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Battery - Largest Cranking Amps

FWIW Synthetic oil makes it even faster if your not using it.
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I switched to 5W40 synthetic mid way through last winter, then went back to 15W40 for the summer. Next change I'll go back to the lighter oil.
 
Dave01 said:
I went with the Duralast Gold 800 cca, put them in today. Major difference in cranking speed, even in the 40 degree weather lately I'd noticed the slowdown in cranking speed with the old batteries. Part of the problem may have been that one of the battery mod bolts had punched through and acid was leaking out. I thought I was careful screwing them in by hand but it probably turned a bit more when I tightened the nut. Not sure if it would affect power but it had corroded that positve terminal.

So I've got 1-0 cables, battery terminal bolts, new batteries, and new block heater. This thing better start EVERY time this winter!
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Good Deal! Definitely more pleasant to do what you've done, pro-actively on your schedule, than have a no-start force the issue.
 
I brought the old batteries to Autozone this morning for refund, asked them to load test them since I was curious. The one leaking acid showed only 9.5 volts, they couldn't even test it. The other one tested good at the 700 amp setting (not sure what that means) so I kept it for a spare. No surprise it spins faster with the new set!
 
Turbine Doc said:
One reason I went with the AutoZones is that invariably I need batts when I'm away from my reciept stash, and AZs puter remembers when last set of batts were bought by me, 1 less thing to keep track of
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I can verify this works - The AZ battery in our standby generator went bad and I couldn't find the receipt. I walked in with the bad battery and came out with a new one, no problem or hassle at all.
 
I had an issue with my 3 yr old Diehard Silvers again, had them tested and he said one was bad. Went to Sears, they tested them (still hooked together) and said both were good. But he said he's give me full price warranty on them ($89) anyway. Only problem was they no longer have dual terminals on anything but Platinum series, for $189. So I would have paid $100 apiece, plus the wanted to install them and keep my old Diehards.

Went to Autozone, ended up buying Gold 800cca/1000ca dual terminals for $89. I would never have dared buy batteries at AZ, but for Doc and others putting their stamp of approval to it. Talked to the guy quite awhile, he said he almost never sees returns on the gold series, however the Optima redtops come back all the time. Looking at the numbers, the golds I bought are higher ca, cca and reserve capacity than the Optimas.

Going to give AZ some old crappy batteries and hang onto the Diehards for something else. I know at least one of them is still good, and worth far more as an exchange at Sears than the $12 AZ would give me for them. I'm sure my next project will need a battery.

As a side note, on my way home from AZ I stopped for fuel and the truck wouldn't start. Tried running my jumper cables to the new battery in the bed, but it still just clicked. Further investigation revealed the main battery cable snapped off right at the starter. So, poor old Chevy got a ride on a towtruck home. Lot of hassle for a five dollar part. So now I've got a new battery cable and two new batteries. What's next?
 
I think my 84 Interstates are failing after 60months. I might as well join the duralast gold club.

How do I know if they are 'matched' sets?
 
I think the idea is that they have similar internal resistance, so they charge at the same rate.

Suppose just look for the freshest set w/ the same lot#/mfg date.
 
My interstates finally died....they were in the truck when I purchased it in 2004...and they looked like they were at least 5 years old then. I picked up a pair of Super Cranks from O'reilly Auto Parts. 800cca/940ca for $160.00 (out the door). My old interstates were 700cca's and when tested one of them tested 'boarder line' and the other showed 56 cca's on the tester! Both batteries showed over 12 volts.

The Super Cranks have a full 3 year replacement warranty and 7 year pro-rated.

I have always bought Duralast Golds and have had pretty good service out of them.....but they opened a new O'Reilly's 8 miles from my house....so no more driving to the 'big city' to get auto parts.
 
I'm charging them up now, i'll load test them in the morning... worked out well on a weekend before winter.......

I never trust batteries after 4 years anyhow... I worried everytime the truck sat over a day last winter as that was year 4, even though it cranked fast.

I just load tested them a month or so ago and they were fine, although one showed weapage for a long while now.
 
Matt Bachand said:
I'm charging them up now, i'll load test them in the morning... worked out well on a weekend before winter.......

I never trust batteries after 4 years anyhow... I worried everytime the truck sat over a day last winter as that was year 4, even though it cranked fast.

I just load tested them a month or so ago and they were fine, although one showed weapage for a long while now.
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They both tested right on the border of weak/good. Right on the line.

I'm gonna toss a new set in there anyhow, as this was 5 minutes after taking the charger off them overnight. Can't be having cold starting issues, and I had warm weather issues yesterday, not to mention I've drained these almost completely many times over the years of issues, and last week when walbro issue....

Also just got really cold first time this year, then 70 degrees a few days after, then walbro issues, now starting issues. I think they've done their fair job, and time to retire them.

Edit: Just hooked em back up after load testing before charging and it cranked over very fast... I think I may have another issue, seems to be charging fine at 14.8-15v..... hmmmmmmmmm

I did to a ton of stops Friday evening......... Dunno. I'm going to check the fluid in them, what to you put in them to top them off, distilled water? Charge them full, then check it?
 
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One cell I could see the plates. I added to each cell (making sure not to overfill)

I ended up putting about 3/8 of a gallon of distilled water in the batts. I've never added for the 3 1/2 years i've owned the truck (and the batts)... Topping them off with charge now.

A question I have. What stops the water from freezing in the winter time? The mixture of acid?

Does the acid naturally replenish itself as a byproduct of charge/discharge cycles?
 
Matt Bachand said:
One cell I could see the plates. I added to each cell (making sure not to overfill)

I ended up putting about 3/8 of a gallon of distilled water in the batts. I've never added for the 3 1/2 years i've owned the truck (and the batts)... Topping them off with charge now.

A question I have. What stops the water from freezing in the winter time? The mixture of acid?

Does the acid naturally replenish itself as a byproduct of charge/discharge cycles?
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The water becomes acid.

Leo
 
I just got a set of 78N MAXX batteries from wally world again. free again. no receipt either... they just punch in the serial number on the battery or go by the shipped date on the battery.
DONE!
 
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