Need batteries

[LRutigliano]

What is the best brand of battery for the truck and where is the best place to buy in Portland, OR ??



Thanks,

Louis

 

[ENafziger]

Very debated subject with lots of opinions.

I'm running dual Optima Yellow tops. I wouldn't suggest the red.

--Eric

 

[Bernie]

Please brace yourself for 1000 opinions on batteries.

And here is mine: They all can have problems. Buy a good name brand battery with a good warranty and a good dealer network in your area. That way, if / when they have problems you can get them replaced under what ever warranty they have.

Personally, I have bought Interstate batteries. I get a good price on them (I work for a company that has an account with them for our heavy truck service shop). They have, in general, treated me well. The few problems I have had over the years, they have replaced the batteries (either in full, or pro rated) with out a lot of hassle. Also, they seem to have what I need in stock.

Just my two cents.

 

[seafish]

Deka still manufactures batteries in the US and has been oem supplier to Caterpillar for years. I have had only good results, and some outstanding results (in terms of longevity) in vehicles and equipment using Deka batteries.

If you have the money, the Diehard Platinum are a rebranded Oddyssey battery and people are also very impressed with them.

Sometime in the last 3 years, Optima moved production of their batteries to China and there is no question that some people, though not everyone, have experienced reliabily problems since that move. I would no longer consider OPtima a choice for my truck, though I have an older bluetop that came in a tractor I I bought that continues to start and work fine.

LOTS to read about batteries if you search on TDR...

 

[SFPADGETT]

I have yellow top Optima's in the 4x4 (it has a 12k winch among other items), and NAPA brand in the other trucks. The NAPA's 84 month warranty, helps, but the batteries usually last about 60 months, then some pro-rating on replacement.

 

[mwilson]

Louis,

The Freightliner / Alliance batteries are Deka.

They do offer the group 65 that you need,



Part # is EPM A665MF. Rated at 1040 CCA at 32 degrees, 880 CCA at 0 degrees.

Go sweet talk the local dealer, etc...



Or Cat has a big battery also, which is also Deka.

Part # 230-6368 Rated 880 CCA at 0 degrees as well.



Happy hunting.



Mike.

 

[TimothyLong]

Die Hard Platinums. I've had Optimas before and they are good, but the Die Hards have more reserve.

 

[TSPowell]

x2 on the DieHard Platinums, just replaced mine with these two weeks ago. Got them from Sears. They are re-badged Odyssey batteries. Sears warranty is 4 year replacement then another 4 years pro-rated after that.

 

[Edgemann55]

X3 on the Platinums. Been running them for a year and a half. Great cranking power,Fit with no hassle,good warranty,can find a Sears pretty much anywhere.

 

[scootergmc]

Like I said elsewhere... Costco. . $75x2, unless recent oil prices have upped the price. Great warranty.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Look at costco same battery but better warranty and more cca oh and are black plastic not white with green top. and half the price

 

[seafish]

My feelings on batteries are simply that while a widely available distributor to back a solid warranty on a battery is very important, I would rather pay more to have a solid battery that lasts through or even PAST it's warranty period... that way I do not have to concern myself with having to replace it sooner then later, or even MORE unfortunately experienceing a breaking down due to a low battery/no start situation.

Also it is important to note that Dekas and Diehard Platinums DO come with excellent warranties, and utilize solid distributorships (though maybe not QUITE as widespread as Cosco or Walmart or Autozone) BUT it is LESS likely that you will need to actually USE the warranty due to the better construction and design of these batteries.

I cannot speak directly to the Diehard Platinums, becuase I have not yet been able to afford them, but I have NEVER had to return a Deka battery for failure while under it's warranty period. In fact I have some in an only occasionally used crawler/loader that are over 10 years old and they are still satrting and running strong, even after sitting all winter without ANY charging OR maintenance, except topping off with distilled water... (Hope I didn't just jinx myself!!) Furthermore, these old Dekas are lead acids, not even AGM type batteries. My distributor, and Dekas website indicate that they use a proprietary plate design that is MUCH less likely to short out the cells as they sulfate.

Apparently, according to mwilson, BOTH Caterpillar and Freightliner feel the same way about the reliability of these batteries for heavy duty use !!!

So pretty much everyone gets to decide for themselves either buy an OK battery with a decent and easily exchanged but prorated warranty, OR spend a little more to buy a decent and hardworking battery in the first place!!!

 

[LRutigliano]

Thanks for the replies. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on the Diehard Gold batteries, but double checked their measurements. I got a Diehard Gold for the Durango in 2005 and had to remove my battery blanket because it was larger. I was DOA, so I had to purchase it...



My current batteries are 11. 5" long. The Diehard Gold is 12 1/16". Will fit the battery box, but not the blanket.



The Diehard Platinum is 11. 5" long so it should be fine, but its costs 2x everything else...



It sure looks nice though.



Current batteries haven't died yet... but they are over 8 yrs old.

 

[Grizzly]

Louis,



I have to agree with scootergmc and BIGNASTY on Costco batteries. You can't beat the low cost and the best warranty. They're made by Johnson Control, who are the same manufactures that make Interstate and Diehard. Interstate batteries are considered by many as the best battery. A Kirtland (Costco) is the same battery.



george

 

[Bernie]

They're made by Johnson Control, who are the same manufactures that make Interstate and Diehard. Interstate batteries are considered by many as the best battery. A Kirtland (Costco) is the same battery.

This got me thinking, How much difference is there in batteries? Are they all built by a handful of companies, and then marketed differently.

For example, I know their is no difference in Napa batteries (bronze, silver, gold) other than price and warranty. Basically, if you buy the better battery you are just paying for the better warranty.

So I started looking around the internet and found this:

Johnson Controls - The Manufacturer.com - Promoting best practice in Manufacturing

"Johnson Controls now supplies original equipment batteries for leading automakers, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. A stable of leading battery brands, including DieHard, Duralast, Interstate, ProStart, and Everstart, along with others, all bear Johnson Controls signature. Aftermarket service is also important, and customers represented in this segment of the market include AutoZone, Interstate Battery, Sears, Wal-Mart, and Costco.

There is also a special synergy with the spiral-wound AGM battery that Johnson Controls produces under the brand name OPTIMA. "

The other info I found on manufactures was Exide. From what I can tell, Exide and Johnson Controls make almost all the batteries for sale in North America.

So, basically, you are most likely going to be getting a Johnson Control or an Exide battery. With that said, pick which one you want of the two, and find a good local distributor that has support where you travel and a good price. For me, it is Interstate. For others, it might be Costco, AutoZone, etc. It looks like we are all getting the same batteries from two different sources, just with different labels.

(and, I know, the Optima series, which has very different construction techniques. )

 

[mwilson]

There are only 3 automotive starting battery manufacturers in the USA, period.



(Per our Deka / East Penn Rep. )



Johnson Controls

Deka / East Penn

Exide (currently in Chapter 11).



Mike.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I put Deka in my 95 and went with Deka for my 02. Very pleased with them... Jeff

 

[Grizzly]

Bernie,



There are some minor differences in the batteries manufactured by Johnson Control because they use the specs that the Name Brand wants. But basically all group X, made by Johnson Control, are the same.



Some people like the Deka manufactured batteries and that's fine. To each his own. However since there's not much difference in them, I go for the least expensive with the best warranty. I've alway had excellent luck with Costco as some have had excellent luck with other brands. Interstate are also very good, but very spendy.



george

 

[JJPage]

There are only 3 battery manufacturers in the USA, period.



(Per our Deka / East Penn Rep. )



Johnson Controls

Deka / East Penn

Exide (currently in Chapter 11).



Mike.

C&D's are made here in the USA..... We use them in all our applications at Qwest, as well as most telecommunications companies do. They are really not designed for start batteries, but they work well in RV's, PWC's,ATV's and Iv'e been told, for trolling motors: C&D Technologies Inc. , Corporate

 

[RVTRKN]

I was looking for a battery for my Yaris and went to Costco, they warranty the battery 100 mo. past the manufacture warranty. I did not read fine print or question it, so you might want to ask.