Bad Batteries?

[Megerald]

A bit of a necro but the original manual specifies diesels using a dual battery setup 2* 80D26R. The battery cutout for my van also allows 2 batteries but the sizes seem smaller than manual.

I can fit 2 Yuasa NS60S (same size as group 35). Is anyone able to fit larger, if so, can I see the orientation setup.

 

[detroadster]

You want LARGER than 2 group 35? Why? After upgrading my van fires up in about 1/10th of a second. it's seriously fast. Like to the point I worry about that poor little starter. So much power on tap with those 2 Optima yellow tops!

 

[Megerald]

You want LARGER than 2 group 35? Why? After upgrading my van fires up in about 1/10th of a second. it's seriously fast. Like to the point I worry about that poor little starter. So much power on tap with those 2 Optima yellow tops!

I have various needs for the van I use, but I'm just curious to the setup of the 4x4 diesel over my 2wd carb

 

[detroadster]

I have various needs for the van I use, but I'm just curious to the setup of the 4x4 diesel over my 2wd carb

Ah, OK, didnt realize you had 2WD gas. I'm totally clueless on that configuration. Sorry!

 

[Megerald]

Ah, OK, didnt realize you had 2WD gas. I'm totally clueless on that configuration. Sorry!

all good, I just have a feeling your 4wd has a different pan setup for the battery.

I think that gives a massive advantage but it must be one of those mitsubishi things

 

[chuvsta]

Anyone have any experience with the red top vs yellow top? I am in the market for new batteries and want to get one of the two. Not running any extra electronics other than my fog lights, a few gauges and in the van and was wondering if the yellow top would be excessive. Not a huge price difference between the two but figured I'd ask.

 

[sck_nogas]

An Optima red-top battery is capable of higher cold cranking Amps but in short bursts, but then you should rely on your alternator to provide the power for electronics and such. An Optima yellow-top battery is better if your current draw can exceed your alternator outputs. I used to make Electric vehicles with yellow-tops.

 

[chuvsta]

An Optima red-top battery is capable of higher cold cranking Amps but in short bursts, but then you should rely on your alternator to provide the power for electronics and such. An Optima yellow-top battery is better if your current draw can exceed your alternator outputs. I used to make Electric vehicles with yellow-tops.

Gotcha, I just want the starting reliability more than anything especially in the winter out here in Colorado. My current cheap O'reilly batteries can handle my electronics currently so I'm assuming the red tops would have no issue and I would get the improved starting.

 

[Kellyn]

I've had both. I cooked Red Tops trying to use them as yellow tops, IE, draining them constantly beyond their usual static charge. I now have a yellow top in the van and abuse it pretty regularly. I left my refrigerator on in the van the night prior and went to crank it the following day around noon. It sounded like a bloodhound it was cranking so slowly. But she cranked and fired up. The responsible adult would have put a charger on it as to not induce unneeded wear on the battery but I let the alternator do her thing. and away we went. Yesterday it started just fine (after I remembered to turn the fridge off!). I'm definitely a good candidate for solar now that I think of it.

K

 

[thesaltyboob]

Hopping on this thread with an additional question, my 92 l300 currently has a single battery setup, battery from Japan-would you folks recommend changing to the dual setup, or just plugging in another single battery? I dont run any additional electronics at this point. Here is a pic of current battery-thanks for all the awesome info!

 

[Megerald]

Hopping on this thread with an additional question, my 92 l300 currently has a single battery setup, battery from Japan-would you folks recommend changing to the dual setup, or just plugging in another single battery? I dont run any additional electronics at this point. Here is a pic of current battery-thanks for all the awesome info!

If Diesel I'd change to a dual battery setup. That being said, Yuasa, Furukawa and Panasonic are among the top battery makers.

 

[natematos]

Thanks for the info on this thread, just bought two G35 yellow tops, can't wait to get them in along with some new plugs.

 

[detroadster]

Thanks for the info on this thread, just bought two G35 yellow tops, can't wait to get them in along with some new plugs.

Sweet! Post up some pics of how you deal with the slight sizing difference and those vents on top that are right in the way of the hold-down. Interested to see what someone else comes up with.

 

[Randoramma]

<New to diesel> Why the suggestions for a dual battery setup over 1 battery? Mine came with 1 battery and looks like its dying.. (40%)! Why the need to run 2 in series? Longer life? Ensure glow plugs get proper voltage? I'm confused. Thanks!

 

[natematos]

It depends. Since Chamonix/Jasper/Super Exceed came with two batteries from the factory, so there's some precedent. And for those owners (like me), it's about keeping the stock setup.

Some others will use the factory dual starter batteries as a jumping off point where one will end up providing house power since dual starters aren't really needed.

If they're both for the starter, it provides help by giving more CCAs. If you live in a cold climate, this can be helpful in getting the engine to turn over.

 

[detroadster]

<New to diesel> Why the suggestions for a dual battery setup over 1 battery? Mine came with 1 battery and looks like its dying.. (40%)! Why the need to run 2 in series? Longer life? Ensure glow plugs get proper voltage? I'm confused. Thanks!

The factory dual battery setup has the batteries running in parallel, not in series. Series would give you double the voltage with the same capacity. Parallel give you the same voltage (12) but doubles the capacity. Electrically speaking it behaves like one giant battery instead of 2 small batteries. Why would you want this? A number of reasons that all boil down to making your diesel easier and more reliable to start:

- Enough capacity to give your glowplugs full voltage to get them good and hot
- Enough capacity to crank the engine over fast, even in cold weather, even after you've just sucked a bunch of power out heating up the glowplugs.
- Enough capacity to still do the 2 things above even after you've spent a night camping in the van with the dome lights on, charging up your cellphone, playing the radio, running an electric fan, etc.

 

[scot]

You want LARGER than 2 group 35? Why? After upgrading my van fires up in about 1/10th of a second. it's seriously fast. Like to the point I worry about that poor little starter. So much power on tap with those 2 Optima yellow tops!

detroadster and others: I'm in the market for a dual battery set for my '92 Exceed and I saw you got the Optima Yellow Tops. From what I understand, AGM do less well over time when hot. Under the bonnet seems to get quite warm, especially when driving through the desert Southwest (as I plan to), which would result in electrolyte loss, ultimately shortening the life of the battery. I know these are sealed and designed to decrease loss, but the heat our batteries are exposed to appears (to me) more than comparable diesel uses (which I understand have better cooling). I'm new to this so help me understand where I'm wrong, but my leaning now is toward a wet battery that I can maintain. Topping off with distilled water every so often should help me get more life out of them, no? Otherwise, I would like the better hot/cold temp extreme performance of the Optima Yellow Tops (I expect to be using both in snowy and hot conditions), but I also have concern about how well our alternator will charge these.

Any insight into your experience, research, and thinking on how you landed on a decision would be much appreciated!

 

[detroadster]

detroadster and others: I'm in the market for a dual battery set for my '92 Exceed and I saw you got the Optima Yellow Tops. From what I understand, AGM do less well over time when hot. Under the bonnet seems to get quite warm, especially when driving through the desert Southwest (as I plan to), which would result in electrolyte loss, ultimately shortening the life of the battery. I know these are sealed and designed to decrease loss, but the heat our batteries are exposed to appears (to me) more than comparable diesel uses (which I understand have better cooling). I'm new to this so help me understand where I'm wrong, but my leaning now is toward a wet battery that I can maintain. Topping off with distilled water every so often should help me get more life out of them, no? Otherwise, I would like the better hot/cold temp extreme performance of the Optima Yellow Tops (I expect to be using both in snowy and hot conditions), but I also have concern about how well our alternator will charge these.

Any insight into your experience, research, and thinking on how you landed on a decision would be much appreciated!

Well I think each situation is a bit different so you have to factor that in. For me, for my situation, the yellow tops seemed like a good choice. I’ve been running Optimas for 25 years and have never had an issue so to me they’ve proven themselves, though extreme heat is not something I have subjected them to. I think the bottom line is that for 99% of us, a fresh set of ANY battery will be a huge step up in the right direction.

 

[scot]

Well I think each situation is a bit different so you have to factor that in. For me, for my situation, the yellow tops seemed like a good choice. I’ve been running Optimas for 25 years and have never had an issue so to me they’ve proven themselves, though extreme heat is not something I have subjected them to. I think the bottom line is that for 99% of us, a fresh set of ANY battery will be a huge step up in the right direction.

Here, here! It seems any battery will improve the situation for us Thanks for your reply! I'm happy to hear that you've been using Optimas for 25y with good success. I haven't looked into the charging/alternator system and specs, but I'd appreciate any anecdotal info you can share as another data point about the Optimas in a Delica. I hope they are working well for you (as I'm eying a pair myself)!

 

[detroadster]

They work well enough that I feel bad for my starter. They kick that engine over so fast and so hard, it doesnt even get a full rotation of cranking before it fires up. It's literally instant when you hit the key. Its the cold weather winter performance that I'm really looking forward to. Nothing makes my stomach sink like climbing into the van, exhausted, hungry, after a full day skiing when it's 20 degrees out and snowing hard. You hit the key and brrrruh...brrrruhhh...brruhh.... The engine is cranking over at like 10 RPM and you're thinking flagging down someone for a jumpstart in a blizzard is not what I want to be doing right now!