what battery?

You can get a Northstar from Batteries Plus right now for around $289

 

i have always used the optima bluetp marine battery the reason, it is not bad to run them low, thats what marine batteries are for charge and drain so if it runs low or has a long amp draw it will not hurt the battery

 

I thought about an Optima but read so many horror stories about them that, after doing considerable research, I just ordered a Northstar which is on back-order, unfortunately. The quality control on so many products these day just sucks. You never know what you're getting even if it's from a previously reputable brand. Since I need it for a trip I am going on. The battery that is in there is a "True Start" from Toyota and may do just fine but it's almost 6 years old and I'll be driving in very remote areas (paved roads though) where cell phone service is a dream. Not a reality. I suspect the "True Start" will do just fine but I like to be certain. I guess the worst that will happen is I'll be flagging down someone to call for help if the need arises which it probably won't. Because of my driving habits I doubt the "True Start" will die on the trip but I'd just like to be sure. That's all.

 

According to a study by Interstate Batteries, the average wet battery life in Wyoming is 61 months in the mountains and 56 months in the warmer climate of the rest of the state. You have done a good job of charging and maintaining your wet battery.

 

I've done quite a bit of reading on batteries over the past few years and not just automotive batteries. My Northstar was on backorder and the order was cancelled because they couldn't get it to me in time. The big thing with batteries is don't cook 'em, don't freeze them and don't constantly use them in a discharged state. Which many do. I have a battery warmer and will be installing an oil pan heater before next winter along with a grill cover because the Taco runs too cold when the temp drops.

In any case, this battery was in Kalifornia and then Nevada for the first 4 years of it's life. The truck did sit a lot for about a year which is the ONLY reason I got my hands on this babied cream-puff Taco for as cheap as I did because my dad hurt his back and couldn't drive a stick anymore. Once I bought this truck from my dad and brought it to Wyoming it's always been charged (engine run) at least 30 mins. a day. My dad ran it for fairly long periods of time as well.

For the most part. I don't shut the truck off unless I'm going to go shopping or something else for more than about 10 minutes in the winter. Many here in Wyoming just leave their vehicles run in the winter when they go shopping because it gets so cold. Many times, I just lock the truck and let it run for a half an hour while I'm in the store.

When a battery is used for starting and then only driven 3 miles to work constantly in frigid temps it never ever gets fully charged. Especially if it's being driven at night with the headlights on and then stopped 5 miles later. I run my engine about an hour a day from warm up to when it gets shut down. More on weekends.

Yep, my fuel mileage may suffer but many other components last longer such as starters and the battery. When it's zero degrees outside or even much less it gets warmed up for 15 mins or so and the same when I leave work. Then there is the 20 min. drive home and back the next morning. This technique also saves exhaust systems and oil as well. Many exhaust systems on the newer vehicles are stainless so it doesn't count for those.

In any case, I may just take my trip and get the Northstar when I get back. If I get stranded? Well? I'll deal with it. However, I probably won't. It is an 8 year battery after all. There was actually someone here on this forum, I think, that had bought a new car way back when and had a battery that was 18 years old. No one believed him but he swore it was the truth since he bought the car new. Many have had a battery last 8-10 years. I'll test mine before I leave on my trip.

 

Driving habits have a huge effect on a charging system being able to fully charge a starting battery. So while garaged during the winter and using a quick disconnect, I tether each of our vehicles off of smart temperature battery charger. This is to overcome the effects of undercharging by the OEM vehicle charging system due to short duration (<5 mile) trips, often in inclement weather. During the warmer months I periodically use the chargers to "top off" the batteries to get rid of any lead sulfate accumulation from stratification or driving habits and increase service life.

I believe X2 Power is made by Northstar (Universal Power Group) and are also available at BatteryPlus stores.

 

I've decided to wait until the end of summer for the battery. Did a load test on it today and it's fine. I'm am going with the Northstar pure lead AGM when the time comes.

 

walmart everstart

 

Does it ever start?

 

I actually got one a few years ago when my optima red top finally crapped out after nearly 8 years (it had 4 cranking amps left) and it's been good to me. I think it was a "gold" one. Whatever that means.

Only reason I got it was because my optima happened to die in the Walmart parking lot

 

I got one of these but have yet to use it.

Portable Power Source/Mini Jump Starter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLPNHJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_o4tbzbW8AHAA8

 

I couldn't find a spec on the amps on this jumper pack. Any idea?

 

Thanks broseph

 

I'll look into it. Thanks.

 

can you still get the duralast yellowtop from autozone?