I will disagree about the Optima Red Top. I have used these batteries for
heavy winching applications offroad and they do not hold up well at all in
comparison to the NAPA(read Exide) Orbital. If you are going to go with a
gel type the NAPA brand is way better than the Optima of any color. That's
not from reading specs, that's from being left stranded from failed
batteries.
Now, as far as quality batteries go do a bit of research on who makes the
best batteries for solar banks and other life dependant systems......You
will find Johnson Control at or very near the top of the list.......Believe
it or not......Wally World batteries are built by Johnson Control and have
an EXCELLENT service record as long as you buy the top of the line MAXX
model for heavy winching or diesel cranking.
Who makes the battery for MB?
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Werner Fehlauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
Levi - if you won't go $100 (with the club discount) for a M-B battery at
the dealer, then the oft recommended batteries for our Diesels is the
Interstate brand, and particularly the Optima (more expensive, but
reportedly last a lot longer) Red Top. Looking for reliable service in a
Diesel, from a $40 battery is wishful thinking, IMO.
If the current battery is more than 4 years old, it is questionable that
it
will perform adequately. Remember that a Diesel not only requires lots of
Amps to do the glow cycle, but that the engine itself draws a lot of
current
because of a compression ratio that is twice that of gassers. You are
using
Mobil 1/Delvac 1, of course??
Werner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Levi Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <Mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 7:18 AM
Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
So... as of last night I was thinking "well it's supposed to be around
15F
this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp". Woke up
this
morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem.
Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow
plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger...
Try
to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite.
So... after a good while of monkeying I found out:
A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full,
yet
it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue
where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?)
B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the
sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few
minutes
was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the
driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to
borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while.
I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that.
We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up
to
around 40F or higher by then.
I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than
when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to
start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But
this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger
is
looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's
showing
as pretty much full...)
Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that
Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone
have
the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably
priced
GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same
battery
that says "Mercedes" on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery....
Thanks!
Levi (:
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