Diesel Truck battery Life?

[WM75Guy]

I took my load tester to each battery today and both held the load in the good section. Truck hasnt been started in a week. I called the local gm dealer and asked for for the same AC battery and it was $120 each with a 42 month replacement warranty.

If one goes bad how do you know? will the diesel still start? I realize temperature may have an effect.

out of my three diesel trucks I have never replaced a battery 00 f250 7.3 psd 03 F350 6.0 psd 07 gmc duramax

Both of mine only take 2-3 cranks to fire off, even without letting the glow plugs warm up. I usually know one's going bad when it starts to crank a little slower or longer than normally. Within 2 weeks it won't start after sitting overnight or at work. When I recognize it having trouble I just take it to the dealer and have it checked or just have them change both out. I am getting old enough that trying to stretch one out is not worth the frustration of being somewhere with a dead battery. I certainly can't afford to have one not start when my wife is driving it. :grumpy:

 

[3930dave]

wow.. 12 years! impressive.

i get 5 max usually.

last set i had went 7.. but I nursed them the last year..

People naturally tend to think of vehicles not cranking over well in Cold weather, but actually Heat seems to kill batteries faster..... Orezok had an interesting post in this thread, about using mineral oil - apparently an old RR practice.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/271843-your-last-generator-maintenance-run-21.html

Checking battery electrolyte level isn't hard, if you are so inclined.... but I can see with RR signalling etc, even Back When, it would be inconvenient and costly to have to send a tech around a large area, just to check batteries.

(Agreed - in a $50k+ truck, a set of batteries is a minor cost.....)

Rgds, D.

 

[doxford jim]

Prior to the 1986 F250, I had never owned a diesel vehicle so I had know previous knowledge. With just routine maintenance the batteries have lasted around 12 years each pair. The F250 I am on my third pair and the truck is 28 years old. The 2002 Dodge ram is still on it's original batteries. I suspect that having two batteries helps a lot and lessens the draw down damage. If either vehicle is not being used, I periodically charge them overnight until fully charged - F250 currently off the road being repaired (F/G repairs to rust holes ).

 

[Garandman]

So there are no really good batteries anymore? I only have 55k miles on the truck now, how cant I tell if the batteries are weak other than slow cranking ot dead?

We put AGM replacements in most of our fleet. The Sears Diehard Platinum is a rebranded Odyssey AGM, which as far as I can tell is the best available. They are over $200 but have a four year full replacement warranty. If you watch for sales they go 10% somewhat regularly.

We use AGM's for any newer vehicle. If we are selling or it's an occasional use vehicle we buy Kirkland from Costco. They are made by Johnson Controls and have a three year replacement 100% money back. Had one fail at 35 months and they looked at the date and handed me the cash.

We save all our receipts in a file and put purchase information on top with a label maker. "New 9/5/14 Indy Auto Parts." etc.

 

[bucktaker]

Roger that on the receipt file and marking the battery with a sharpie with date and purchase place. Have done that with my boat batteries. I will wait till either it fails or I am sure one is bad before replacing.