Marine/Deep Cycle batteries in diesel pickup?

[Cranky]

I've used deep cycle batteries in gas pickups before with good results but it's been years. I might drive my 97 Dodge diesel once a week but there's been times it has sat for 2+ weeks and am wondering if a deep cycle battery would be better to use. The ones in the truck now are 10 and 7 years old (don't ask how that happened) and have been on the weak side for over a year now. The are group 27 with 750 CCA and the same size deep cycle is 675 CCA. The 750's spin the starter pretty fast and even when they are at 12.2v, it spins good enough to start up ok. And before you say they are more expensive, the Duralast is 100 ea. and I've have good results with the Duralast line even though it's from Auto Zoned Out.

DJ

 

[1 Wild R/T]

From the Deka Battery website...

Starting Service

When a battery is called upon to deliver several hun- dred amps of power to the starting motor, the battery must be able to deliver this power quickly...within a few seconds. This power comes off of the surface of the plates inside the battery. Therefore, a battery with more plate surface area and less resistance will deliver power quicker than one with less plate surface and high resist- ance.

That’s why starting batteries are made with thinner plates...because you only use the power off the surface of the plates for starting the engine.

Deep Cycle Service

A deep cycle battery is called upon to deliver a long, slow discharge of fewer amps...for several minutes or hours...in a deep cycle application, such as running a trolling motor or heavy marine accessory load (e.g. depth finders, fish finders, radios, radar, lights, coolers, house power, etc.).

In this case, the power comes from deep within the plates, not merely off the surface as in starting. Therefore, deep cycle batteries are specially engineered with heavier, thicker plates with fiberglass reinforcement, special power-producing active material and special heavy-duty separators.

With these features, the battery can withstand the potentially damaging effects of continual deep discharge and recharge. The unreinforced, thinner plates of a start- ing battery cannot handle this constant deep cycling, and will fail in short order.

 

[Cranky]

From the Deka Battery website...

Starting Service

When a battery is called upon to deliver several hun- dred amps of power to the starting motor, the battery must be able to deliver this power quickly...within a few seconds. This power comes off of the surface of the plates inside the battery. Therefore, a battery with more plate surface area and less resistance will deliver power quicker than one with less plate surface and high resist- ance.

That’s why starting batteries are made with thinner plates...because you only use the power off the surface of the plates for starting the engine.

Deep Cycle Service

A deep cycle battery is called upon to deliver a long, slow discharge of fewer amps...for several minutes or hours...in a deep cycle application, such as running a trolling motor or heavy marine accessory load (e.g. depth finders, fish finders, radios, radar, lights, coolers, house power, etc.).

In this case, the power comes from deep within the plates, not merely off the surface as in starting. Therefore, deep cycle batteries are specially engineered with heavier, thicker plates with fiberglass reinforcement, special power-producing active material and special heavy-duty separators.

With these features, the battery can withstand the potentially damaging effects of continual deep discharge and recharge. The unreinforced, thinner plates of a start- ing battery cannot handle this constant deep cycling, and will fail in short order.

Imo, that explains why there's 2 starting batteries in diesels......

 

[YY1]

I had to stop using deep cycle batteries in my cars because the price went way up.

$56 last time, this time they were $120+

 

[Cranky]

I had to stop using deep cycle batteries in my cars because the price went way up.

$56 last time, this time they were $120+

I had to stop using deep cycle batteries in my cars because the price went way up.

$56 last time, this time they were $120+

To replace the AC Delco 'Professional' batteries (what's in the truck now), it's 138 each....and 100 each for the DC Duralast batteries. Batteries took a jump not too long ago.

 

[BB BELLA]

I've been running 2 kirkland signatures 1000/800 from costco in my 6.5 installed 12/13 never an issue with them and the price was good!I don't plug it in [running syn.] lots of -25/-30c starts
Kirklands are interstate "which I never had faith in" but these have been good!

 

[YY1]

I did get 7 1/2 years out of the last deep cycle Rural King branded Exide.

Not bad for a 5 year battery.

 

[Cranky]

I did get 7 1/2 years out of the last deep cycle Rural King branded Exide.

Not bad for a 5 year battery.

One of my batteries in the truck is 7 and the other is 10. Thinking the 7 year old is helping the one that's 10 lol

 

[BSB67]

In my boats, I use a conventional automotive battery as I don't deep cycle them.

 

[Cranky]

I've been running 2 kirkland signatures 1000/800 from costco in my 6.5 installed 12/13 never an issue with them and the price was good!I don't plug it in [running syn.] lots of -25/-30c starts
Kirklands are interstate "which I never had faith in" but these have been good!

About the only time I plug in is when the temps get close to freezing and I'm about to go somewhere.....it's mainly to have some heat in the cab quicker. This thing takes too long to get heat going even with the radiator blocked 90%!

 

[Thrashingcows]

Imo, that explains why there's 2 starting batteries in diesels......

I've been driving a 1st gen Cummins truck for over 10 years now and have never used more then one battery. Always fires up, even some bone cold -30*C starts with cycling the grid heater a couple times.

I've been running 2 kirkland signatures 1000/800 from costco in my 6.5 installed 12/13 never an issue with them and the price was good!I don't plug it in [running syn.] lots of -25/-30c starts
Kirklands are interstate "which I never had faith in" but these have been good!

Yeah I've been using Kirkland batteries for over 15 years in almost all our vehicles. I seems to get about 7 years out of one of them.

 

[Cranky]

I've been driving a 1st gen Cummins truck for over 10 years now and have never used more then one battery. Always fires up, even some bone cold -30*C starts with cycling the grid heater a couple times.
Yeah I've been using Kirkland batteries for over 15 years in almost all our vehicles. I seems to get about 7 years out of one of them.

I may try it with one and see how it goes. My 1st gen truck only came with one but the 97 came with two. I know the grid heater takes a bunch of amps when that thing clicks on. My volt meter drops to around 10 volts or less when it comes on with the engine running! Thing is, the grid doesn't come on all that much.

 

[69L48Z27]

Sams club seems to have the best price on batteries from what I’ve found.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Sams club seems to have the best price on batteries from what I’ve found.

That's if you are a member.

 

[69L48Z27]

That's if you are a member.

Even if your not you can usually roll into the customer service desk and ask if you can have a day pass to try the place out.

 

[oldbee]

Imo, that explains why there's 2 starting batteries in diesels......

Well Cranky, the big diesels run 4 usually. Takes a lot of amps in the cold and cables as big/bigger than your thump(2/o,1/o). Personally I wouldn't go deep cycle, wrong application like said above. PLUS, diesels have 12.5/13+ compression.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Well Cranky, the big diesels run 4 usually. Takes a lot of amps in the cold and cables as big/bigger than your thump(2/o,1/o). Personally I wouldn't go deep cycle, wrong application like said above. PLUS, diesels have 12.5/13+ compression.

You think they will run on that. Figure use to be around 24.

 

[CHARGERSTEVEN]

Dont go any smaller CCA,stay at 750 CCA,thats why there in there to put less strain on the starting system n higher is better

 

[MoparDanMan]

That's if you are a member.

I've got a 99 Ram 2500 diesel, I got my batteries at Wallfart and they were $60.00 less for the pair than at Advance Auto.

 

[BB BELLA]

That's if you are a member.

I know a guy, that know's a guy!