2 week vacation - trickle charge or not?

[BigShan808]

I don't think there are "ghost draws." I have concluded the issue is those OEM Ford Batteries are defective. Since replacing mine 3 1/2 years ago I've had zero problems.

You a mechanic? The shop I took to perform diagnostics confirmed I had misfire to my #6 to which I changed all my plugs BUT they ran 2 separate diagnostics and their machines recognized a negative draw but could not pinpoint the source. And I have an Optima YellowTop H7 battery. Agree the oem H6 battery is underwhelming and cannot support the tech shiz on these trucks. It's not defective, it just cannot maintain charge when the onboard computers are always working offline. I have Optima's trickle charger/maintainer and I hook up every other month. Something is draining the battery because I'm at 70% charge on my H7 with the amps at 11% to 12%. When fully charged the battery is around 14% to 16% amps. My wife's '22 Bronco has the oem H7 and when I hook it up to the charger it also shows 11% to 12% amps until fully charged.

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[RedwoodRyan]

Just got from two week trip, left truck at airport. No issues. I previously replaced OEM crap battery. Had jumper kit ready in cab just in case.

 

[LN7]

I had my 2 month old 2025 sit for 2 weeks while I was on a trip, started right up.

I do like the suggestion of using the ford app to start it up a few times while you are away - leave the fan above 5 to help recharge faster. Next time I leave the truck for more than a week I'll probably do this.

 

[Nassau]

I hadn’t thought of using the remote start to briefly throw a bit of charge. I put the trickle charger on this time. Interestingly when I put it on, it showed that it needed a charge. So it was down slightly even though I had driven around that day including about 40 min at highway speed. I’ll have to keep an eye on the battery. It’s the original. Mine was built Sept 2024.

 

[Gros Ventre]

You a mechanic? The shop I took to perform diagnostics confirmed I had misfire to my #6 to which I changed all my plugs BUT they ran 2 separate diagnostics and their machines recognized a negative draw but could not pinpoint the source. And I have an Optima YellowTop H7 battery. Agree the oem H6 battery is underwhelming and cannot support the tech shiz on these trucks. It's not defective, it just cannot maintain charge when the onboard computers are always working offline. I have Optima's trickle charger/maintainer and I hook up every other month. Something is draining the battery because I'm at 70% charge on my H7 with the amps at 11% to 12%. When fully charged the battery is around 14% to 16% amps. My wife's '22 Bronco has the oem H7 and when I hook it up to the charger it also shows 11% to 12% amps until fully charged.

The long standing common thread with these is the OEM Ford battery. Once its replaced things just disappear... Hm-m-m.....

 

[JohnTrigger]

I think I have read here that you can only use Fordpass to remote start twice before it “locks you out” and you physically need to be in the vehicle with key/fob to start. So I would space those two starts out some while out of town. I haven't tried personally so I hope this is not spreading false info.

Also, on your sync screen you probably want to lengthen the remote start run time if you plan to do this. I think you can select three different options, like 5, 10, or 15 minutes. I’d opt for the longest.

 

[spiritrider1]

I went on a week long cruise with the family and parked in a private lot. No charger hooked up but I bought a 4k amp portable battery charger just in case. Truck started remotely while on the shuttle bus ride and cooled down before we got loaded up and left the lot. This was with an Interstate H7 replacement 12v battery. I've never had any power issues after installing the Interstate.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M9HQG73?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_9&th=1

 

[gh8toes]

I’m going on a 2 week vacation and no one at home will be driving my truck (2024 POWERBOOST) while I am away. I’m not keen on running an extension cord to under the hood while I’m away unless it’s truly needed.

I do have a small Noco smart battery charger. Should I connect it while I am away?

I was in the hospital for over two weeks and during that time I got notice my truck went into battery saver mode, so yes, you should plug in your charger

 

[Sojourner]

Yes. Put it on a trickle charger. It's not that the battery will be dead upon your return, it's that the SOC will be low and the software soft in these Ford's is very SOC finicky.

My $1.08 (inflation adjusted from the back when I started to use the "my $0.02" phrase).

 

[Old Hat]

Battery saver mode is a good thing. Once this happens the truck can sit for months and still start. Attaching to a smart charge is ok too, but not needed unless your battery is subpar. One thing I would never do is remote start. Unnessary starts, especially when the vehicle is only sitting and idling and not driving (where it can get up to full temp quickly) is detrimental to the engine.

 

[Chappy133]

Make sure your charger, extension cords and electric is up to snuff. Your charger may have specific restrictions on use of an extension cord. And those surge protectors with 5 things plugged into them are known sources of electrical fires. As a volunteer firefighter over the years I have been to a few house fires caused by batteries being charged. Personally I would leave it unplugged.

 

[JackFlash6669]

I’m going on a 2 week vacation and no one at home will be driving my truck (2024 POWERBOOST) while I am away. I’m not keen on running an extension cord to under the hood while I’m away unless it’s truly needed.

I do have a small Noco smart battery charger. Should I connect it while I am away?

Certainly, won't hurt.

 

[Gros Ventre]

You a mechanic? The shop I took to perform diagnostics confirmed I had misfire to my #6 to which I changed all my plugs BUT they ran 2 separate diagnostics and their machines recognized a negative draw but could not pinpoint the source. And I have an Optima YellowTop H7 battery. Agree the oem H6 battery is underwhelming and cannot support the tech shiz on these trucks. It's not defective, it just cannot maintain charge when the onboard computers are always working offline. I have Optima's trickle charger/maintainer and I hook up every other month. Something is draining the battery because I'm at 70% charge on my H7 with the amps at 11% to 12%. When fully charged the battery is around 14% to 16% amps. My wife's '22 Bronco has the oem H7 and when I hook it up to the charger it also shows 11% to 12% amps until fully charged.

Ghost draws are an excuse. I have a Instrument lighting pulse width modulator and a cell phone wireless charger that are both wired in where they are on unless manually turned off. Have forgotten to turn them off several times overnight and even for a day or two. Never had a problem since replacing the OEM Ford battery. Oh, yeah I've got an engineering background, how about Chief engineer on a Nuke Sub? Also you learn alot about batteries on a sub.

 

[Kanonprop]

Yes, put it on the charger!
I got back from a two week trip recently to an absolutely dead truck. Had to use the key to open the door. It was a one month old OEM (in engine compartment) battery. Truck had driven 600 miles the day before so it was fully charged.. ended up having to jumpstart it. No issues since.
Problem with remote starting it, is the fact that it will only allow 2 remote starts before it has to be started with a key (Thanks Ford).

 

[Gros Ventre]

Yes, put it on the charger!
I got back from a two week trip recently to an absolutely dead truck. Had to use the key to open the door. It was a one month old OEM (in engine compartment) battery. Truck had driven 600 miles the day before so it was fully charged.. ended up having to jumpstart it. No issues since.
Problem with remote starting it, is the fact that it will only allow 2 remote starts before it has to be started with a key (Thanks Ford).

Short answer: Split for a non-Ford battery. It'll save you time and frustration. I got a NAPA H-7 three years ago. Not a peep since across three Wyoming winters (EG-20ºF with regularity, sometimes colder).

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