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In the photo above, are those round caps for each of the battery's six 2-volt cells? If so, then that may not be a 100% true AGM battery. AGM batteries are sealed, are known as VRLA (valve regulated lead acid), and are recombinant. "AGM Technology" may be poetic license. I'm interested in what stormsearch might have for us.
Absorbed Glass Mat tech is one thing. True recombinant VRLA AGM another. It may well be that with our trucks' charging systems the former may be the better application.
I'm guessing those were for the initial fill, but its possible that these are not a true VRLA AGM. It looks like most if not all automotive AGM batteries have these same ports. Its possible the case is just a carry over/generic group XX battery case and has them pre-cast into the case.
I too would be very interested in stormsearch has more information about these.
Ah cool, question on Battery for a 16 2.7 - My start stop stopped working a couple weeks ago - always says "vehicle charging " on the display - any input if this means the battery is going bad?? trucks 1.5 yrs old and never had this before, thanks
Mudder - there are so many variables to determine the health of the battery would be only guessing. However, primarily the message is stating there is not sufficient state of charge to support all the vehicle loads above a certain voltage while engine is off (alternator is not spinning). It could be based on drive conditions, vehicle usage, KOL problems, and how much load the system is currently using, or battery is indeed getting weaker. This does not mean anything could be wrong. If worried, connect an appropriate charger to the positive and a ground point in the vehicle overnight. Then drive for a couple days to see if it helps. The low limit for the SOC cut-off is not overly low or near having no starting capability. There are other parameters that come into play.
Funnyman - Yeah, I should have not responded until I had time to add more information, sorry about that, see where you are coming from. Years ago, batteries were released based on CCA rating for the need of cold cranking enignes up to certain rpm's. Hence why all the service part numbers contain the CCA rating at the end. With the continuous added content in our vehicles, batteries these days are sized based on capacity or the amp hour rating. Batteries need to support the key off load while vehicle is asleep. Most vehicles are sized this way. Diesel engines and smaller engines will still sometimes dicate battery CCA rating.
One would think that the AGM battery would have a higher Ah rating, but it does not. So for sizing, H6 SLI = H6 AGM = 70Ah; H7 SLI = H7 AGM = 80Ah. It is the AGM component that does give it the higher CCA rating. Unless we are in the weather regions - Canada/upper US, should pay more attention to the Ah rating instead.
I personally will not upsize my H6 AGM to an H7 AGM since truck is a daily driver and battery stays healthy. Replacing with H7 AGM would only add cost/weight to the vehicle and would not in my mind add any longevity to warrant the cost/weight. AGM is so much better just in the cycling aspect over the standard wet cells, that even starting with H6 AGM, we should be seeing much more life. I've kept the S/S on my truck enabled since I bought it to see how it goes. There are two other people I know very well that have the 15MY, allowing the S/S to operate and so far no issues yet.
The H8 AGM will not fit non-diesel applications, the battery trays are just too small. Would have to do some modifications.
AGM is really nothing different than a standard wet cell. There is basically a mat that absorbs the acid. A standard wet cell over time will start sulfating and drop this to the bottom of the battery. It kills part of the lead plate. The mat in the AGM prevents this from happening.
Since the SLI battery we are using is maintenance free, it does have a safety valve and not directly vented. It technically is not a true flooded battery that freely vents to the outside. Most maintenance free and AGM batteries can recombine fairly quickly while under charge to not create any hydrogen, so no venting is required. Standard wet cells cannot do this quickly and must be vented. That is why AGM's can also be charged quicker.
Mudder - there are so many variables to determine the health of the battery would be only guessing. However, primarily the message is stating there is not sufficient state of charge to support all the vehicle loads above a certain voltage while engine is off (alternator is not spinning). It could be based on drive conditions, vehicle usage, KOL problems, and how much load the system is currently using, or battery is indeed getting weaker. This does not mean anything could be wrong. If worried, connect an appropriate charger to the positive and a ground point in the vehicle overnight. Then drive for a couple days to see if it helps. The low limit for the SOC cut-off is not overly low or near having no starting capability. There are other parameters that come into play.
Funnyman - Yeah, I should have not responded until I had time to add more information, sorry about that, see where you are coming from. Years ago, batteries were released based on CCA rating for the need of cold cranking enignes up to certain rpm's. Hence why all the service part numbers contain the CCA rating at the end. With the continuous added content in our vehicles, batteries these days are sized based on capacity or the amp hour rating. Batteries need to support the key off load while vehicle is asleep. Most vehicles are sized this way. Diesel engines and smaller engines will still sometimes dicate battery CCA rating.
One would think that the AGM battery would have a higher Ah rating, but it does not. So for sizing, H6 SLI = H6 AGM = 70Ah; H7 SLI = H7 AGM = 80Ah. It is the AGM component that does give it the higher CCA rating. Unless we are in the weather regions - Canada/upper US, should pay more attention to the Ah rating instead.
I personally will not upsize my H6 AGM to an H7 AGM since truck is a daily driver and battery stays healthy. Replacing with H7 AGM would only add cost/weight to the vehicle and would not in my mind add any longevity to warrant the cost/weight. AGM is so much better just in the cycling aspect over the standard wet cells, that even starting with H6 AGM, we should be seeing much more life. I've kept the S/S on my truck enabled since I bought it to see how it goes. There are two other people I know very well that have the 15MY, allowing the S/S to operate and so far no issues yet.
The H8 AGM will not fit non-diesel applications, the battery trays are just too small. Would have to do some modifications.
AGM is really nothing different than a standard wet cell. There is basically a mat that absorbs the acid. A standard wet cell over time will start sulfating and drop this to the bottom of the battery. It kills part of the lead plate. The mat in the AGM prevents this from happening.
Since the SLI battery we are using is maintenance free, it does have a safety valve and not directly vented. It technically is not a true flooded battery that freely vents to the outside. Most maintenance free and AGM batteries can recombine fairly quickly while under charge to not create any hydrogen, so no venting is required. Standard wet cells cannot do this quickly and must be vented. That is why AGM's can also be charged quicker.
I know this an old thread, but I have a question that seems relevant. I have a 2015 f150 XLT 302a that I bought new with the plow prep package and a Fisher HT plow. I haven't had any major issues so far, but quite often, especially when it's very cold, when lifting or angling the plow the blower fan and other electrical accessories will shut off for a second (because of low battery voltage I assume). Will upgrading the battery help this problem? If so, which one? I still have the original battery which is the smallest one available for the F150 (BXT-48H6-610).
Pretty Beefy Aftermarket Stereo
Dual Camera 4K/2K Dashcams
The cameras draw a combined .35-.4 amps while in Parking mode , i have the camera set to shutdown when battery voltage drops to 12.4v, My stock 610 CCA battery is showing signs of packing it in, i can barely get the voltage to 12.5v, and thats after driving around then charging with a 14.7v smart charger every evening, if i let the truck sit for a day the voltage drops to 12.2, i had some 2-3 week stretches where i let the truck sit so its my own fault..i may try to revive/recondition this battery, mount it in the bed, install a VSR with battery switch and use it to run my dashcam.
I've got bad news for you... Optima is crap. Has been since JCI bought them (and then Clarios). Consider anything US-made by Deka/East Penn (Duracell Ultra, X2Power, etc.).
My 2018 Platinum came with a 48H6. Based on previous charts shown, looks like Ford also downgraded the battery on Platinums, since it was a larger H7 before. Oh well. At least it seems to be enough for my truck. By the way, my wife's 2.0T car has the same battery as my truck, and had to replace it recently (it was under warranty, but didn't want to mess with a dealer), so bought the Walmart EverStart AGM 48H6, and it's absolutely IDENTICAL to my truck's, and it was made by Clarios (previously Johnson Controls), so the OEMs are also made by them. It was the cheapest by far at $154, and with a FIVE YEAR full replacement warranty. Next closest was Autozone's Duralast Platinum at $200, and only a 3-yr warranty. Not all Walmarts carry the AGMs, so I had to travel about 20 miles, but it was super fresh. Hope this helps.
My 2018 Platinum came with a 48H6. Based on previous charts shown, looks like Ford also downgraded the battery on Platinums, since it was a larger H7 before. Oh well. At least it seems to be enough for my truck. By the way, my wife's 2.0T car has the same battery as my truck, and had to replace it recently (it was under warranty, but didn't want to mess with a dealer), so bought the Walmart EverStart AGM 48H6, and it's absolutely IDENTICAL to my truck's, and it was made by Clarios (previously Johnson Controls), so the OEMs are also made by them. It was the cheapest by far at $154, and with a FIVE YEAR full replacement warranty. Next closest was Autozone's Duralast Platinum at $200, and only a 3-yr warranty. Not all Walmarts carry the AGMs, so I had to travel about 20 miles, but it was super fresh. Hope this helps.
My 2018 Lariat also came with the 760 CCA battery but according to the owners manual the Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum should have a 800 CCA battery.. I’m taking mine in for the DRL safety recall in 3 weeks and I’m going to question this. If the manual says it should have come with a 800 CCA battery I think they should install the correct one. The reason I checked the battery size is because the stop start has not worked for about three months.
11-27-2017, 01:47 PM
