Yep, Denny, when I see a post that says they are "upgrading" to 12v for more reliable starting, but they are not adding any additional 12v electrical devices, I just wonder where they get their ideas regarding what "upgrades" mean (they have simply avoided maintaining their 6v electrical system).
They might as well fix the problem halfway by using an 8v battery? This would allow the upgrade to 12v to take place a few years later.
My Optima 6v battery is almost 10 years old. It stays in my Suburban all winter in our detached non-heated deep-freeze upstate NY garage. When I go out to start the Suburban in the Spring, the Suburban has to crank a little to get gas to the carburetor, but it starts every Spring.
Here are the only necessary "upgrades":
- good 6v battery
- good battery cables (positive and negative 0 or 00 gauge)
- good clean grounds (covered with conductive anti-oxidant grease)
- Sta-Bil in the gas tank at Thanksgiving (maybe unnecessary
- good 6v starter
For long trips, I carry a 12v 5-in-1 electrical unit that includes an emergency Jumpstarter, Air Compressor, 12V Power Inverter, 12V Outlet and Worklight/flasher - this runs my GPS and charges my phone and tablet PC (and is often useful in the house and in the garage).
