Lantley wrote:
....snip....
But my point is old or new as the truck ages the components age, and wear as well. As the components age they lose efficiency and put more demand on the battery.
Lantley, I can see the point of what you are trying to say here, and in some ways it does make sense.
However, I feel differently myself about it. I know and understand engines. I have been working on them since I was a puppy. I have torn down and rebuilt scores of them.
As the engine ages, things are not as tight as they were when new. The engine bearings, the piston rings, the cam bearings etc all wear and actually become looser. Compression is down compared to new.
All of this makes the engine turn over easier and faster, thus having less, not more draw on the batteries, largely due to decreased friction. It is easier to get started, not harder.
Of course there are other considerations too. The glow plugs. They are either on or off. Unless you have a burned out plug, or as in my case 3 out before I had 8 new ones installed, your preheat is always there. With 3 out my engine always started well, even cold. It just rattled a bit more and blew some smoke for a few seconds. But taking the other factors into consideration, it still takes less starter effort to turn the engine over.
Condition of the starter does come in to play though. Mine is original and still functions as intended. Yes it is possible for its efficiency to be less than new. I get that. But when the engine takes one second of cranking to start, there really is no extra burden on the batteries. The battery load is when you start it up.
Once the engine is running, there is not any more burden on the batteries than when the truck was new. The alternator still pumps out the required roughly 14 volts to keep things going. No extra load on the batteries here. All the same stuff runs, heater, headlights etc.
Maybe the power windows are drawing a bit more due to extra drag from dirt in the tracks. But the truck is running, batteries up, alternator charging. No extra load here. Etc etc with other accessories.
I have to say I totally disagree with the batteries being taxed more as a vehicle ages due to the reasons you outlined.
But then we all think differently, we all have a different understanding of mechanical things. Not saying you're wrong! I could be completely out to lunch myself! I've been proven wrong many times over the years. :) we just have opposing viewpoints, that's all...
I think we are wandering away from the reason I posted this, but that's ok, it's winter, cold outside and fun to have something to discuss! Minus 27C here, don't feel like getting under the hood today!
