Choosing the Best Jump Starter for Diesel and Petrol Engines [2020]

(Last Updated On: April 20, 2020)

Jump-starter-expert-guidesHave you been looking to get yourself a jump starter in case of an emergency, but don’t know how many amps to start a car, truck, a V6 or V8?  Or are you simply looking for the best jump starter for diesel or petrol engine cars?  You certainly have come to the right place.  This guide will provide all of the answers to these questions and help you find the perfect jump starter for your needs.

To start, here is a useful comparison table of the best jump starters of the year.  Arguably, the best jump starter for both diesel or petrol engine cars currently is either the Beatit 2000A 21000mAh Jump Pack or the Suaoki U28 2000A Peak Jump Starter Pack.  If you’re looking for the best jump starter for V8 vehicles or trucks then we recommend something with a little more power, the Jump-n-Carry JNC660.

*Note, this post contains several affiliate links for which I receive a commission should a sale result.

BEST JUMP STARTERS OF 2020

ProductPeak Current /
Capacity
Key FeaturesCheck PriceReview
Beatit 2000a portable jumper pack
BEATIT G18 2000A Portable Jump Starter

(EDITOR'S CHOICE)
2000A /
21000mAh
- Can be used on engines up to 8.0L gas and diesel
- Wireless charging (10W) and Quick Charge 3.0 USB
- Quick Discharge Start Power (QDSP) technology
- High Quality Hard EVA Carry Case
Check Price Now!BEATIT G18 2000A 21000mAh Jump Starter Review
Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter - 2500A Peak 20000mAH
Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter - 2500A Peak 20000mAH

(EDITOR'S CHOICE)
2500A /
20000mAh
- Incredible 2500A peak current: suitable for SUVs and trucks, 8.0L gas and 8.0L diesel
- Quick charge 3.0 USB for rapidly charging phones, tablets, Kindles, etc.
- 3 mode flashlight: solid, SOS, strobe.
- 2 year warranty and lifetime technical support
- Excellent after-sales support: live chat on Facebook
Check Price Now!Imazing 2500A Peak Car Portable Jump Starter Review
2000A peak jump starter
Suaoki U28 2000A Peak Jump Starter Pack
2000A /
16216mAh
- Very high powered 2000A peak jump starter - boosts essentially all gas engines and diesels up to 8.0L!
- High capacity jump starter for extended jump starting and charging of portable devices
- 12V DC output for wireless routers, air compressors, lights, etc. on the go
- Ultra-safe jump starter with smart battery clamps
- Cigarette lighter adapter and stylish carrying case included
Check Price Now!Suaoki U28 2000A Peak Jump Starter Pack Review

STANLEY FATMAX J7CS
700A /
9000mAh
- Built-in compressor
- 3 USB charging ports, 3.1A total
- High power flashlight
- Heavy duty jumper leads
Check Price Now!STANLEY FATMAX J7CS Review
Rugged Geek RG1000 Safety GEN2
Rugged Geek RG1000 Safety GEN2
1000A /
10500mAh
- INTELLIBOOST safety technology
- Suitable for 7.0L gas and 3.5L diesel engines
- 3-in-1 USB cable
- Fantastic tyre-tread design!
Check Price Now!Rugged Geek RG1000 Review
GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter
GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter
800A /
18000mAh
- Good for engines up to 7L gas, 5.5L diesel
- Cigarette lighter socket included
- Great flashlight
- Two USB outlets
Check Price Now!Gooloo GP180 Review

Jump-N-Carry JNC660
1700A /
22000mAh
- High quality, reliable design
- Heavy duty operation
- Good length jumper leads
- Suitable for cars, motorbikes, SUVs and small/medium trucks
Check Price Now!Jump-N-Carry JNC660 Review

STANLEY J5C09 Jump Starter
1000A /
19000mAh
- Excellent build quality
- 5A USB charging port
- Alarm to warn of reverse polarity
- Built-in compressor
Check Price Now!STANLEY J5C09 Review

DBPOWER 600A 18000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter
600A /
18000mAh
- Powerful enough for 6.5L gas and 5.2L diesel engines
- 2 x 2.4A USB outputs
- Compass
- Ultra compact
- 3 year warranty
Check Price Now!DBPOWER 600A 18000mAh Review

If you would also like to see some actual reviews by people who own these jump starters, you can head over to Amazon over here:

>> Click Here to See Owner Reviews on Amazon <<

Let’s move on to the guide!

how many amps to start a car, truck, a V6 or V8Selecting the correct portable starter for your needs doesn’t have to be a time consuming process. Buying one with zero consideration is asking for disappointment however, and there are a few key aspects you need to consider to ensure the device will meet the demands of your specific application. Luckily Jump Starter Expert has you covered. Follow this simple guide and you’ll be on your way to finding a jump box in no time at all.

How to Choose the Best Jump Starter for Diesel Engines and Petrol Engines – UPDATED 2020

How Many Amps to Start a Car, Truck, V6 or V8: Cranking and Peak Amps

The main consideration when looking for a jump starter is how many amps are needed to jump start a car. But before getting into this, an important clarification is the difference between cranking and peak amps, as certain jump starters will only quote one of these values.

Peak amps, as you may imagine, refers to the highest current the jump starter will push out in a short, initial burst when cranking your engine.  This is the performance figure most often reported on these units.  For instance, the Noco GB40 is rated at 1000A peak, while the Gooloo GP180 is rated at 800A.

This is electrical current to get your vehicle’s starter motor turning and begin the cranking motion of your engine. This high current kick quickly decays, however, if your motor doesn’t start straight away, towards a value it can deliver more sustainably. This more stable current is then referred to as the cranking current, and is the current the jump starter will deliver if extended cranking of the engine is needed to get things going. The jump starter actually replicates the battery of your vehicle in this respect, which also features different peak and cranking current ratings.

best jump starter for dieselThe cranking current is therefore a more accurate measure of the jump starter’s true capability. At times, the initial peak current jolt will be sufficient to get the engine started before the output of the device decays. A more extended crank may be required at other times however, in which case, if the cranking ability of the jump starter is insufficient, you may not ever actually be able to get your vehicle started, no matter how hard you try. Cranking should not continue for more than about 5seconds though and reference should be made to the detailed guide on jump starting your car to get more information on the best way to actually use your jump starter to avoid damage to both your battery and the jump starter itself.

So What Size Jump Starter Do I Need for my Diesel or Petrol Engine Car?

It is somewhat difficult to provide definitive values on the cranking currents required by different engines as there is a wide variation between the multitude of engine designs currently on the market, even with similar cylinder capacities. The following, however, is a rough guide for petrol/gas engines:

  • Four cylinder petrol/gas – 150-200A
  • Six cylinder petrol/gas – 200-250A
  • Eight cylinder petrol/gas – 250-300A

Diesel engines require significantly higher cranking currents than petrol/gas engines of the same size, more than two times that of petrol engines, and so guidelines for diesel engines are as follows:

  • Four cylinder diesel – 300-400A
  • Six cylinder diesel – 400-500A
  • Eight cylinder diesel – 600-700A

So, before purchasing a car jump starter, consider “what size jump starter do I need?”  Consider carefully the engine size and number of cylinders your vehicle has, and whether your vehicle is petrol/gas or diesel fueled. Then determine the approximate cranking current you will require from the above data and proceed to the next important consideration.

What is the Lowest Temperature My Portable Starter is Likely to Be Needed?

As mentioned in the car battery maintenance guide, temperature can have an enormous impact on the performance and lifetime of a battery. In cold climates, a lead-acid battery can lose more than 50% of its cranking current output, which will apply directly to lead-acid battery based jump starters as well (such as the Stanley car jump starter or the JNC heavy duty).

Lithium-ion based jump starters show a smaller decrease in performance than lead-acid, but to err on the side of caution, assume they will also lose up to 50% of their cranking current capacity in very cold climates.

best jump starter for V8 or V6Cold climates would be regions where the outside temperature during winter frequently drops well below 20-30°F (approximately -5 to 0°C). In these climates, double the cranking current requirement you found in the guidelines of the first step to ensure that you have enough available if you find yourself stuck on a cold day, which, as you can imagine, is the time you are most susceptible to finding your vehicle battery unable to turn your engine over.

As mentioned in the previous section, jump starter manufacturers often do not report both the cranking and peak current outputs of their devices. The best advice therefore, if only the peak current rating is available, is to definitely not buy a unit with a peak current rating lower than what you determined from the guidelines in the first section with the allowance for the effect of cold temperature in this section (if necessary). This is only asking for disappointment.

Purchase a jump starter with the highest peak and cranking current rating your budget will allow, but don’t even bother if the peak current on the unit you’re interested in is lower than what your application might demand.

You might also want to consider a battery thermal wrap for you car battery to protect it from the cold.

What Safety Features Do You Need?

Although the use of a portable jump starter is fairly straight forward, there a number of risks inherent in their operation. Below is a list of typical safety features available on jump starters along with their function. Before purchasing a jump starter, check to see that the unit has the safety systems in place that you deem essential, which will depend on your familiarity with jump starting cars, and your general predisposition towards mishaps (:)):

  • best jump starter for dieselShort circuit protection – Possibly one of the most vital safety features on a jump starter, as a short circuit can potentially lead not only to serious damage to the jump starter, but also a potential explosion of the battery bank inside the device. Short circuits occur when the jump leads are touched together leading to a very high current passing between the positive and negative terminals. Thankfully, most jump starters have short circuit protection as a minimum, but there are a few that don’t. So be sure to do your due diligence and check before purchasing if you feel you need this feature.
  • Over-current protection – limits the current the jump starter will deliver to its peak rated current preventing damage to the device.
  • Overload protection – protects the unit from receiving a current higher than the manufacturer’s specification when charging. This may happen during a surge from the mains power feeding the jump starter’s charger.
  • Overvoltage protection – prevents too high a voltage from being applied to the unit when charging. Again, this can happen during a mains power surge.
  • Overcharge protection – the charging circuits on more basic jump starters will not automatically stop charging the device when the batteries are full. With overcharge protection, the charging circuit will “float” charge the jump starter once full, and won’t keep increasing the voltage applied to the cells, which could then overcharge and destroy the battery pack.

The remaining criteria in this guide are also important considerations, however, the cranking current requirement under the lowest temperature you might need to use your jump starter, and the safety features needed are the primary ones.

Is an Air Compressor Needed As Well?Air Compressor for Tires

Having an air compressor or a manual tire pump with you is possibly as important as having a jump starter and luckily there are a good amount of jump starter air compressor combo units available if you don’t already have a tire pump (e.g. the Rugged Geek RG1000 and the Stanley Jump Starter J5C09).

Any Additional Functionality Required?

Most modern jump starters have many additional features, most common of which are listed below. Although not essential, I personally like my device to have them. Decide whether you would like yours to have them as well:

  • Multiple device charging ports – USB for charging phones, MP3 players and tablets; Laptop charger outlets; Other DC voltage outlets for various common devices.
  • LED Flashlight – useful for assisting you at night. Often additional lighting modes are also available including strobe lighting and SOS signaling to alert others to your aid.
  • Wireless Charging – many modern units feature wireless charging for your compatible smart phones, tables and smart watches.

Be sure to check out our multi function jump starter articles to  see the latest and greatest offerings from the top brands across the globe.

LED Feature

As this guide shows, choosing a jump starter is a fairly straight forward process, requiring only three key considerations – the cranking and peak current requirement of your application, compensation for low temperature operation, and the safety features you feel are essential for the device to have. Two additional considerations concern whether you would like the device to include an air compressor for pumping your tires and any additional features you feel your device should have. So before buying your next jump starter (or your first), be sure to run through this quick guide, and you’ll any disappointment in your purchase.

Also, bare in mind, essentially the same considerations go into choosing a motorcycle battery jump starter.  Generally, a smaller cranking current will be needed than a car or truck for obvious reasons. But again, because bike engines vary so greatly , it would be safer to follow the guidelines above as for cars to be sure you have enough jump starting power should the need arise.