Winter Resistant Battery

[pzy3339]

Hey folks, looking for opinions on batteries that don't diminish as badly in the cold.

Mine is performing poorly at low temps this year so I am going to replace it before it leaves me stranded. Also my air bag light is on during those cold mornings, which I hear is from low voltage.

Point is I am investigating what battery to buy.

Right now I am leaning towards an optima red top. Anyone have one? Does it perform well in the cold? It gets down to 0*F here.


Thanks

 

[swshawaii]

Optima Battery - how long do they live?
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235601

Optima batteries junk now?
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296766

New Battery Time..No more Optima Red Top! Hello, O'Reilly AGM?
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344988

 

[Boomyal]

Don't have to deal with long periods of severe cold but I had a Costco battery (johnson controls) in my E150 work van that lasted 11 years before I parked it in the driveway and left the headlights on for three days.

I didn't realize I had left the headlights on until I installed the new battery. All of a sudden I could feel heat on my hip. I looked down and the headlights were on. If I had known that, I probably would have tried to charge the battery before turning it in.

 

[striker5427]

I use Motorcraft® Tested Tough® MAX. Good quality versus price ratio. Works great for me in the cold. The original one lasted 5 yrs without pluging in the Ex during the winter.

 

[D Hook]

I only use Motorcraft batteries in all three of my vehicles. Only brand I've used that lasts well beyond their warranty date. I've tried the Die-Hards, parts store brands, discount retailers like Walmart and Interstate brand.

 

[BrooklynBay]

They now make high performance lithium ion car batteries that surpass the performance of AGM batteries but they aren't cheap.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Yea stay away from red or yellow top battery. They are ok for a while but once they drain a little their done, you can try to charge them but they won't hold a charge. I've ran Bosch batteries for years and have had pretty good experience with them. I always get a higher CCA battery then my vehicles call for (usually get the highest CCA in the class size available). On my '03 Sport Trac I run a 850cca Bosch.

 

[Tech By Trade]

I second the costco batteries. When she is -40 up here they fire it right up. The warranty is great too. I haven't had to use it but Im told they don't pro rate so if the battery dies in the warranty period just take it back and they swap you a new one off the shelf.
A buddy told me once it isn't the cold weather that kills a battery, its the hot weather, and then when you hit the cold again you find out its screwed. Not sure how it works though.

 

[swshawaii]

I use Motorcraft® Tested Tough® MAX. Good quality versus price ratio. Works great for me in the cold. The original one lasted 5 yrs without pluging in the Ex during the winter.

I only use Motorcraft batteries in all three of my vehicles. Only brand I've used that lasts well beyond their warranty date. I've tried the Die-Hards, parts store brands, discount retailers like Walmart and Interstate brand.

Ditto Striker & D Hook. Motorcraft BXT-65-850 (875CCA) @ $130 is one of the best bargains you will find at your Ford dealer.

Motorcraft® Tested Tough® MAX Batteries
http://www.fordparts.com/Products/Batteries-MotorcraftTestedToughMAXBatteries.aspx

Motorcraft Battery Product Line Battery Specification Chart
http://machenry.com/documents/batteryspecs.pdf