Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

How long are 6 volt batteries lasting ?
I replaced mine in April of 2014, 6 years ago
I needed a jump today to get it running after a short drive.
What length of service are others finding?
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Six years is not untypical for 6-volt lead acid batteries. I use NAPA Group 4 Commercial batteries in my '34 Packard, I've had them last as long as 8 years and as short as 5.

I just replaced my battery-lasted 3 yrs but had a problem with the Voltage regulator that may have shortened the life. I usually get around 6yrs-use batteries from tractor supply

I have been using Optima batteries for many years and they have all lasted lots longer than 5 years. I currently have one in my 39 Packard that is over 10 years old. I have one in my 53 that is now five years old and it replaced an Optima battery that was 12 years old.

The Optima 6 volts have 800 Cranking amps and no liquid acid to spill. You'll never see a corroded terminal on an Optima battery.

Did you jump your car from another 6 volt car? Or a 12 volt car? I thought we could damage components when jumping from 12 volts?

I can't speak about gel batteries, but jumping 12-volt to 6-volt with lead/acid batteries has been done safely without damage for as long as we've had 6 and 12 volt cars. Two important points; observe polarity, and maintain the connection for the shortest possible time and certainly no more than 10 seconds and allow a cool-down between attempts if a repeat attempt is needed. More attempts than that and you'll risk stressing your starter motor.

Longevity of a lead acid battery, whether it is 6 or 12 V, is highly dependent on 1) how it is maintained (state of charge and 2) number of cycles from full to very low charge (~1/2 or less) and electrolyte level (make sure you add water when needed). I had a set of 12 V batteries in my RV last for 18 years as they were always on a trickle charger and the water level checked at least once a month.

On another note the Optima Batteries of old are not the same as those of today. If you need to replace your battery Interstate makes a quality product. And no, I don't work for nor own Interstate stock, but they are not always available and have a set on Napa 6 V batteries in my RV for house batteries as we speak.

OOPS - It was more like 13 or 14 years and not 18. They were the two original chassis batteries from 2003 that died around 2017/18. I guess it was either a New Math error or ???

After needing a jump, I replaced my 6 year old battery with a new one from O Reilly's for $130.00. They got it to the store in about 5 hours.

Last season, I noticed two electrical problems:
My horn would work erratically and
My oilGauge would sometimes spike to the right and then return to normal.

I have not noticed either problem since I replaced the battery.

Does anyone think the failing battery may have caused these glitches?
Any opinions?

Horn and gauge issues are not likely due to the battery. Horn is probably a poor or intermittent contact between the wire and the large contact plate it pushes against or between the contact plate and the horn ring when the ring is pushed. A horn relay with dirty or failing contacts is also a possibility.

Battery feed terminal of the temp, oil and fuel gauges are connected together and fed directly with 6v volts from the same wire. If only the oil gauge is having a problem the most likely cause is a failing oil sender, sticking pressure relief valve in the oil pump or a bare spot in the wire between the sender and gauge that is intermittently touching ground.