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BobsYourUncle's avatar
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Feb 01, 2019

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.
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59 Replies

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  • DustyR's avatar
    DustyR
    Explorer
    Feb 02, 2019
    I usually get 2 - 2 1/2 years out of lead acid batteries. This time I went with AutoZone Platinum AGM because of the increased CCA. Time will tell.
  • N-Trouble's avatar
    N-Trouble
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2019
    ScottG wrote:
    Winter isn't hard on them, the heat is. It's just winter when their diminished capacity shows up.
    That being said, in 40+ years of driving I have had a battery short internally on two occasions.
    When that happens you cannot jump start. You have to replace the batterys before mvoig on. So to keep from getting my family stuck in the middle of nowhere, I replace them every 5~6 years.


    ^^This^^

    Heat is their enemy. My factory AC Delcos in my 2012 Dmax lasted 5 yr.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Feb 01, 2019
    2 years 11 months in your environment you have nothing to complain about.
    Keep in mind as the engine ages it becomes harder to start.
    The truck requires more power to start as it ages. The power required Year 1 to start the truck with a new battery is less than the power required to get things going in year 6.
    As the engine continues to age and becomes harder to start the batteries gets weaker.
    For the record my 2007 LBZ required new batteries every 2 years or so.
    I was told to use Delco's. They lasted 2 years or so and cost $160.00 each or so.
    So if you know of a way to get 3 years plus out of 2 diesel batteries let us know.:@
    Yes you should change both batteries. Changing only one gives you a 50/50 shot the next time it doesn't start.
    To the OP I feel you pain. As much as we debate the diesel vs. gas thing around here.
    We don't bring up batteries very often. Gassers win the battery battle round. Diesel's require 2 batteries that don't last very long:E
    Nevertheless in the end if your getting 2-3 years out of a set of batteries, and live in a place that experiences cold winters you are within the norm.
  • AlmostAnOldGuy's avatar
    AlmostAnOldGuy
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2019
    Bionic Man wrote:
    The vast majority of batteries are made by one company - Johnson Controls. They private label, and may build them to different specs for different brands, but I am of the opinion that for the most part, they are the same. So I buy the ones with the combo of best price and best warranty - which usually means something from either Costco or Walmart.

    To answer your question on battery life, I think that can vary wildly. I had a 2003 RAM CTD that I bought new in December of 2002, and sold it in September of 2011. It had the original batteries in it when I sold it. It had around 120,000 miles.

    My current truck, bought in September of 2011 needed batteries at 3/20/16 at 46,321 miles.


    I buy Johnson Controls lead acid batteries for the truck. But I have also learned to bring a battery hydrometer with me and I check the cells before I pay for it. Will then check the cells each year before winter sets in. Usually get 5 / 6 years of service.

    Take it easy,
    Stu
  • twodownzero's avatar
    twodownzero
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2019
    I just replaced the original batteries in my 05 ram 3500 last year. 13 years and they finally gave it up.
  • SARGUY's avatar
    SARGUY
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2019
    I have a 2002 Duramax I had to replace the original batteries in 2010 think it was March of that year. I replaced them with 2 deep cycle marine batteries sold by CARQUEST, they are still in the truck now. That being said I expect to hear the click, click, click, some cold morning soon.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Feb 01, 2019
    Winter isn't hard on them, the heat is. It's just winter when their diminished capacity shows up.
    That being said, in 40+ years of driving I have had a battery short internally on two occasions.
    When that happens you cannot jump start. You have to replace the batterys before mvoig on. So to keep from getting my family stuck in the middle of nowhere, I replace them every 5~6 years.
  • Bionic_Man's avatar
    Bionic_Man
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2019
    The vast majority of batteries are made by one company - Johnson Controls. They private label, and may build them to different specs for different brands, but I am of the opinion that for the most part, they are the same. So I buy the ones with the combo of best price and best warranty - which usually means something from either Costco or Walmart.

    To answer your question on battery life, I think that can vary wildly. I had a 2003 RAM CTD that I bought new in December of 2002, and sold it in September of 2011. It had the original batteries in it when I sold it. It had around 120,000 miles.

    My current truck, bought in September of 2011 needed batteries at 3/20/16 at 46,321 miles.

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