Winter Storage

[dobienut]

Fellas, is it going to screw anything up computer wise by taking my both batteries out for a few months? I lay my truck up would like to take the batteries out and trickle charge them all winter. I store it to far away from a power source to leave them in with a trickle charger on them while in the truck

[Mopar1973Man]

Removing the batteries will not hurt the truck. But I would check the batteries often while on the trickle charger. I typically check the batteries on the vehicles, house and RV about once a month to insure none of the cell go dry while charging. If they do go dry the cell is permanently damaged.

[flagmanruss]

I used to pull all the batteries from our winter storage boats & we stored them indoors on shelves.  Back then there were no battery maintainers with the float function so we used trickle chargers.  Each shelf had 2 chargers working & we moved down the row every couple of days. Typically we had 100 batteries to tend.  We checked & added distilled water at beginning & end of winter storage. 

I have also used a trickle charger on my backhoe with a extension suspended (off the ground) from the barn...  where I had it on a timer, set to run 1 hour a day.  Not perfect but the best I could do.

 

In my truck, which can go a few weeks between uses, I've used a solar trickle sitting on the dash or wedged into the back window...  connected to the bottom always on power outlet.  

These days, I've gone over to maintainers...  they're available cheap...  and less worry about over charging.  I have one larger one & 2 small ones from Harbor Freight, plus a 6/2 trickle charger

[dobienut]

Ok thanks. Thought I better ask because I wasn't sure if I would cause VP computer damage or the ECM/PCM

[flagmanruss]

Just clean all the connections & connect them properly when you put them back! 

Edited December 15, 2013 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man]

Just clean all the connections & connect them properly when you put them back! 

 

If you want to quit cleaning terminals just cover the terminals in engine oil and you'll never clean them again.

[dripley]

If you want to quit cleaning terminals just cover the terminals in engine oil and you'll never clean them again.

Do you do this before and after connecting the terminals, or just after they are connected?

[Mopar1973Man]

Clean the terminals. Then coat both terminals with engine oil and assemble and tighten. Also remember to reapply the oil at every oil change. No need to remove the terminal but to be sure there is engine oil on all surfaces.

[eddielee]

I like to use di-electric grease for this it doesn't wear off. I do recommend using a plastic battery terminal to cover them or else every time you touch them you get it on you...

[Mopar1973Man]

I like to use di-electric grease for this it doesn't wear off. I do recommend using a plastic battery terminal to cover them or else every time you touch them you get it on you...

One of the few reasons I don't use grease on mine. No need to cover them up and it never gets on you.

[Ilikeoldfords]

Clean the terminals. Then coat both terminals with engine oil and assemble and tighten. Also remember to reapply the oil at every oil change. No need to remove the terminal but to be sure there is engine oil on all surfaces.

I have never heard of this trick before. I would have thought having the oil in there would cause a bad connection but maybe not. I usually just clean them up real good, bolt em down and use a good terminal protector spray afterwards. Never had a connection or corrosion issue here.

[Mopar1973Man]

I have never heard of this trick before. I would have thought having the oil in there would cause a bad connection but maybe not. I usually just clean them up real good, bolt em down and use a good terminal protector spray afterwards. Never had a connection or corrosion issue here.

 

No grease... No corrosion... Just a bit dirty.

[hex0rz]

Yea, I have never used terminal protection of any sort. But just recently, my batteries have gotten corrosion on it. So I cleaned 'em up and bought the spray. Works great...

[Dave3500]

I used to pull all the batteries from our winter storage boats & we stored them indoors on shelves.  Back then there were no battery maintainers with the float function so we used trickle chargers.  Each shelf had 2 chargers working & we moved down the row every couple of days. Typically we had 100 batteries to tend.  We checked & added distilled water at beginning & end of winter storage. 

I have also used a trickle charger on my backhoe with a extension suspended (off the ground) from the barn...  where I had it on a timer, set to run 1 hour a day.  Not perfect but the best I could do.

 

In my truck, which can go a few weeks between uses, I've used a solar trickle sitting on the dash or wedged into the back window...  connected to the bottom always on power outlet.  

These days, I've gone over to maintainers...  they're available cheap...  and less worry about over charging.  I have one larger one & 2 small ones from Harbor Freight, plus a 6/2 trickle charger

I've had really good luck w Battery Tender chargers. Just move them around once in awhile. I'll try the engine oil trick on the connections, something else to do w the used oil.