Tonight will be a good test for my new Exide battery. Temps are dropping below 0F. Here's to $119.00 battery.

 

 

Below 0F all night. Started up. Time will tell.

 

Before starting, measure voltage.

 

It's going to be -17 monday. This should be the ending test. Lots of short trips will give me a real life test.

 

20F below all night and started. She didn't like it much, but she started. I have since installed a cteck for 5F below and lower nights. No point in beating the poor thing up if I don't have to. But at least I know that an Exide can take a really cold beating, and still pull thru. My morning commute is short, so the cteck will limit required recovery for a short trip.

 

Are the Exide batteries superior to other H8/Group 49 batteries available? Specifically, the variants manufactured by Johnson Controls and East Penn?

 

It has to do with plate technology. Johnson Controls does not produce a calcium alloy battery. Their patented PowerGrid technology is used throughout their various subsidiaries. They utilize a antimony/arsenic alloy.

 

Thanks for the reply. Do you know anything about O'Reilly Super Start that are supposedly made by East Penn? The PO bought one less than a year ago for the car I bought last June. I've had some weird problems with my Jag, so the battery (as always) was a suspect.

I thought it was okay (especially given it's relative newness), but I'm beginning to have second thoughts. I've had a couple of times this winter where it took probably anywhere from 5 to 10 seconds of constant cranking to start. It barely started this morning (-4 deg), but I honestly didn't think it was going to.

I hate to replace such a new (and relatively expensive) battery unless I need to. But, I'm beginning to think maybe I should go with the Exide battery. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

East Penn does not to my knowledge have a calcium plate technology battery in any of their Deka lines. Their MSDS on all of their batteries show to be standard lead/antimony alloy. However, any vehicle at subzero temps, especially with 5W30 can be a load. Since I have no idea what battery you have, or it's CCA it would be hard for me to speculate.

 

It's this one: https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/e...ar/xj8?q=49ext

• Warranty: 3 Year Limited Warranty
• Unit of Measure: Each
• UPC: #83996196032
• Group Size (BCI): 49
• Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): 900 CCA
• Cranking Amps (CA): 1105 CA
• Reserve Capacity (min): 185 Minute
• Voltage (V): 12 Volt
• Terminal Type: Top Post
• Battery Type: Starting Lighting Instrumentation
• Electrolyte Composition: Acid
• Polarity: Right Positive
• DIN Code: H8/L5
• 20 Amp Hour Rate (Ah): 100Ah

 

Yeah, I know it's cold up there where you are, it's been close to zero here for days now. If I were up there, and had to leave my vehicle in the cold, I would consider;

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Hea...id=20091490172

 

I replaced a 1yr old Jag/interstate battery ($265.00 dealer) replaced it with $119.00 exide. Junk interstate in the carriage house on the floor. Did not want to spend $ after the 1yr old battery, but after the small investment for the exide at HD, I never looked back.
-20F and going strong.
I did install a ctek maintainer this week just so I didn't beat the crap out of the battery on -10F-20F nights with short trips to work in the morning. Wasn't needed to start the car, but kinder on the battery.

 

The one shown from O'Reilly's looks just like my Deka, who make Auto Zone's as well as many others. Go there and save some cash instead, i've used them for years, with great results.