Need a good set of 6.2L/6.5L batteries that don't mind sitting for days-weeks.

[GM Guy]

I am in need of batteries. The 2 diesels will sit more than the gasser. As of right now i am daily driving the gasser, as it is cold, snowy, icy and salty out. (it is the only one with rust (just wheelwells on box) and i am keeping it that way, the two diesels are in excellent shape body wise, and im keeping it that way! ) but during the summer, the gasser will sit about as much as the diesels.

We only fire up diesels for long distance work, so they sit for about a week or two between uses.

The real pressing need for juice is mainly for my 91 gas, and the 91 diesel was purchased at auction and it came with a good recent delco in it, and apparently the mate went bad, so the auction company threw in a new one from Orchelns.

The plan is to use the delco in my 91 gas, sell the orcheln one to old man (batt is not to wifty in the 00 gas) and buy a new pair for the 91 diesel. In the future when the 95 diesel is fixed, it will need a pair as well.

I require ones good enough to start up in cold weather (dead cold start at 0 degrees is about the worse i'll see on both diesels) I also require sealed batteries, as the trays are perfect on the 91, and rusty but still solid and re-paintable on the 95, and i would like to keep it that way

So, after all that back info, what kind of batteries do i need to be shopping for? brand, CCA/CA, And expected life.

Any input appreciated, thanks!

(PS, i did look at other threads, but none of them addressed sitting long periods)

 

[ak diesel driver]

agm batts claim to be better for extended sitting. I always buy the largest I can get to fit.

 

[GM Guy]

where can i get a set of agms, and how much?

 

[iamdave0887]

I've had great luck with the Napa Select 84s in my pickup. Rated at 800CCA each but tested at over 1,000 CCA each when i bought them. That truck sat for weeks while my blazer was the DD. Fired right up when i went to start it.

 

[bison]

I got diff brands of batts in my trucks and tractors.The batts in my tractors are 6-7 yrs old and 2 of these tractors sit for at least 1/2 a year over the winter outside without a single startup,every spring they start up just fine,i had no need to charge the batts yet.

What i'm saying is ,most batts do what they're supposed to do,and hold the charge for months, as long as there aint no power drain some where

As there is always a slight drain on these trucks,one can install a master disconnect switch in the batt cable.

 

[WarWagon]

The "Flooded cell" leak and corrosion prone problem batteries biased off the Model T 6 volt antique technology...

Then there is the modern sealed AGM batteries like the Odyssey, Optima, and Exide Orbital. Your flooded cell is dogmeat dead discharged after 90 days. These AGM's will hold a charge for 1 year or more and still start the engine. They can work cracked and not leak. They have very little corrosion problem as they are sealed except for overpressure/overcharge vents.

They do take a special charger if you run them dead as some chargers enter the sorted cell turn off protection mode on them.

I have had good and bad luck with them. But I abuse one on a jet boat that sits for months and also pounds the fuel tanks to cracking 2 times. In all cases I don't have the acid leaks like you get from the trash Delco's all over the place. Usually from the positive post. We had a flooded cell crack on the job and it ate the wires to the PCM that are under the tray on the modern SUV's... Had to get a new $1000.00 wiring harness.

And they don't cost that much more. Example low cost site aside from Costco. Optima or Odyssey depending on your budget. Last Optima's I got were $125.00 each with the $25.00 rebate for $100.00 each wholesale from Napa! Also helps to have a special charger before you fail it or use the connect a 2nd fully charged battery while charging the dead Optima revival trick.

 

[Turbine Doc]

Duralast Golds have not let me down yet

 

[540s10]

Duralast Golds have not let me down yet

ditto

optimas dont like being worked (especially in the COLD) regardless of how much they cost or how many celebrities endorse them.

 

[GM Guy]

im so isolated in NW KS that the nearest autozone is about 150 miles away, and i only go there once or twice a year. i do have sources for ac delco and optima in this town, might have the Exide orbitals too, but haven't researched yet. we do have a Napa here as well.

So it is Delco, Optima, possibly Exide, and Napa that i can get and exchange easily.

 

[GM Guy]

ditto

optimas dont like being worked (especially in the COLD) regardless of how much they cost or how many celebrities endorse them.

Which version did you use that you didn't like? (red top, yellow top, etc)

 

[SmithvilleD]

It appears Optima's aren't quite what they used to be. They moved production to Mexico & lowered the warranty coverage.

Sears sells the Diehard Platinum P4's which are AGM, but a bit more space efficient/energy dense than the spiral wound Optima's. The Diehard Platinum P4 is the same battery as the Odyssey PC1500 DT, 34/78-PC1500DT; they're manufactured in Warrensburg, MO.

They're expensive so probably not the best battery value. But for the top $ price, they are very good batteries. They've topped Consumer Reports 34/78 size battery performance testing for several years now.

 

[GM Guy]

so how much were these batteries SmithvilleD?

Has no one used delcos? I have seen a lot of old farmers run nothing but delco and for the most part they hold up well. Also, I do believe there are two outfits in town that sell delco. I am just attracted by that seven year warranty, surely it has to be good if they will cover it somewhat for 7 years, right?

 

[Chevylover]

I have to Exide Maxxima 900 in mine and they will turn the engine over if it sits more than 2 or 3 weeks. Actually I drive my truck around 5000 to 6000 KILOMETERS per year, so you can count by yourself, how long the truck will sit sometimes.

For daily purposes I got a Mercedes C180.


Cu,
Sven

 

[mattthebrat]

Exide Select or Interstates, the only two batteries I would ever put in a vehicle.

The Exides in my truck where 9 years old (on a 7 year warranty) when I replaced them and both my parents have got about 8 years (again on a 7 year warranty) out of the Interstates in their vehicles (both 350 gassers).

 

[88gmctruck]

The last two batteries in my 88 were delcos; neither lasted over 3 years. The original delco in the 02 only lasted about 3 years as well, and was replaced.

I'm now running a red top optima in the truck. It holds a charge very well, and doesn't have any problems starting up when it's cold out, even after sitting.

I've also used interstate batteries, no problems there they are great. Optima is now made by interstate BTW.

 

[SmithvilleD]

so how much were these batteries SmithvilleD?

Has no one used delcos? I have seen a lot of old farmers run nothing but delco and for the most part they hold up well. Also, I do believe there are two outfits in town that sell delco. I am just attracted by that seven year warranty, surely it has to be good if they will cover it somewhat for 7 years, right?

They were right at $180 per battery last spring. They come w/ a 4 year free replacement & 100 month pro-rated warranty.

The high cost is why they're probably not the top battery value. Beyond the cost, according to Consumer Reports, they're one of the best performing batteries you can buy. And the AGM design does practically eliminate corrosion around the terminals. They're dual terminal & I built cables to use the top terminals for starting, sides for starter solenoid, stereo, HD headlight harness, etc.

I ponied up the coin because I wanted the fastest cranking speed I could afford for good starting with my lower compression engine. They're rated 880 CCA (gotta pay attention on this spec as it's often confused w/ a higher CA spec at a warmer temp) & 135 min reserve capacity.

 

[WarWagon]

Lots of people turn in 'dead' but perfectly usable Optima's because the charger will not charge them. I will reference it in the link below. just keep in mind batteries are metal and acid with a fixed limited life. Heat and use varies this life.

I have had several Delco batteries leak and ruin way more than their value in other parts. For the lack of leaks the Optima's are worth it. They also can eat an alternator if you run them down and start the engine. The other batteries however won't start the engine leaving you stranded but save the alternator.

All in all a AGM brand of your choice is better suited for your storage needs.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/product_support/faqs.php

Do I need a special charger for my OPTIMA?
Under normal vehicle starting applications, most regular automatic lead acid battery chargers will properly charge an OPTIMA. However, since OPTIMA batteries are frequently used in high-performance applications or non-standard vehicle starting applications, there are certain instances that must be given special considerations.

An OPTIMA battery is an AGM battery, not a "gel" battery or regular flooded acid battery. A deeply discharged OPTIMA battery (less than 10.5V) will not test or recharge properly if treated as a regular flooded battery or gel battery. A handheld electronic battery tester will most likely provide inaccurate test results.

An OPTIMA battery has the benefit of very low internal resistance, which allows high amperage output as well as efficient charge acceptance. This benefit also allows an OPTIMA battery to run longer than its specified ratings and run to a lower voltage than typical flooded batteries. All of this can lead to confusion when it comes to recharging a deeply discharged OPTIMA. Most basic battery chargers have a built-in function to prevent charging a battery with less than 10.5 volts. If your OPTIMA is discharged below that, the battery charger may not start up.

Most high-quality, modern battery chargers now have built-in features to charge AGM batteries like OPTIMA. Some have specific AGM settings which should be used to charge an OPTIMA. Do not use “gel” or “gel/AGM” settings, as they will not fully charge an OPTIMA and could damage it over time. However, even some AGM compatible chargers will not recharge deeply discharged (less than 10.5 volts) OPTIMA batteries. It may be necessary to follow the instructions provided in section #3.

For regular charging we recommend a maximum of 10 amps, 13.8-15.0V. For float charging, we recommend one amp maximum, 13.2-13.8V.

Under normal (engine starting) conditions, an OPTIMA battery should never experience “at rest” voltages below 10.5 volts. In these applications, most 12 volt chargers (old or newer) or alternators will sufficiently recharge an OPTIMA with at least 10.5 volts. Typically we only see issues with charging when it relates to stand-alone deep cycling applications or severely discharged OPTIMA’s.

How do I charge a deeply discharged battery?

If an OPTIMA is deeply discharged (below 10.5 volts) most basic chargers will not supply a charge. Also keep in mind an OPTIMA will not recharge properly if treated as a regular flooded or gel battery. To charge the battery, you can wire a second fully charged automotive battery (12+V) to the discharged AGM in parallel (+ to + and – to –). Then hook up the charger to either battery, setting the charger at 10 amps. Leave for two hours, monitoring frequently. During this process if the discharged battery gets very hot or if it is venting (hissing sound from vents) then stop this process immediately. When the discharged battery reaches 10.5 volts or more, remove the standard battery and continue charging the AGM until fully charged.

For normal charging a relatively low current, such as one or two amps can work well, but when the battery has been deeply discharged, some sulfation of the battery plates may have occurred. If you charge at 10 amps, the higher current will help to break up this sulfation.

If you have an automatic charger, let it run until the charger indicates charging is complete. If you have a manual charger, you can get a rough estimate of the charging time in hours of a completely discharged battery (11.2V) by multiplying the capacity (amp hours or Ah) of the battery by 1.2. If your battery is not completely discharged the time would be less.

In most cases these steps will recover the AGM battery. It’s okay for the AGM battery to get slightly warm during the charging process. If it’s hot to the touch it means there’s a short and the process should be discontinued.

 

[SmithvilleD]

Here's a site w/ lots of battery info:

http://www.batteryfaq.org/

With all the private labelling & company consolidation, the who owns/makes what story can be tough to keep up with. The Diehard Platinums & Odyssey batts I know are made in Warrensburg, MO as a friend worked there.

 

[JMJNet]

Majority of battery I know are made by Johnson Controls including Optima.

Napa are made by Exide.

There are some that are made by East Penn, a brand called Dekka. Some OReilly here in TX have the one made by East Penn. It is a regional thing.

OReilly have an AGM version that is slightly cheaper than the Optima.

IIRC, sometimes ago, there was somebody here that is a sales for East Penn.
He clarified a lot of things. You can search it, the post is probably still there.

I have used Duralast since there are a lot of AZ here and it is easy to change them, although one of my friend have a Duralast that only lasted 2 month. It was exchanged without problem, though.

 

[Missy Good Wench]

I have the optimas in the Burb and the Orbitals from NAPA in the DaHooooley

The batteries from DaHoooley sat all summer in the bed if the truck under a piece of plywood and did not take any charge after sitting all that time.

Truck started right off.

I love the exide orbitals as well as the Optimas.

They dont puke all over and eat the truck all up either.

Cost is a little higher but well worth the $$$$$$