Lots of opinions on which ones are "better" than others. Some guys swear by Optima's. I've run Oreilly super starts for seven years without issue in multiple vehicles. Deka is one of top manufacturers.
Biggest issue with the 6.2/6.5 was more in cable issues than batteries. I say buy the best biggest CCA batteries you can afford, these things take a lot of amps to start.

 

Optima yellow tops. Hands down.

 

any set of matched batteries are going to be better than dead ones, try to stay up around 700CCA... and like T.F said, inspect your cables, and always good to swap out the clamps for new ones at this time..... and remember grease is your friend, coat all your posts and ends after install to cut down corrosion......

 

Switching from side post to top post helps. I replaced my stock wires last year I used 2 gauge wire solder in timed termanals marine grade heat shrink. It's expensive but worth it.
I'm on my second set of autozone batteries im happy with the price and preformance I got 3 years out of the last set before I deemed them week.

It's good to buy in pairs I have 2 1000ca /800cca batteries a newer alternator and gear reduction starter.

You hear a lot about you get what you pay for but if you dig a little deeper you will find that name brands are sold manufactured under another company.
You have to think a more expensive battery sits on the shelf longer too.

 

You hear a lot about you get what you pay for but if you dig a little deeper you will find that name brands are sold manufactured under another company.

Being from the same manufacturer doesn't mean a lot. They build them to the specs at the cost asked for. If Cheap Charlie's $50 battery is made by Deka, don't expect the same quality.

It does however help when there are problems with a manufacturers battery, the no name will probably not be much different.

Switching from side post to top post helps. I replaced my stock wires last year I used 2 gauge wire solder in timed termanals marine grade heat shrink.

Yes top posts generally work better, if you use side posts, do the mod to improve them. Upgrading the anemic OEM cables can be the best upgrade.

Optima yellow tops. Hands down.

Optima used to be :thumb: Since they moved to Mexico, nothing but complaints. :thumbsdow

any set of matched batteries are going to be better than dead ones, try to stay up around 700CCA... and like T.F said, inspect your cables, and always good to swap out the clamps for new ones at this time..... and remember grease is your friend, coat all your posts and ends after install to cut down corrosion......

Exactly, get the best batteries you can afford with a good CCA rating.

 

Alright I'll do that my budget is around like $150-$200 and I'll inspect all my wires and clamps. I don't know if anybody on here is familiar with Rural king it's similar to a tractor supply but they have a brand of battery in their name and I'm somewhat cautious with them because they are super cheap but for 1000cca it's about a hundred a piece.

 

They are probably good. I get tractor batteries from TSC and they are strong and last.

 

:welcome2:By the way, welcome to Diesel Place....

 

I like to go to costco for batteries. I have a pair of 850 cca batteries (made by Interstate) that are about $85 each and have the best warranty I could find. It's something like 3 years free replacement and prorated out to 72 months. I had an onboard charger go bad and ended up killing a set and they just replace them no questions asked. Plus you don't need to keep the receipt in order to exchange them. I get all my batteries there for the warranty and price, it's much cheaper than an autoparts store.

For example I needed a new battery for my 98 blazer, Oreillys wanted $140. I got the same size battery at Costco for $80 and twice the warranty lifetime.

Keep in mind that the bigger the battery, the more customization you might need to make. To fit the 850's I needed to move back the washer fluid tank and they hang over the sides of the battery tray. It's not much work, but just something to keep in mind.

 

I hate top post but I also ditch the crappy GM bolt for the side termials, and expose the ring terminal and use a regular 3/8x1" bolt and a nut.to tighten it down. I also try to get batteries that have both top and side mount, cause I've found with a few side mounts that the connector itself gets loose inside the battery. if that happens you can then swap to top mount

 

I hate top post but I also ditch the crappy GM bolt for the side termials, and expose the ring terminal and use a regular 3/8x1" bolt and a nut.to tighten it down. I also try to get batteries that have both top and side mount, cause I've found with a few side mounts that the connector itself gets loose inside the battery. if that happens you can then swap to top mount

Agreed, I've had a few that the side posts quit or went intermittent. Threw a side post adapter on the top and it worked fine.

 

Ive been buying reconditioned batteries for a few years from my local yard for $45 with a 1 year free replacement warranty and thats it. they also sell new excide factory seconds for $55 with a one year warranty. The first set of reconditioned ones i bought for my c10 last only 3 years so not sure if that was worth it:think: Bought two excide factory seconds for my 94 a couple months ago. Thought something was up so I pulled them charged them both for 6 hours at 4 amps. Brought them back for testing and one tested "bad" and the other tested"good low charge 35%" using a pro grade otc battery tester. Needless to say they took them both back and they gave me a matching pair of their reconditioned ones which im not so keen on but I took them because I do alot of business there and they give me no guff. Not sure what to do now theyre sitting in my garage. Menards sells brand new excide 78 series 750cca for $100 each. Sticker on the battery says either 40 month or it says 4 year free replacement just cant remember. I might go with those just for the free replacement period but then again excides are not known for quality. This is my experience with batteries the past few years. Also contemplating O'Reilly premium batteries that carry 3 year free replacement which are around $130 each. Thing is that the case theyre in is exact as fleet farm and napa batteries. Fleet farm cost less and napa more. Hmm

 

Was it cray mike that got 2nds direct from Deka or something for $5 or $20 a piece?

 

I'd like to find a deal like that, I'd get new ones every year at that price.

 

Mike85...but crazymike fit better

 

I rock the Costco batteries. My last one was just shy of $91 bucks. I had one fail in my car, brought it back and they gave me another one, no hassle! They're a real interstate too!

 

Anybody have any experience with the Oreilly premiums? As far as longevity?

 

I couldnt get them to last more than 18 months in my blazer. It sat a lot, but would still start it up every couple weeks. When it was Schucks (before Oreillys bought them) I would just take it in, they would give me a new one no problem. Then Oreilly's started requiring the receipt and didnt store the info in their computers. Even keeping a folder in a filing cabinet, the receipts stack up fast and can't ever find them.

Then I started using some reconditioned batteries from a local place for $40 but couldn't ever find ones that were the same size and they never lasted more than 6 months for me. After exchanging them for a second time, the guy told me that was the last time they would exchange them. I said, then stop providing such shitty batteries and never went back. Don't think they are in business anymore.

It's always a crap shoot with batteries. Bad brands can make a good battery and good brands can make bad ones. You can even get them DOA. I wouldn't mind paying more for something if it was a sure thing to be a better product. but such short warranties with overpriced batteries made me search for a long time before just wandered into the tire section at costco looking at tires. Saw their battery rack and the warranty and prices... SOLD! All 4 of my vehicles have them and I bought a RV battery for camping that has been awesome. the only time I have had trouble was with my schumaker battery maintainer. I figured it was bad, so stopped trying to use it to charge. didnt unhook it and it sucked down another brand new set in 24 hrs. completely dead, read 2v! So I ended up exchanging them twice in a week. Still no problem and the warranty starts over each time :thumb:

I don't mean to write a love letter to Costco, but I have had, by far, the best experiences from them.

 

Thanks for your experiences happypunch. There is a Costco couple miles from me but never been in there. Ill take a look. My neighbor has a membership.

 

Found this on the web. Look right?

Nearly all batteries are made by 3 manufacturers - Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls Industries.

Delphi makes EverStart models sold in Walmart and ACDelco.

Johnson Control Industries makes Duralast seen in Autozone stores, Diehard - sold in Sears, Kirkland - the Costco brand, Motorcraft - which Ford sells, some of the EverStarts, and Interstate.

Exide makes Exide batteries, Champion, Napa and even a % of the EverStart batteries.

Reason I ask is because my suburban came with ac delco batteries and they rock the house. Like to find delco batteries for my truck but not sure where to get em. Probably the stealer I suppose.

 

Found this on the web. Look right?

Nearly all batteries are made by 3 manufacturers - Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls Industries.

Delphi makes EverStart models sold in Walmart and ACDelco.

Johnson Control Industries makes Duralast seen in Autozone stores, Diehard - sold in Sears, Kirkland - the Costco brand, Motorcraft - which Ford sells, some of the EverStarts, and Interstate.

Exide makes Exide batteries, Champion, Napa and even a % of the EverStart batteries.

Reason I ask is because my suburban came with ac delco batteries and they rock the house. Like to find delco batteries for my truck but not sure where to get em. Probably the stealer I suppose.

Looks Ok, but real old and where's Deka?
Delphi was apparently sold to Johnson Controls in 2006 after they filed bankruptcy.

Have to be careful saying who makes an off brand battery as it flops back and forth with contracts.
Years ago, I would buy the top of the line NAPA's as they were good, but any lower one was junk. Then the whole line changed because they changed suppliers.

I think the result should be.... Buy the best battery you can afford, with the best CCA rating, from the place that offers the best warranty and service.

 

As the post topic says "Best Battery", you only need 1.
http://www.fullriverdcbattery.com/media/pdf/spec-sheets/hc-series/HC105.pdf

In my truck which sits all week in the summer & most of the winter, 2 cheap Korean batteries about $60 each and a battery maintainer mounted in truck. 7 years on these.
http://www.batterychargers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=94026501A

 

Yeah, i thought that Johnson Controls and Deka were the only 2 players.

 

Excide batteries in general seem to last but corrosion at the terminals seems to be a issue for them. Not too long ago I went on a research project to see who made all my batteries and all the corroded ones turned out to be Excides. I think I also noted that Excide was the one make that seemed to get their name somewhere on the label. Many others its much more difficult to figure out who made it especially since it can change fairly often. Also like some have noted that all Sears batteries may not be from the same company. The standard line may be one make and the premium may be another. There could also be oddball applications that one vendor does not make that could further confuse things.

 

Problem these days is you can't be sure. So and so may have made the batteries for XYZ last week but this week could be someone else. Or someone else for some models and someone else for others. These sorts of things used to go on 20-30 year cycles but these days we are lucky to even be able to buy the same thing twice in a year.

 

1983 Chevy Diesel Detroit 6.2 liter engine.

OH my gosh!!!!
Every time we try to start the our RV we have to jump it. Everything in the camper is off. We have checked all the wires. Checked the alternator we have checked everything. However, the engine battery is a 12 volt side post battery. Since it diesel should we connect a 24 volt battery? The manuel says two 12 volt but we have no idea where the other battery would go.

PLEASE help!!! so tired of jumping this thing.

 

Weeellll ..... first off ....




Welcome to Diesel Place !!! The Big Show !!!





Normally we ask you to start your own thread so we don't get confused over who/why/what.... and we don't pay for data .... so let's burn some bytes ...


What happens if you disconnect the battery, will it start or do you have to jump it...??


You have to jump start it, replace the battery. No jump start you have a drain in the system, alternator, radio, cb ... who knows but we can guide you through most of it .... in your own thread, the big red New Thread button is right there waiting for ya ....


Are you sure it only has 1 battery? Most 6.2 diesel equipped vehicles all have 2 battery's, especially in an RV ..... in fact I have never worked on an RV without 2 batteries but I haven't worked on that many, so take a good look and get back to us ... please, in a new thread ....



It'll be a 12V system, 2 12V batteries wired in parallel for double the available current at the same voltage. Parallel wiring is as simple as positive to positive and negative to negative ...done ...








:bigglasse