Has anybody used a gel battery on their 617 motors? If so how is it working out? what size and brand did you use?

I am thinking of what to use in my 39 studebaker pickup.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Are you differentiating between "AGM" and "gel-cell" batteries? I have AGMs in both cars; the Mercedes OE battery in the '96 is a couple of years old now and has been no problem. The Sears AGM in the '95 is new so I can't say much except that it works just fine.

"Gel-cell" batteries are typically made to deliver (relatively) small amounts of current for a long time without recharging. Car batteries have to do that to some extent but more importantly, they need to deliver huge amounts of current to starter motors, and large amounts to pre-glow systems. They then need to accept a large charging current and come back to fully charged as quickly as possible. The typical "gel-cell" is less willing to be so brutally treated.

AGMs are typically more expensive than wet-cell lead-acid batteries but make it up with a longer life, especially if they are treated kindly. AGMs also cannot leak acid so are ideal for cars where the battery is in the trunk or passenger compartment.

Jeremy


Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I am using a Deka AGM battery in my 98; it is about 2 years old and I never think about it. I installed an AGM because the battery is under the rear seat, and I did not want any chance of fumes inside the car. I am happy with it and would replace it with the same.

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'98 E300 DT
'87 190D 2.5 turbo RIP
'92 S500 Sold
'03 3.2TL-S A-Spec

On the 210 (or newer) where the battery is inside the car, it isn't just the fumes, it's also preventing acid leakage in a rollover condition.

It's a good idea on the older cars with battery under the hood, to lessen the acid reflux problem standard batteries have, that eats the battery tray.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

The trunk or passenger compartment is also more ideal for AGM batteries, where they are often placed to avoid the heat of the engine compartment. (So claims BMW, in any case.)

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Optima Group 34R, purchased/installed in 2005, in the car shown in my signature, and still going strong. However, I have read that their quality has taken a turn for the worse since then. I'll probably try a Deka the next time around, which will probably be within the next year.

For what it's worth, I have never had problems with it- it seems to hold a charge fine. I have a stock alternator, and have checked the voltage regulator brushes, to make sure they are not worn down. I'm adding this because I was told by a battery guy at Sears that they seem to have a lot of warranty return/replacements of their AGM batteries, I think made either by Odyssey, or Deka. He said he thinks it's because the AGM batteries like a higher charging voltage than the conventional flooded acid batteries.

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Marshall Welch
Seattle, WA
1982 300D-T

So is a typical agm battery same size or smaller than a standard battery?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I just bought a standard battery. I almost bought a gel battery, but I think I would have had to configure some stuff in my car and I didn't want to do that. But Sam's Club had them for about $190.

Could you elaborate on the configure thing please?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It depends on the battery group/size. They come in some of the the same sizes as the conventional flooded lead acid batteries, but the size choices don't seem quite as good. At least that's what my perception has been. The 34R I currently have isn't as large as the Group 49 batteries that seem to be standard in the W123s. However, it's been fine in this temperate climate.

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Marshall Welch
Seattle, WA
1982 300D-T

Hi Tom,

You can try:

ODYSSEY batteries can be installed on their side or back as well as in parallel in strings up to 5 batteries, with “height” of up to 4 inches. For two batteries in parallel, the performance specification for the battery pack would double for all performance specs. The PC1100 is a 43Ah rated battery with a CCA rating of 500A. Two in parallel would become a 86Ah rated battery (comparable to a Group 49 battery) with a CCA rating of 1000A and a PHCA (Pulse Hot Cranking Amp) rating of 2200CA for the first 5 seconds at 80°

I think I am going with Our Batteries - EarthX Motorsports

Or, you can look into "Anti-Gravity" batteries, HOME • Antigravity Batteries

I posted something similar a while back since I am relocating my batteries under my back seat since I am in the process of installing the 4-corner HPS system plus a few other items so the battery has to move. I pestered the battery TECH folks like crazy, and I got the same exact answers from different companies in that the batteries I am looking at have no lead or acid in these batteris like regular batteries, so the concerns over your car turning into a fireball of death are pretty much impossible.

However, I strongly suggest you do all of your due diligence since I was initally thinking of posting a lot of my results, R&D, et cet., then I realized there is that one odd ball situation where somebody got hurt or claimed they got hurt and I would be in hot water.

I did find this out about battery technology in researching this topic, and calling experts in the field who were very kind and patient with me. The battery game is changing. The Autozone or Advance Batteries are really old skool compared what's out there. I can get a battery which has about the same degree of mojo in something I can easily hold in my hand. They are pricey, but when you're goal is weight reduction, space utilization, or the sexy factor, you got a lot of options out there. I will say this in closing, folks told me "no-way" could a person mount a #49 battery in the trunk for the W123. I did it, and it ran absolutely fine for over 2 years, never an issue. All the nay-sayers said I was going to have all these problems, et cet., however, it was pure non-sense. When asked the "how" or "why" is there going to be an issue, I got cricketts. As for using these sexy batteries, you may have to update your altenator since they need to push 100+ amps. That is why I had to upgrade my NA617 engine with a double pulley since I am using that as my R&D test bed. The turbo engine will have a serpentine belt, so these issues have already been tested. So, once you mod one thing, there's always a few other mods in the works ... lol

Hope the above helps.

Mark

I had an Optima in my Mustang (rear mounted) and it worked great though it did eventually fail (they all do eventually). I reused the Group 49 that was in the 300SD in the S-10 (also rear mounted) just because I had it and it was still good but I'll probably go with an AGM when the time comes. I haven't looked into a Group 49 equivalent but I'd guess that they have something.

As far as size - generally they make them physically the same as the lead acid battery that they'll replace, just so that they'll fit in the physical space. Few folks will want to rebuild their battery holders to accommodate a more expensive box of volts.

Probably not much useful info but it's all I have on the topic.

Dan

Thanks guys!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The parts guy was pushing AGM batteries when I needed 2 for my Cummns. At double the price with the same warranty, no thanks. Mine were shot so I just bought the most CCA and longest full replacement I could. I turn the key and engine cranks fast enough to start - even in the winter. I don't ask for more.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I'm using a mismatched pair in my Dodge/Cummins and they work fine, too. Ring, ring (gear drive starter sound), RACK RACK!!!!!!!

Dan