I have a couple battery questions:
I have a 2002 F-150 Supercrew

1.) I need to replace the battery --- If I don't get an optima..... What is the next best brand?

2.) If I get an Optima red top 34/78 --- Will it drop right in? Anyone have any experience with these? What makes them so much more than a traditional battery?

thanks

tim

 

My truck came from the factory with a motocraft battery. I have sirens, strobes, rechargable flashlights etc. in my truck. I live on a farm and I am constantly jumping off equipment. I still got 8 years of life out of my motorcraft battery and I would probably still be using it except I broke a post off while replacing a battery cable. I still use the battery for odd jobs even though It's been almost 2 years since I broke the post off. I guess I'm a fan of motorcraft batteries. If you buy a Napa battery, go ahead and expect it to vent constantly. That's the worst thing about Napa batteries.

 

i still have the factory motorcraft battery from 1999 in my truck. this will be the same when i replace it.

 

I use the Optiima yellow top deep cycle battery. My 5.4 is supercharged with Efans, sirius radio, 3 4 tv's, a back alarm system with camera enablement, and so forth (lots of electical goodies) I have never killed the battery. I also have high power lights on autolamp that stay on for 4 minutes after the car is shut off.

There is no substitute for a good battery, and optima makes an excellent addition.

 

HI!... OPTIMA "YELLOW" top here.

 

How much does a battery like that cost? Neal or Navi?

 

HI!... Here in CANADA a "YELLOW" top goes for about $160(CAN) with taxes.

 

I'm on my THIRD Wal-Mart yellow-cased battery in two years. Pretty disappointed with it. It has a three year exchange warranty, when that's up, I'll replace it with something better....

Steve

 

I have an Optima Red cell in my wife's Cavalier and a Duralast in my recently sold 97. The 97 lasted a from 8 or 9/96 until fall of 2005. Not a bad run IMO. the thing that killed it, I think, is that the truck sat for long periods before I sold it. IIRC the Optima was a little over a Benjamin at Autro Zone. I'll put one in my Screw when that one dies.

 

The original motorcraft battery lasted me 7 years and I replaced it with a Interstate battery.

 

The original motorcraft in my 97 died last year. I replaced it with a yellow one from wallys. If that one dies I will probably put an interstate in, just cant justify spending that much money on a battery when a good quality one can be had for less $$$$$$.

 

Honestly, I don't know what the Optima costs. Running a shop I don't usually pay for my stuff, I just let the shop eat the few costs I run through it.

Autozone 109.99-179.99 I have the 159.99 version

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...ers=Automotive

 

Currently I believe there are only 4 battery manufacturers in the usa the rest are made over seas.

The reason the optima is so good is that it is a gel battery instead of electrolyte(sp?)

If you don't have any special needs IE: Too many tv screens, sirens, strobes, big boom stereo, etc. Just get a batterty from a reputable source with the longest full replacement warranty

good luck-

 

Keep the Motorcraft. All I've ever done was clean the contacts twice in 6 years and put silicone dielectric grease on the posts and the starter contacts and no probs. Silicone dielectric available at Ford dealerships.

 

I have to say both trucks I have, a 96 ranger, and a 99 f-150, have the original motorcraft batteries in them or something else (I replaced the ranger's last winter trying to "fix" a problem, it's in something else now). Both are still pretty strong, but the f-150 is lacking a bit becuase it sat dead for almost a year while the truck was out of commision. Both have been drained several times and both experience wide temperature differences. Even at -45 the Ranger still started without a jump, and I've never had to jump the f-150 due to cold either. The "new" walmart MAX-LIFE is already starting to complain when it's sub-zero temps and it's only about a year old. I will be getting another motorcraft come fall this year with fears the MAX-LIFE will leave me stranded on the first cold snap.

I don't see any use for an optima, unless your running your battery down and recharging it repeatedly or you have a need to run equipment without the motor on.