Really cold weather battery needed

[RTRAM]

I have a 1993 W250 CTD. I retired and moved to northern Michigan from the southwest where it rarely got below freezing. Here, 20* is a pleasant day for a walk. Since I am retired, I don't drive the truck a lot. It has around 220,000 miles and I have been using Amsoil 15w-40. The truck started great at 20*. But, my group 31 battery (lead acid) died in the current cold snap and is only reading 11 volts, so I may have a short. Since I live in a remote area, the truck is the vehicle to go to in bad weather, like now. I have been looking at various batteries and the more I look, the more confused I get. What battery has enough power to handle the cold and start the truck with the grid heaters? Yes, in the future I will plug it in on really cold nights but I need a battery that I can count on if I park it for a several hours where there is no power. I was looking at Odyssey but there 2150 battery has a advertised rating for the first 5 seconds, then it drops in half. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

 

[DavidC]

you need a battery tender for one. I use mine all the time the truck is not being used which could be days,weeks,months. A battery heater may help also. Of course all the above require 120 power. My truck had no problem starting in -2 weather in Minot with the Auto Zone batteries and the tender.

Dave

 

[RTRAM]

you need a battery tender for one. I use mine all the time the truck is not being used which could be days,weeks,months. A battery heater may help also. Of course all the above require 120 power. My truck had no problem starting in -2 weather in Minot with the Auto Zone batteries and the tender.

Dave

What battery did you buy?

 

[DavidC]

It is a group 27 replacement for the Cummins, don't really know all the specifics, sorry

 

[Wayne M.]

The choices are endless since that’s a genuine heavy truck battery. You should easily find a 1000 amp with huge reserves.
That said, how’s the rest of it? How are your cables and grounds? I’m sure the original stuff is gone, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s replacement, it’s not the 0 gauge (or heavier) that it should be.

 

[brods]

Don't over think it. We've been in SE MI going on 14 years and have had no unusual battery issues to speak of. We usually have five vehicles at any given time, all parked outside. The stock batteries went 8 years in the truck before I changed them just to play it safe. Last week the truck started fine at -1 without being plugged in. The next day was -8 and I had plugged the truck in for about an hour, it started fine. I think -14 was the coldest I've ever started the truck without it being plugged in at all, it started, but wasn't too happy about it. Follow the advice Wayne and David gave you and you'll be fine with any properly sized battery.

 

[CVR222NV]

There was a recent thread where Deka batteries manufactured by East Penn Manufacturing were getting a lot of praise even over Odyessy. I seem to recall they were sold by NAPA.

http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/

 

[NIsaacs]

What battery did you buy?

Just get another good quality Group 31, the 1st gen oem size. The 2nd gens use two smaller ones, so never mind David's #27,

 

[mfurrh55]

My originals at 6 yrs. old started my truck in -27 deg. in utah without being plugged in, i was impressed for sure.

 

[DavidC]

I was just thinking, I spent two winters near St. Albans Vermont. The truck would spend all night in the company parking lot at some pretty low temps, low enough that I could put a six pack of ben and jerry's ice cream in the truck to take home and bribe the plow drivers. I would park it at about 8pm and go out at 7am, cycle the grid heaters up to three times. The truck would start right up, sounded like hell and would completely fog the parking lot. It would take about 17 miles before it would start sounding normal.This was with the Auto Zone batteries,there were definately some -20 and better nights, this would be 5 days a week. I eventually used a turkey baster sucking out power steering fluid and replacing with synthetic which helped a lot with the noise, engine oil was straight Rotella 15-40. Johnson Controls makes Auto Zone batteries if that matters.

 

[Wayne M.]

My 1 gen cold start story is this;
Way back when I had my ‘ol ‘92 I was working at a ambulance depot, and I was surrounded by 6.9’s and 7.3’s. Anyhow, morning starts were a daily disaster there- even when it was at freezing or warmer.
One day at shift end, a gaggle of EMT’s were outside deliberating over a watering hole and I walked past them, hopped into my Cummins and proceeded to fire it and pull away in one swoop, like any civic, camry, or corolla.
They were in awe. I had to explain to a couple of them later on.

 

[Joe Mc]

RTRAM, my $0.02. I've had my 99 since 01 and have always bought replacement batteries from Wally Mart. Their MAXX-Start ones have always served me well. Although my 2nd gen has 2 batteries each has (if I recall correctly) 830CCA. You should be able to find one that suits your needs. I also think, to reduce potential future situations, that a battery tender is a good suggestion in your neck of the woods and reduced frequency of driving level.

 

[Wayne M.]

Forum members who have 2,3,4 gen trucks;
There are some differences to be aware of. Please keep in mind that the 1 Gen rams had only one large commercial truck battery. Add the fact that there’s a lower pressure mechanical injection system, and you have a different cold starting situation.

 

[GrantP]

My 1 gen cold start story is this;
Way back when I had my ‘ol ‘92 I was working at a ambulance depot, and I was surrounded by 6.9’s and 7.3’s. Anyhow, morning starts were a daily disaster there- even when it was at freezing or warmer.
One day at shift end, a gaggle of EMT’s were outside deliberating over a watering hole and I walked past them, hopped into my Cummins and proceeded to fire it and pull away in one swoop, like any civic, camry, or corolla.
They were in awe. I had to explain to a couple of them later on.

I've been through the 7.3 cold start blues. I ended up carrying an extension cord in the truck when traveling so I could plug it in at whatever hotel room I was staying in. I once had the cord hanging out the window of my 4th story room for several nights because I couldn't find any outdoor outlets. Surprisingly nobody complained.

My 12V started at -17 first try, not plugged in. I'm frequently in the outdoors during cold weather so that is a major plus. I don't worry about cold starts anymore.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I’m not familiar with under the hood of a 1st gen, so I can only assume there’s enough room for a second battery.

 

[NIsaacs]

I’m not familiar with under the hood of a 1st gen, so I can only assume there’s enough room for a second battery.

Not really, the passenger side has a factory type BHAF, takes up all the room.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I live in Alaska and have had very good luck with Interstate lead acid batteries. I install them in everything i own. You may also want to add a pan heater to your engine's oil pan. It really makes them crank alot faster when the oil is warm. I plug my truck in when it's 20 or colder. My truck has battery heater pads, two oil pan pads, one transmission pad and a block heater. Even at -30 the intake heater doesn't come on after being plugged in all night.

 

[JR]

Don, what do you run for an engine oil pan heater (Make, wattage, etc.) and how reliable has it been for you?

I had a magnetic jobber wired in series with my block heater on my gen 2. It didn't last 2 winters - I forget the brand.

We factory order our cranes from Manitowoc with the cold weather package which includes a coolant heater, engine oil heater, and one or two (depending on size of the resevoir) hydraulic oil heaters.
The engine oil pan heaters are glued to the pan with some type of epoxy. They seem to hold up well.

I'm looking to get one for my gen 4 as I prefer to stay with 15w40 oil.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I run two 400 watt Wolverine brand heater pads on the oil pan and a single 50 or 75 watt on the transmission pan......any bigger and they’ll burn the fluid. I used to run battery tenders but at a week of -50 the batteries could still have the bottoms freeze. I run heater pads under the batteries also. Napa part number is “Battpad” and they’re another wolverine product.

I recommend two pads on the oil pan due to the three gallon capacity. Singles won’t keep up when the Mercury plummets.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I feel sorta guilty.....I was supposed to write up a good winterization “how to” and send to Robin and Robert a while back but things haven’t worked out.....maybe I’ll get around to it some day.