600CCA on battery enough?
09-07-2001, 04:34 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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600CCA on battery enough?
Just went down to Kragen and they gave me a battery for my 87 944 NA. The new one only has 600Cold cranking amps and 500CA. Is this normal? My old one doesn't have any markings on it so I cannot compare. What are other folks using? Part numbers?
09-07-2001, 05:27 PM
#3
Nordschleife Master
I think those numbers are reversed but it is probably less than what the factory put in.
Depending on what it weighs it isn't the greatest. If you are going to be starting in real cold weather or leaving lights on you don't have a large cushion . A DieHard by Johnson Controls (the group #41 international) is 650 CCA, 800 CA and weighs in at 36 lbs. So if it weighs close to 36 pounds you didn't do so good.
You could get an Odyssey glass mat battery with 470 CCA and 590 CA - so about what this new one you have has - that only weighs 24 pounds.
Depending on what it weighs it isn't the greatest. If you are going to be starting in real cold weather or leaving lights on you don't have a large cushion . A DieHard by Johnson Controls (the group #41 international) is 650 CCA, 800 CA and weighs in at 36 lbs. So if it weighs close to 36 pounds you didn't do so good.
You could get an Odyssey glass mat battery with 470 CCA and 590 CA - so about what this new one you have has - that only weighs 24 pounds.
09-07-2001, 09:11 PM
#5
Drifting
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I have a friend who just purchased a Dodge Dakota (truck). The factory literature states that he has a 200CCA battery. Is any more really needed, or is his literature wrong, or did he just get screwed?
09-07-2001, 11:50 PM
#6
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Thanks to all for their replies(this is Mike S...home sign on name). I returned my Kragen wannabe battery and got a Motorcraft at a parts store near my house. It has 800CA, and yes I previously had the numbers reversed. This one is the same battery used for a ford contour if anyone is curious. Volkswagon was bad enough, but now I'm sharing parts with Ford. 
Tabor, is your friends truck a diesel? Diesel motors might not require as much to turn over...not sure though, just guessing.
Tabor, is your friends truck a diesel? Diesel motors might not require as much to turn over...not sure though, just guessing.
09-08-2001, 12:15 AM
#7
Drifting
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Originally posted by TLMikey:
<STRONG>Tabor, is your friends truck a diesel? Diesel motors might not require as much to turn over...not sure though, just guessing.</STRONG>
<STRONG>Tabor, is your friends truck a diesel? Diesel motors might not require as much to turn over...not sure though, just guessing.</STRONG>
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09-08-2001, 12:43 AM
#8
Nordschleife Master
No, diesel requires bigger batteries than gasoline because the high compression takes more power to turn over as well as the glow plugs. A reason truck drivers leave their rigs running 24/7 in cold country. And they have big batteries!
This new battery is better than the old especially if you go up into the mountains in winter and weight was about the same and you are not trying to carve pounds off the car everywhere you can.
Tabor, you got your numbers wrong or your friend better be careful. He may not even be able to turn over a real stiff engine with a perfect electrical system when it is below 0 F. That is down towards motorcycle or lawn mower size. Would work in warm weather but you got slim margin to fire up the engine so forget things like playing the stereo and burning lights (like your emergency flashers) when the engine is off. I'd be interested if you have your numbers screwed up.
This new battery is better than the old especially if you go up into the mountains in winter and weight was about the same and you are not trying to carve pounds off the car everywhere you can.
Tabor, you got your numbers wrong or your friend better be careful. He may not even be able to turn over a real stiff engine with a perfect electrical system when it is below 0 F. That is down towards motorcycle or lawn mower size. Would work in warm weather but you got slim margin to fire up the engine so forget things like playing the stereo and burning lights (like your emergency flashers) when the engine is off. I'd be interested if you have your numbers screwed up.
09-12-2001, 12:37 PM
#9
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My Dodge 2500 Turbo Diesel has TWO 1000 CCA 900 CA batteries in it. The Cummins 5.9L engine in my truck doesn't have glow plugs, but does have an air-intake grid heater to assist in cold-weather warmup. It draws 85 amps for 3 minutes, hence the need for big batteries.
Greg
Greg
