7 year old batteries

[MrZip]

I bought my 2003 DRW 3500 in August of 2003. I still have the original factory batteries and cannot believe they have lasted this long. Now that the truck and the batteries are getting older, I am figuring it would be wise to replace them whether they need it or not. I think they call that preventive maintenance? Would it be a good idea to spend the $200+ to replace them now before winter after all this time or just wait till they start going bad and maybe end up being stranded somewhere? Gee, I think I just answered my own question. Has anyone been able to keep the original batteries much longer than 7 years?

 

[HOBrian]

Mine would have been 8 years old in May. I replaced mine last weekend when it was 50 degrees outside. I thought that would be better than at -7!! Which would be my luck!!!!:{

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

Mines a 04 and it still has factory batteries ,

 

[JJPage]

Still have the OEM's in my 03.

 

[chazj]

Mine were 8 1/2 yrs old & I was hoping I could go another winter. HOWEVER... a brief cold spell in Carson City (with temps from 4 degrees to 30 degrees for a few days) shot that theory to heck. A 5 degree morning had one battery with a "black eye" and after running grid heater... the engine barely turned over. Got a jump to get it started and although the one dead battery showed "green" after driving it for a bit... I replaced both batteries the next day. I think I got my $$$'s worth out of the factory batteries.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Yea, mine were 8 years old and one pull with the winch after I installed it showed me how much they had left.



New Diehard Platinums after we got back to town.

 

[AH64ID]

I just swapped out the 6 year old batteries in my 05, they worked great (are actually installed in a '00 F-250 now), but I didn't want them to fail on me when I was out in the woods.

I went with the Sears Platinum's, and WOW they crank a lot faster when cold. They are rebadged Odysseys.

 

[rscurtis]

Mine will be eight years old in March, still working fine. I once had one of the last Iveco trucks sold in the US, the original Delco freedom batteries lasted 11 years.

 

[hcole]

Got 8 years out of mine. Put Diehards in it. The old batteries would still start the truck but I didn't want it to put me down at a bad time and I would then have to grab the first battery I could find.

 

[MLee]

Keeping them charged up especially in the winter, and the water (distilled) up to level will help tremendously for longevity. I got 7 1/2 years out of mine.

 

[S.Morris]

Still have the originals in my 04 but just changed the delco original on my 11yr old corolla.

 

[MillerR]

I have not touched my '03 originals. Picked up from Dave Smith Motors in November of 2002. Just rolled over 135k. I've never had any problems or delays in starting. So, I guess thats a little over 8 years and counting...

 

[BSeyler]

Mine would have been 8 years old in May. I replaced mine last weekend when it was 50 degrees outside. I thought that would be better than at -7!! Which would be my luck!!!!:{

My son has been experiencing battery problems for a few weeks. I've been telling him that they are trying to tell him they are tired. I even showed him this post and asked him if he wanted to do a replacement when he could pull it into the nice warm garage where my CTD lives. Nothing happened. This morning, he was outside with the battery charger in 1 degree weather trying to get it started. Doors were slamming and a few choice words were flying. I watched - from inside.

 

[ddivinia]

I have the originals in my 2005. I plug in the battery conditioner every once in a while to cycle them. I am hoping they make it thru this winter. I plugged in my block heater last night to make it easier on them.

I should probably start looking.

Autozone or O'Reily carry any decent ones?

D.

 

[kd5eiv]

Try Costco or Sears.

Rog

 

[ddivinia]

I love Costco - never think of auto stuff there. I"ll check them out.

D.

 

[AH64ID]

Costco has good prices on Optimas, just be sure to get the Group 65 adapters. If Costco doesn't have them you can call Optima and get them.

 

[ddivinia]

What are group 65 adapters?

D.

 

[AH64ID]

Optima's are smaller than the stock battery, and dont have the tabs to be held down with, but Optima provides two clips per battery to make it fit the Group 65 clamps.

 

[BlitzkriegSSII]

I have an 02 with the stock batterys still in and running good. I live in Alaska and see a lot of cold weather. Befor you give up on your batterys you may want to try this charger/Desulphator out, it has worked great on a lot of my batterys!



Northern Tool - BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings