TV battery life? And Interstate longeivity? Diesel trucks.

This thread is directed at diesel truck owners:

I want to throw out a query regarding the life of the batteries in your diesel pickup. Especially to those with harsh winter conditions.

My pair of Interstate batteries failed today. I was working at a site building stuff and the truck sat all day in the customers driveway, not plugged in. Never is plugged in at work, only at home for morning starts. Temperature was plus 4C this morning, the arctic blew at us and it was minus 15C late afternoon when I went to leave.

Got in, let the glow plugs cycle, turned the key, click click click.... no start. Crud! I was cold after being outside all day, just wanted to go home and have a hot shower.

I bought the truck new on Aug 15, 2006.
On Dec 12, 2011 and 162,791K on the odo, I replaced the factory OEM batteries with a pair from Interstate. I have always thought highly of Interstate batteries, I run 4 - GC2's in the TT. About 6 years and still going.

So that's about 5 1/3 years on the original batteries.

Fast forward to November 14, 2014 and now 253,331K on the clock. My slightly less than 3 year old pair of Interstates failed. Got a full warranty replacement. I bought a lot of batteries for various vehicles from that Interstate dealer over the years.

So that's about 2 years and 11 months on the 2nd set since new.

Fast forward to today, just under 385,000K on it now and my batteries are pooched. That's about 4 years and 2 months on another pair of Interstates.

I don't know how you guys feel, but I thought they should have gone longer than that before expiring....

So you guys with diesel trucks, what kind of life are you getting from your pair of batteries? And from what brand?

I do know and understand that cold harsh winters tax the batteries more, you in the south likely get more years.

I am wondering what kind of life you who run Interstates get.

Guess I'm going battery shopping tomorrow. I wonder if I should go back to OEM GM, or buy more Interstate..... Or look at something else? We get some pretty cold winters here.

I'm not afraid to cough up the price for the best. Thought I was already doing that.

Tow Vehicles

59 Replies

zcookiemonstar
Explorer
Feb 08, 2019
I think the biggest killer of batteries is a lot of short drives that never bring the battery back up to full charge. If you do that daily it really wipes out the battery or batteries especially in the winter when we have less daylight and drive more if not all the time with the lights on. I do like to put a battery charger on all my vehicles once in a while just to make sure they are fully charged.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Feb 06, 2019
Jmho but I consider the Interstates and Walmart batteries to be equal. Buy the one you get the best price on. Wife's Traverse has a fairly expensive group number since it is inside the car under the floor. I put one of the batteries from Walmart in her car as it was about $40 cheaper than an Interstate. So far so good approaching 4 years
VTLee
Explorer
Feb 06, 2019
I replaced the original 1997 Ford batteries in 2016 before we went on a cross country trip. They were still good but I couldn't believe they would last much longer. The truck is only used to haul the camper and the battery minder is always plugged in when it is parked. I am running the Interstate batteries now and if they last 15 more years they will probably outlive me.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Feb 05, 2019
Going on 3 years with the single WallyWorld EverStart battery in my truck. Figured if it ever goes out there will be a WallyWorld nearby.
wilber1
Explorer
Feb 05, 2019
I got 7 years out of the OEM batteries in my last two RAM's but it doesn't get really cold where we live. Maybe 10 degrees below freezing on a cold winter day. I replaced the last set with OEM's as well. More expensive maybe but if I get another 7 years out of them I will be happy. I also like the fact they are no maintenance, no corroded terminals. I just to a load test on them occasionally when they get older.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Feb 05, 2019
:B:B:B
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Feb 05, 2019
Totally not questionnng your choice. I wouldn’t have dropped that coin to put them in my truck either, but they were sitting there goin g to be unused for 2 years and my OE batteries were already collecting social security and looking for an assisted living arrangement!
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Feb 04, 2019
Grit dog wrote:

Bob, $565 ea for Odysseys? Yeah I wouldn't buy them either!

Here in the US, you can get a PAIR of Odyssey batteries for $565 giver take. Still expensive, but that price sounds high even in Canada?

Well, I tend to phone first to get general pricing. They always quote full retail. But it gives me a guideline for deciding for or against it.
Even if I wandered in and sweet talked my way to a 10 or 20 percent discount, its still too much for a battery.
Yes, the price sounds too high. I contacted only one Odyssey dealer.

Was getting tired of spending time on it so just ran out and bought OEM's to get it over with.

I installed them in about minus 25C this afternoon. Friggin cold!
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Feb 04, 2019
Costco rentals! Lol. I've never done that.......maybe.
Bob, $565 ea for Odysseys? Yeah I wouldn't buy them either!

Here in the US, you can get a PAIR of Odyssey batteries for $565 giver take. Still expensive, but that price sounds high even in Canada?
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Feb 04, 2019
Got 2 Costco interstate batts for my 00 7.3, one lasted 2 years 10 months and was just able to warranty them out.

If I had to start from scratch I would for sure go Duracell AGM (East Penn/Dekka)