I think Dodge specs around 1100 minimum. I wouldn't be comfortable with that in cold weather.

 

www.dekabatteries.com Call em find out where you can get one of their Group 31 1260cca batteries locally. Biggest baddest best battery under $100. Wipe your blank with Optima/Interstate garbage. Might work well if ya got two, but I'll pass on one. BTW battery arguments can go on just as long as oil arguments.

 

You said it!
Biggest baddest battery under $100.

 

I'd say advising someone to use a battery that is about 40% below the OEM minimum recommended rating is BAD.

I thought I mentioned in the last battery thread how I had Redtop Optima in the truck and it just didn't cut it.

 

Ace, he's an Optima cheerleader. You're not gonna change him. Plus I don't see a single battery 1st gen in his sig. Makes a difference when you only have one battery, you need the biggest thing you can get.

 

Understand. It's not him I'm worried about. I'm just thinking about impressionable readers who might be running out to by Optimas and later find themselves stranded somewhere in subzero temps after their brand new Optima drained into the grids and failed to crank the engine.

 

Reread post #15 and if you have a battery tester check it out for yourself!
I do and did and check every battery before I sell it.

 

Guys, give it a rest. You are not gonna bring the other guy around to your point of view.

Move on to something else or I will lock the thread.

 

OK, I get it now. He's selling Optimas. That makes sense. I'm through.

 

Well thanks for all the info everybody, I really do appreciate it!

 

Just my 2 cents worth but my Wally World battery in the 93 cranks just fine at 0 F. So it would be really hard to convince me that I need anything with more amps...let alone 2 batteries. Why does my 97 need the two batteries anyway when 1 obviously does the job?

 

There must be some reason they went to two batteries. Ya think?

There's several factors that combine to determine whether or not the engine starts when you turn the key. Of course proper mechanical condition of the engine overall helps. But when start time comes, the grids take 240 amps. Cold reduces the battery's efficiency and makes the engine harder to turn. 15w40 oil also drags down cranking power. If your running 15w40 in sub freezing temps, that's another issue altogether. I know alot of people are doing it, though. Sure, you'll probably get away with a smaller battery in most situations. But get much below zero and you will find that is not the case. The grids will pull a single 800cca battery down far enough to ruin your day after the 2nd try in those temperatures.

Yeah, I know you don't need the grids, yada, yada.

It gets cold around here sometimes and I like to get where I'm going on time.