Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-24-2018, 08:34 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Durango, Colduhrado
Posts: 685
Starting batts 6.0L Diesel

Looks like time is up for my starting batteries on 2009 6L diesel van. Getting a bit challenging in the mornings now. Got the gauges up and running before start the other morning when it was 5 degrees and engine heater connected and they showed the battery level at 11.8v and once I hit the starter, they hit down to 8.2v. That ain't gonna last much longer.

Priced some Ford dealer 850cca batteries at $140 each which seems like a really good deal to me. Local shop I use for engine stuff quoted me some Interstates at 750cca for $160 each. Ford batteries OK? Any horror stories on them?

Looking under the van and knowing how my arthritis in my left hand is hurting, I'll pay the shops to do the install.

__________________
All things being equal - fat people use more soap.
eddyturn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 09:25 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
ShuttlePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 632
Low battery voltages (or alternator voltage) will eventually destroy the 6.0 Fuel Injection Control Module (FICM) power supply. Especially if it's a basic Ford FICM. I recommend which ever choice will get them done sooner. I have no experience with either Ford or Interstate batteries.

-Eric
__________________
2005 SMB RB 4x4 6.0 PSD
A rocket on the pad is safe,
but it's not what rockets are built for.
ShuttlePilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 10:16 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 1,995
Odyssey AGM PC1750 is still considered the best. https://www.batterymart.com/p-odysse...0-battery.html
It was also re-branded and sold as the Sears Diehard but is no longer available and East Penn now makes the batteries for Sears. A motorcraft battery that you buy over the counter at the Ford dealership is not the same as OE and actually doesn't have a very good rep. Optima are hit or miss as well. Seems you either get a good one or a bad one.

Interstates in my experience have been decent but I did get a bad one that went out during warranty. Now I've got a set of Napa batteries simply because there's a NAPA store in every town.
__________________
2005 E350 RB 6.0 PSD for extended fun
1989 Landcruiser FJ62 for local fun
2011 VW TDI Golf for hwy fun
JoeH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 12:02 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 149
I'm in the same boat. Been shopping around and Costco has Group 65 batteries at $92ea made by Interstate. I would assume they are built the same as retail batteries. Not looking forward to the change either due to the location of batteries, but it needs to be done.

On a similar note, anybody happen to know the length of the security cables holding the battery box to the frame rails, from eyelet center to eyelet center? Am considering making some replacements. For some reason someone in my van's past cut all 4 cables!?
__________________
2006 Ford E-350 6.0
Czar308 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 06:34 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 1,995
It's a PIA but the nice thing about the batteries being mounted along the frame rail is they are not in the engine compartment. Heat kills batteries.

Costco has an awesome return policy. Either way, replace both batteries or the weak one will kill the new one as well as the alternator having to work double time.
__________________
2005 E350 RB 6.0 PSD for extended fun
1989 Landcruiser FJ62 for local fun
2011 VW TDI Golf for hwy fun
JoeH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 03:47 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
ShuttlePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 632
Quote:
Originally Posted by Czar308 View Post
On a similar note, anybody happen to know the length of the security cables holding the battery box to the frame rails, from eyelet center to eyelet center? Am considering making some replacements. For some reason someone in my van's past cut all 4 cables!?
__________________
2005 SMB RB 4x4 6.0 PSD
A rocket on the pad is safe,
but it's not what rockets are built for.
ShuttlePilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 08:39 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 149
Thanks all. Now I know where my money is going this weekend.
__________________
2006 Ford E-350 6.0
Czar308 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2018, 07:49 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Durango, Colduhrado
Posts: 685
Decided to do the Interstate batteries. Shop said they would be glad to do NAPA or Interstate and they had no probs with any Interstates. Even said that a lot of NAPA locations are carrying Interstate as well and that will come in handy for any warranty replacements. Thanks all.
__________________
All things being equal - fat people use more soap.
eddyturn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 08:35 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Durango, Colduhrado
Posts: 685
Went with the Interstates. Holy sheeit he sure starts up nice now. Guess it was really past time for those other batteries. Now I need to look into a good trickle charger to keep them topped off. Will have to put the charger inside some protection from the snow that doesn't seem to be falling very much. Could happen but this is a really dry winter in SW Colorado.
__________________
All things being equal - fat people use more soap.
eddyturn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.