Battery life

[Chris(WA)]

Time to replace the original battery in my 2000 F-150 I guess. Darn thing is almost dead after only sitting for 6 weeks this time. Usually only sits a month at a time. And on top of that the battery is only 14 years old!
What are you fellows using for batteries these days?
I really am leaning toward going down to Ford and buying another Motorcraft!
I use my pick up to haul my tractors so this is a legit subject right?

 

[David G]

I do not think one brand is better/worse than another.

Go with what you are happy with.

 

[IH2444]

I get good service out of the best grade of batteries that Wally World sells.

I gave a 5 yr old one out of my wife's wrecked Lincoln TC to a friend. He has been using it in his Ford 7000 Tractor for 3-4 years now. 1/3 the size and 1/2 the cost of the OEM battery and works as well he says.

 

[Hank ABAB]

I have had nothing but good luck with Motorcraft batteries.

I had a 1984 E150 where the original battery lasted 14 years also!

I say get another MOTORCRAFT!

 

[Michael Soldan]

I had a Delco in a Firebird that went 13 years and I've had batteries that went four years..what I have learned after 66 years is do not skimp on batteries,buy a good battery,with lots of cold cranking power,with a warranty..and if its twenty bucks more than a cheaper,less cca,go for it ,you will not regret! I am in southern Ontario and our Canadian Tire Chain carry good batteries at competitive prices,warranty them for 5 year and there is no hasstle on an exchange..elsewhere you need to check the warranty offered.

 

[rusty6]

Original batteries often seem to last better than replacements. Although I have had good luck with the last set of batteries I got from CIH for my magnum 7130. 14 years and they still crank the tractor as good as new.

 

[37chief]

Is Motorcraft a battery company, or does Ford buy batteries from another battery manufacture? I was thinking the same thing about my 05 F150, maybe time to replace the battery. It still starts fine, so maybe I have a few more years.Stan

 

[DaninKansas]

That's what I do. Buy the 5 year battery and replace it at 5 years - usually moving it from the car/pickup to the oldest one in a tractor.

Kind of surprised to find the "oldest one" was in my Farmall 350 - the wally world battery made it 9 years and is now powering a fencer.

 

[Dean]

Bingo.

OEM manufacturers write specifications for purchashed parts to which suppliers must conform.

The OEM specs are usually (always?) more comprehensive and rigorous than similar specs prepared by aftermarket distributors.

As a result, the very best tires, batteries, wiper blades, etc., etc., are those installed in/on new vehicles.

Dean

 

[Nancy Howell]

I get the batteries on my F-350, 7.3 diesel checked every fall. If they're below 100%, I replace them. The truck had Motocraft batteries when I bought it used. Don't know how old they were, but I replaced them last year after having them checked (by a reliable alternator place we have used for many years).

They recommended Interstate. I bought the best pair of Interstate batteries they had. Last thing I want to do is try to jump start a diesel.

 

[Chris(WA)]

I am sure Ford has someone make their batteries but I am also sure that they spec the engineering before they let them put the Motorcraft name on them.

 

[Bus Driver]

The original in my 1998 F-150 lasted 13 years-- my best battery experience.

 

[JF in MI]

I've said it before. I think there is collusion between all the battery companies. Every battery I've had in every vehicle, for about the past ten years, works perfectly until about 1 to 30 days beyond the warranty (i.e. 3 year battery, 5 year battery) then drops stone cold dead. I don't know how they do it. Built in timer???

 

[Goose]

Whatever you buy, don't skimp!

When I was a Ford Service Manager, we had a customer in one day, servicing an F250 diesel pickup. I told him his batteries were getting weak, and quoted him a price on a pair of new Motorcraft batteries. He left, saying he could get the batteries $20 cheaper each somewhere else.

Several months later, we had the same pickup back in the shop for a new $300 starter, plus new Motorcraft batteries.

 

[Anonymous-0]

That's about all you get out of a Ford Battery, truck will only need one more.
Later Bob

 

[WGM]

Ford batteries can"t be beat. Dealer prices aren"t much more than parts store prices and the warranties are much better.

 

[Chris(WA)]

At this rate, I was hoping for at least two more myself...

 

[Grampy]

I'll throw out another source / brand - Caterpillar. I've had good luck with them both personal use and with a co. I worked for. They really are pretty decently priced when compared to other "premium" batteries. They are my preferred battery, but I'm too far from a Cat dealer now.

 

[DaninKansas]

I've usually found the "factory" tires are the cheapest things they could find without embarrassing themselves.

 

[Dean]

OEM tires, like OEM wiper blades, batteries and many other components are (nearly?) always the very best of the product line made by the supplier and specified for installation on a vehicle by the manufacturer.

BTDT from both sides of the table.

Dean

 

[DaninKansas]

Source for that claim?


For years Ford used Firestone tires that were hardly the "best", in fact about 10 years ago their lack of even meeting basic quality made headlines for a year.

 

[ohiojeff]

Replaced a Valucraft battery in the s-10 today.It wouldn't hold charge for more than a day,bought an Exide battery at TSC today.Just got back in the house.New battery sure does spin that little 2.2 fast now.Valucraft battery was at least 7 years old.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You might want to budget that extra battery if you don't live in the Road Salt Rustbelt.
Later Bob

 

[johndeere720diesel]

Most OEM batteries are made by Johnson Controls as with most of the aftermarket batteries even some of the Deere strong boxes just a heads up. I run interstates in my diesel Ford pickup they are around 5yrs old and still going strong. Have a interstate blem battery in my gaser chevy that us 2yrs old and dying but I get one a year free because where I work hauls the batteries for JCI

 

[VicS]

I may be wrong but I though the trouble was that Ford just wanted to put 26 lb. of air in them instead of 35. I put 35 to 40 lb. in mine anyway and had no trouble with the Firestone tires. My wife worked at Airtex Products (retired now) The poster above is right. OEM parts are the best they can build.

 

[Motorcraftman]

I've got an '03 Mahindra E-350DI Tractor that has the Orig. battery in it, BTY:Who Manufactures Batts for Mahindra,? I sure want another One LOL!!Larry

 

[Dean]

I was a design engineer for GM for many years. I have personally read and written such specs. I have also been on the other side of the table when in procurement.

BTDT. It's not a claim, but rather, experience.

Believe whatever you like.

Dean

 

[big jt]

Due to recent experiences I have had DO NOT put in a deere battery. Up till about 2008 or 09 they were my recomendation. Since I put one or two in the combine and one tractor every 10 or 11 months.

If I have to depend on it starting (wifes car, actual farm tractor) it now gets Interstate. Otherwise I shop around.

Deere dealer has not balked if it is within warranty but I am sick and tired of changing batteries when I want the dang thing to start.

The pain with Interstate is they are finnicky about cores and lots of times I need to wait for the right battery to come in. Deere usually had what I needed in stock. Oh well.

Sorry for the rant but I am staying away from Deere.

jt

 

[ACSam]

I was in manufacturing for Ford and saw the same as Dean. OEM specs are always higher than aftermarket.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 08:45:27 01/03/14) I do not think one brand is better/worse than another.

Go with what you are happy with.

I think that he is trying to increase the likelihood that he will be happy with what he goes with.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I've NEVER gotten 14 years out of a battery. Lucky to get 7. Stick with what you have.

 

[D beatty]

Johnson controls makes Interstate,Motorcraft,Energizer and older Dirhards. Delco makes Sears newer Diehards. GNB makes Champion. Exide makes NAPA.

 

[C.R.]

I had to put a new battery in my pick up this fall,the old one was a die hard that I had installed in 2001 I guess I cant complain about that. new one is an interstate hope it works as well as the die hard did

 

[RodinNS]

East Penn /Dekka. I get them either as NAPA brand or Cat brand around here. They'll probably cost you about the same as the MotorCraft. Those are also a very good battery. I always get 8+ years from them.

Rod

 

[GVSII]

(quoted from post at 14:06:24 01/03/14) Source for that claim?


For years Ford used Firestone tires that were hardly the "best", in fact about 10 years ago their lack of even meeting basic quality made headlines for a year.

If you are refering to the Firestone/Explorer fiasco there was nothing wrong with either the tire or the vehicle.There was a lot wrong with the vehicle operator. They didn't know enough to maintain proper tire pressure,didn't know that on a blistering hot day with a car loaded to the max,low T/P is a killer and to top it all off didn't know how to handle a blowout at speed.
I'm pretty sure that on UTUBE somewhere there is a video done by "Car And Driver" TV that showed just how safe the car and tire was/is-a real eye opener!

 

[international606]

Years ago I bought one at wally world and have not bought one since they have always croaked within the two year warranty. 1 winter is about all the wally world batteries will take in a ih 606 with glow plugs. Usually rotate the new ones in the daily drivers and finish them off in the tractor. The 606 will trash the best off batteries.