Very disappointed that my Power Stroke 7.3 couldn't start in 45°F with two brand new Interstate green-tops after a week below freezing. I'm lucky I had another (seriously questionable) vehicle to go buy a new battery charger since my old shitty one is >100mi away right now. I only got three ~5sec cranks before they gave out. I usually buy black-top Interstates but even their standard batteries should do better than this, shouldn't they? And the fuel filter is like 9mo old. I don't fkn know.
One of these batteries is awfully leaky lookin'. Guess it's about time I learned how to maintain/diagnose these things
@bobbyd0g Interstate are plain standard batteries, if you want something for extreme cold you'd need an AGM battery.
They can still freeze if it gets really cold, but they are generally far more durable and give more cold amps down to lower temps than standard batteries.
@matoakit I thought AGMs were particularly susceptible to cold, and experience permanent damage if they freeze… I was told to keep my Renogy AGM warm, for the solar in the trailer
@bobbyd0g most AGMs are good to -75F before they suffer permanent physical freeze damage. They generally have less electrolyte to freeze and it's bound in the glass mat so it doesn't really do anything damaging.
I generally use deep cycle marine AGM batteries since they are even more durable, but you lose some CCU that the lighter starting batteries have.
A battery heater might be good if you're below 0F, just to keep it happy when parked but it should be fine regardless.
@matoakit I see you are correct and I have some cursing to do next time I see that mechanic 😅 Thank you!
@bobbyd0g I had a deep cycle marine agm in my Civic on my tour of Alaska in the Winter of 2002, even down to -45F in Fairbanks it never failed to start. I even had a spare AGM that I carried with me to swap out because I was worried about it too, but I never needed it.
Thinking maybe I fucked up going diesel, but I don't know if they ever offered the 6spd with a gas engine and it makes a huge difference for towing. Of course… I wasn't supposed to still be here right now, dealing with shit like Friday's 5°F/60mph