. I have marine style-terminals on mine and they have never worked loose, I use this Noco NCP2 on Amazon on my terminals which can act like a lubricant(my point is that if anyone's should shake loose, it's mine, but they never do). Maybe pick up a Battery terminal brush on Amazon to roughen the surfaces.

Here's a BRASS marine-style battery terminal, that'll take more torque than a lead one. That's a cool buy for $12.

I agree with @u2slow that a single 31 might work, but at low temps it'll be struggling more than 2 65's will.
 

Daniel McCurdy

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Well it looks like the batteries might have just been frozen, I put them back in cleaned all the connections and it spun over super fast and started right up. I guess ill see how they do overnight. I just realized one possible source for the terminal constantly loosening is neither battery is bolted or strapped down there just sitting there bouncing all over the place when driving. Maybe i should try and strap them down with something and see of that helps.
 

Old Goat

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Do not charge a frozen battery, read they can explode.
Get a couple Bungee Cords to hold them down.
I have used then past 8 years, as it didn`t have them when I bought the truck.
I picked up some of the plastic factory hold downs that fit across the top of the Battery at PNP off various Ford trucks. But they are a bit too narrow to fit the group 65.
Wonder what these IDI`s had when new?

Goat
 

u2slow

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Didn't they use that wedge cleat thing on the edge of the tray?

Edit: Interstate's application guide says group 27 thru '85 and group 65 for 86+.
 
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franklin2

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If you were willing to spend the coin, a webasto or something similar is the best thing since sliced bread.. I have one on my 01, and I have one for my 93 that will be going on...

I leave it on for about an hour, and it starts like it's summer time out.. no smoke, etc.. if you don't know, it's a diesel fired coolant heater, circulates the coolant around, has a built in pump.. leave it on long enough, it'll get the coolant to and maintain about 170° temperature..

The only con is they are expensive, but you can find them used, and they are easy to work on.. go on ebay, and look up parking heater.. they're big on European cars because many countries over there you can't idle your vehicle..
They have those that will turn the defroster on and defrost the windshield also. Don't know if that brand does. I saw a show on it years ago, it's actually a little diesel fired furnace.
 

u2slow

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I have looked at Webasto and Espar coolant heaters before... $$$$. I'm not sure i can justify it for a basic pickup.

Now if it's a vehicle I could use as a crash-pad/camper also (van, suburban, etc) then it's better value.

There are cheaper knockoffs on ali-express.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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I have looked at Webasto and Espar coolant heaters before... $$$$. I'm not sure i can justify it for a basic pickup.

Now if it's a vehicle I could use as a crash-pad/camper also (van, suburban, etc) then it's better value.

There are cheaper knockoffs on ali-express.
He said search ebay and I did-- knockoffs are all over the place for $150. Obviously chinesium but readily available. Just mount it in the bed so it doesn't take the rest of the truck with it when it catches fire. :Thumbs Up

I'd never heard of such a thing, pretty darn cool if you ask me. A diesel furnace to heat a diesel engine...you'll always have fuel around.
 

PossumTruck

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So this will be the first winter that I am driving mine regularly, and have tried to start it in super cold weather. I can say that plugging it in with the stock block heater makes it seem like the batteries are brand new - and cranking when cold without the heater seems like the batteries are really tired (im running 10w30 diesel oil).

If your block heater does not work, a lower-radiator-hose heater is the same thing. I have one in my plow tractor and it works very well. A block heater heats the coolant on the engine side of the closed thermostat. A radiator hose heater heats the coolant on the engine side of a closed thermostat. Both will technically lose heat to the radiator.

In my area, 2-3 hours in sub-20* weather is what it takes on the stock heater to make it start like summer. YMMV, but my engine is super worn out and I imagine a better specimen would start even better/faster.
 

Austin86250

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I just replaced a factory freeze plug block heater wasn’t bad just had to remove starter and loosen a flat head nut came right out
 
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