battery can of worms

[3bears]

this is like opening a can of worms.....whats the best oil....whats the best car wax...whats the best windshield wipers....can of worms and debates

so I need a new battery and I am moving to Alaska
yes I have done a search in both the forum and google and get tons of mixed reviews....like I said...can of worms

so opening this can of worms...…...your best bettery idea, and remember Im heading to a place where today the high was -2

 

[T4R2014]

Whatever has the best warranty. Get a block heater and battery blanket.

 

[pauldub]

Lifeline or Odyssey

 

[gamefreakgc]

Whatever has the best warranty. Get a block heater and battery blanket.

Warranties are nice, but know that most of them lose value over that time. Say it's a 5 year warranty and it dies after 4 years. They will usually only refund the % of time remaining, so in that case 20%. If you paid $200 for the battery, you get $40 back. Obviously though, a longer warranty will mean your battery keeps value longer.

Get one with a very high CCA rating, so that most likely means an AGM battery.

 

[pluton]

Here's my nearly useless advice---I live in a warm climate...
I've had my Odyssey PC1500 34-R since 2103, no issues. Next time: Odyssey or, if Odyssey has 'gone bad' by then, maybe I'd try a Northstar AGM. If I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and had to buy a battery and all they had was Optimas, I'd try a Optima yellow. Had one years ago and it was fine.
+1 on the block heater. Alternative to a block heater: Put a 100W light bulb in a box positioned under the oil pan all night.

 

[DaMonkey]

Moving to an extreme climate, you will learn a few things, including batteries.

My advice is to fit the largest CCA flooded battery that fits with a reputable brand and ideally something you have access to in AK if the warranty is needed.

I've tried Optima and they just have not survived for me. Supposedly need a special charger for gel cell batteries and I just don't think they are designed for a volatile environment with extreme temps, multiple discharges, jump starts, and trickle chargers. Maybe they got better in the last 5 years, but before that . I played the warranty game with them and they honored it, but I was the guy that had listen to the dreaded 'click'. But they look nice and if you want mount it upside down, you can.

If you do get Optima, waste that money on the red, not the yellow. Unless you need deep cell by running juice while alternator is off (lights, radio, or equipment while parked), what you are really interested in is a big punch of CCA when it gets cold, which is what the red is designed for. Yellow trades off CCA for deep cell so it is up to the task of providing battery power standalone but typically give up CCA for same group size. Typically the applications I looked at gave up 50 CCA for yellow and really, I use my batteries for starting only. Cold weather = CCA is king.

There are actually very few battery manufacturers that make the lions share of the market. Interstate is one of Johnson Control's premiere brands and that's a brand I've had luck with surviving more than 4 Minnesota Winters. The traditional flooded batteries with oversized CCA will continue to fight at the level you need after years of taking lumps.

When you start hitting -30 -40 stuff, pull your dipstick out before hitting the starter. You'll know if it's not time to go. If it's taffy, light a bed of coals under the truck, that's got me going pretty fast before. Don't try to put in thinner oil than our spec'd 5-30. Best bet is to get a block heater to plug car in, and battery blanket good idea too. But still check your dip stick on the stupid days.

Don't let your gas tank stay low, it will reduce your chance of freezing moisture in the gas lines. Get the lowest rated washer fluid possible. Once it freezes, you're boned. Get a survival kit and keep a rated sleeping bag in bag. Not kidding. If your car won't start or konks it can save your life.

Why you doing this?

 

[3bears]

Moving to an extreme climate, you will learn a few things, including batteries.

My advice is to fit the largest CCA flooded battery that fits with a reputable brand and ideally something you have access to in AK if the warranty is needed.

I've tried Optima and they just have not survived for me. Supposedly need a special charger for gel cell batteries and I just don't think they are designed for a volatile environment with extreme temps, multiple discharges, jump starts, and trickle chargers. Maybe they got better in the last 5 years, but before that . I played the warranty game with them and they honored it, but I was the guy that had listen to the dreaded 'click'. But they look nice and if you want mount it upside down, you can.

If you do get Optima, waste that money on the red, not the yellow. Unless you need deep cell by running juice while alternator is off (lights, radio, or equipment while parked), what you are really interested in is a big punch of CCA when it gets cold, which is what the red is designed for. Yellow trades off CCA for deep cell so it is up to the task of providing battery power standalone but typically give up CCA for same group size. Typically the applications I looked at gave up 50 CCA for yellow and really, I use my batteries for starting only. Cold weather = CCA is king.

There are actually very few battery manufacturers that make the lions share of the market. Interstate is one of Johnson Control's premiere brands and that's a brand I've had luck with surviving more than 4 Minnesota Winters. The traditional flooded batteries with oversized CCA will continue to fight at the level you need after years of taking lumps.

When you start hitting -30 -40 stuff, pull your dipstick out before hitting the starter. You'll know if it's not time to go. If it's taffy, light a bed of coals under the truck, that's got me going pretty fast before. Don't try to put in thinner oil than our spec'd 5-30. Best bet is to get a block heater to plug car in, and battery blanket good idea too. But still check your dip stick on the stupid days.

Don't let your gas tank stay low, it will reduce your chance of freezing moisture in the gas lines. Get the lowest rated washer fluid possible. Once it freezes, you're boned. Get a survival kit and keep a rated sleeping bag in bag. Not kidding. If your car won't start or konks it can save your life.

Why you doing this?

thanks for the advice.
I already live in the mountains of Oregon , miles form no place in the snow, I carry a survival kit already, dry food, water, sleeping bag, etc etc. this time of year my "winter survival stuff" takes up two totes in the back.

you ask why am I doing this.
1) youngest son and family on acreage said I can build there little cost

2) oldest and his family bought land up there and will be building starting summer 2020
3) Im single and look forward to the adventure, the hunting, fishing, exploring the last wilderness

 

[Zorrota]

Listen to DaMonkey. Minnesota can have brutal winters.
What part of Alaska? It's beautiful up there.
Why don't you wait til you get there and check with the locals to find their preference? Oil can be an important choice too.

 

[SaulG]

1) Block heater # C0140-02134 if not already installed

Battery get the biggest 24 series that will fit don't screw around with the 35's
Most "name" brands offer a _ year free replacement vs the pro rated type.

 

[T4R2014]

Warranties are nice, but know that most of them lose value over that time. Say it's a 5 year warranty and it dies after 4 years. They will usually only refund the % of time remaining, so in that case 20%. If you paid $200 for the battery, you get $40 back. Obviously though, a longer warranty will mean your battery keeps value longer.

Get one with a very high CCA rating, so that most likely means an AGM battery.

I'm normally not one to care about warranties thinking they are time wasted in labor, but I've been pretty happy with Walmart Everstart batteries and their warranty. 3 years free replacement + 2 years prorated. They don't annoy the hell out of you when you go to exchange it like they do at an Auto parts store.

Costco has a good warranty and service, but I'm on my third one in three years due to leakage. If this third one doesn't last then I will never use them again.

 

[3bears]

1) Block heater # C0140-02134 if not already installed

Battery get the biggest 24 series that will fit don't screw around with the 35's
Most "name" brands offer a _ year free replacement vs the pro rated type.

Interesting, when I go to the odessey web site it lists a 34. 34RPC1500t
but the terminals are on the wrong side

then I go to another dealer site it lists 35PC 1400T

both say they are group 24 on one site

 

[3bears]

Listen to DaMonkey. Minnesota can have brutal winters.
What part of Alaska? It's beautiful up there.
Why don't you wait til you get there and check with the locals to find their preference? Oil can be an important choice too.

Current battery wont make it much longer and I wont be going up there till late april


Youngest son and family on land just outside of Fairbanks city limits
Oldest son headed to Seward

 

[3bears]

So I have been reading that a AGM battery ( such as odessey) takes a special battery charger costing about 200 bucks and that you should charge it every once in a while to bring to full charge because ...this was from a review on amazon from a guy with a 98 4runner v-6

another review said you need to keep them on a float charger all the time to keep them up.


ideas ? Is this true ?

 

[Jungoes]

So I have been reading that a AGM battery ( such as odessey) takes a special battery charger costing about 200 bucks and that you should charge it every once in a while to bring to full charge because ...this was from a review on amazon from a guy with a 98 4runner v-6

another review said you need to keep them on a float charger all the time

ideas ? Is this true ?

Proof that reviews are BS

I only use Agm ( google my location)
No special charger.. just pull the mpx. Fuse when parking the vehicle for a few weeks and you will have no issues..
I dont have a block heater.

 

[DaMonkey]

...
you ask why am I doing this.
1) youngest son and family on acreage said I can build there little cost

2) oldest and his family bought land up there and will be building starting summer 2020
3) Im single and look forward to the adventure, the hunting, fishing, exploring the last wilderness

Sounds awesome. Best wishes to your adventure.

I ask like that as a matter of highlight that it takes purpose to live in these climates Have not been to AK, but oh man it looks awesome. Enjoy it!

 

[OrRunner]

Oddly enough one of the best batteries in the business is sold by Motorcraft through Ford dealerships. 129.95 with a 3 year complete replacement warranty and 7 year prorate period, can be warrantied at any ford dealership and if installed at the dealership the battery can even cover damage to battery terminals if the battery leaks. It really can't be beat, they also have AGM for $170 or so.

 

[gamefreakgc]

So I have been reading that a AGM battery ( such as odessey) takes a special battery charger costing about 200 bucks and that you should charge it every once in a while to bring to full charge because ...this was from a review on amazon from a guy with a 98 4runner v-6

another review said you need to keep them on a float charger all the time to keep them up.


ideas ? Is this true ?

Reviews are wrong. I have a cheapo charger/maintainer and works fine.

But yes, AGM's have such a huge capacity that it's good to charge them once in a while. The stock alternator won't charge it all the way.