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The time is quickly running out on my OEM battery’s. Even though my 2016 3500 GMC diesel rarely gets out, the battery’s are past the warranty. Full time use of the truck will began in 10 months so in between now and then battery’s will be replaced.
The truck calls for a group 48 size. I have started looking around and my top three choices would be going with the same stock battery installed during service intervals at the dealer, giving the Platinum Ever Start a try or going big and dropping 550 bucks on two 48-720 Odyssey AGM’s. Quality and a factory fit are my primary concerns but I also am not interested in preforming any battery maintenance like what is described in the Life Line web site.
Those of you with similar trucks log on and let me know your thoughts and what you bought.
I have a 2016 Chevy 3500 HD diesel with around 77K miles. I assume it about the same as yours?? I still have the original batteries in it. It gets driven from Alaska to Arizona and back each year. I found volt meter would stay low for a long time when it was cold, but worked fine in warm weather. I thought the batteries were bad and took it in to the dealer. Come to find out the batteries were fine, but the alternator was bad. There are some heaters that come on in colder weather that don’t in warm weather. The alternator couldn’t keep up with the heaters and camper.
The check engine light came on last October and it turned out to be the DEF heater went bad. It was fixed under warranty as it is a known problem. I assume yours will go bad sooner or later?? DEF freezes at 12* so it is important not to fill it up all the way in colder temps. You need to leave space so it can expand without breaking the tank if your heater goes out.
In Ft Nelson, BC about 3 weeks ago it came on again. It turned out to be the intake heater was bad. A couple of years ago the exhaust sensor went out. Don’t know if this happens on a regular basis or not???
I am not going to change my batteries till they go bad.
2016 3500 HD Durmax
1994 S and S 9.5' Camper (SOLD)
1999 S and S 9.5 CamperJust my opinion but I don’t push Truck Battery life at all past six years. just not worth the hassle of a dead batt while camping in faraway places. I pushed my 2012 Ford F-350 PSD to 6 years before I replaced them. 12 volt RV Batteries at 5 years or however long their warranty might be.
Thanks guys for the insight, especially Wheeldog. I have not been on the forum much lately and have not seen any of your responses Wheeldog. Sounds like your truck is not a fan of cold weather. The deft tip is something I was unaware of and will certainly be included in my truck notes. The only thing I have ever heard about deft was from the dealer who recommended the more expensive GM brand of deft over the brand sold at Walmart. He claimed they have seen some diesels having problems with the cheaper brand.
My retirement will begin in 2020 and my truck will become our only vehicle. Our first stop will be South Dakota in October. Rest assured maintenance on our truck will continue to be a top priority. I intend on running the original battery’s as long as possible, right up to a week or so before bug out day. I am leaning towards the Odyssey brand because of the size and the perception of quality. The Ever starts are over an inch longer and may not fit properly, but if they do they are half the cost of the Odyssey brand and have a 3 year replacement warranty. Additionally they are sold by Walmart so warranty issues might be easier since Walmart’s are everywhere.
I haven’t done any research on batteries, so can’t help you out.
I have been using the Walmart DEF so maybe your dealer may be right?? Got a better brand this time so will see how it works. I do know I was going to put DEF in my truck when it was around zero and it looked like a slurpy, lots of ice crystals in it. I held off til I got in warmer temps.
Yeah….the cold weather puts some extra stress on the motor with all it’s heaters. However, it seems to start with no problem when temps are around zero and not plugged in.
I usually leave Alaska the second week in November. Ran in more days of below zero temps this year than usual.
2016 3500 HD Durmax
1994 S and S 9.5' Camper (SOLD)
1999 S and S 9.5 CamperIn Feburary 2018 I bought a 2003 Ram 2500 built in January 2003. It still had the original Diamler-Chrysler batteries in it. They were rebranded Delco/Delphis with the Green dot window in them. Worked, just barely. I immediately searched and found AGM batteries that were on sale, in this case it was Pep Boys Bosch AGM’s 25% off. Somebody is always running them on sale, last time, it was Sears when I needed a battery for the Motorhome (sold) and their AGM’s were on sale, 25% off.
I used to be picky, nothing but Delco/Delphis, but after years of them, I started encountering early failures, so I now shop on price. Pep Boys has alot of parts including batteries for 25% off. AGM battery for yours would be $146. Just shop around.
DEF fluid will freeze or get slushy, the tanks in most vehicles have heaters because of this. Failure of the heater will cause a check engine light on many vehicles.
Charles
Freespool,
I’m not in your league, truck or camper-wise, but used all 3 group 27 batteries; 2-under the hood of my 2001 RAM CTD, ganged with a shut-off to the one that would fit in the Lance 165-s. There are only a couple issues that are important: 1. Make sure all batteries are the same size/group/amp hour rating. 2. If you are contemplating a long trip, replace all at one time when one starts to go bad. A bad cell in a battery will pull on the other good ones further reducing their life expectancy and reliability. That being said, I got 6 years out of the OEM batteries on the RAM by quickly adding another of the same size for the used Lance. I had even more reliability once I added 200watts of solar to keep the batteries from sulfating or deep discharging.
With the discussion of DEF heaters and fluids in a narrow range needing TLC, I’m still glad I have a Gen. II, 24v Cummins HO if not for the anemic power (505 # ft. TQ) but for the absolute and robust simplicity of the engine’s systems. No smog devices. No DEF tank. No pee canister or soot bag. It has just a 4 inch exhaust with an aftermarket muffler which is all legal in CA.
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
No worries Jefe4x4. Look at it this way, you are out having fun while work 55 hours a week and then give half of it to taxes. Next year, I’m gone.
One thing is for sure thou, I like your love of simplicity. Two guys at the office own 24 valver’s and our senior driver occasionally brings in his old pristine 12 valve with it’s souped up turbo and a custom 5k tranny. I may have went with the Dodge, but as a driver the word Allison carry’s alot of weight.
One thing I will have to take issue with is that pee canister. Every trucker needs a few of these every month along with a new log book.
Hers’s my .02…and that may be all it is worth. Check your owner’s manual for what GM considers and acceptable replacement battery. AGM, flooded acid…etc, all operate differently. Care and maintenance is different. Your truck may not be truly compatible with the AGM – especially if the camper backfeed/charges when you are hooked up and plugged together. In other words, your inverter might charge at a rate destructive to the non-OE style battery.
My personal experience on GM batteries is I get between 4 to 5 years out of them – like clockwork. You don’t have to get a Delco battery – but make sure what you get is not only the right size and amp hour…but the correct TYPE.
I put a Optima blue top in my boat this last year. I have the boat in storage mode. I was charging that battery with a “Battery Tender” brand – but just learned that could destroy the battery. I bought an $80 Optima brand charger that has a specific setting for their batteries for charge and storage. It makes a difference.
Thanks Chris for that insight. I will look into any possible conflicts before I spend the big money for an AGM. My experience with battery’s is 100% flooded acid. I have become interested in the AGM type battery’s mainly from reading Mikes reviews on this web site. With that said, there is no doubt there different and require the proper knowledge in order to use and care for them. Cost is a additional factor that should be considered. The bottom line for me is I expect car and truck battery’s to last through there warranty period with no special care. RV applications are different. I routinely check and charge the deep cycles that I own.
One practice that I do may help an AGM battery to live in my truck. I always disconnect any hauled or towed RV from my truck once I reach my destination. The thought of a heater running all night and draining the truck and the RV battery is why I do this. Even with a battery disconnect option engaged. I never take chances with my starting battery’s.
One slightly off topic thought about battery’s is there discharge rate while they are not being used. I suppose this is the main reason I became interested in AGM’s. I pay attention to advertised cycles. My last set of 105’s would lose 50% every month even when they were not in service and being stored in a garage. The constant maintenance and use of cycles while in storage is a waste. I plan on using Life Line battery’s in my new rig in order to prevent this from happening.
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