What is the most powerful battery we can put in our diesel? Can I put a light truck battery like ACD31TS group31S 950CCA 180R in there, thanks.

Most name-brand Group 49 batteries will be fine. If you desire something more exotic, check this out: http://www.cardomain.com/item/STISP1700

Be careful of powerful batteries over about 1,000 cca. A battery salesman told me that size for size the more powerful the battery the more plates they have to cram into the same space. The more plates the less cooling space between the plates and the more likely you are to have plate warpage. Once your plates warp, usually through high current discharges like cold cranking, your battery is shot. I went through many pairs of batteries on my GMC Diesel truck when I lived in the Middle East from trying to crank fuel up once I had run out. Thats when I installed a hand priming pump.

It is better to solve the problem of why your car won't start quickly than to install a high cca battery so you can crank it to death.

I think an Optima would be fine! If having enough reserve cranking amps when the temp drops then the Optima would be for you. About 880 to 920 CCA and this should be all you need even if you have to cycle your glow plugs a couple of times and maybe crank some to start.

Thanks, what happen if you use the wrong group of battery? Like the one I mention, they are exactly the same size. Thanks again..

The different numbers on batteries have to do with things like whether the battery has vertical or side posts, whether it has screw type cable mounts, or variations in height and whether the positive and negative terminals are on the left or right side of the top.

Any battery that will fit in the battery tray, that has the correct type of terminals on the correct side, is not to tall, and has the cca that you need will work.

Will an Optima battery stop the corrosion at and near the battery tray? Standard batteries seem to cause lots of rust.

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JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!