Battery recommendations??

[duneslider]

Despite what everyone says, I still run the Optima in my jeep and they all seem to last a long time and perform well. I also have had good luck with the Deka AGMs in other vehicles and have no issue using them. I used to use the walmart batteries in my truck and they all performed just fine. When there was a sears by me with good stock of Diehards I did run Diehard platinum for a bit and they were fine as well but didn't seem to be any better than what I was getting with the Optima and Deka batteries. I didn't think they were worth the extra cost. I have not had an AGM battery fail before the warranty was up ever. I do put a trickle charger on all my vehicles several times a year just to make sure they are being fully charged up, I want to believe this helps.

 

[Boosted]

I've had Ford batteries go bad and the dealer wouldn't just warranty the battery. They wanted the car for the day and insisted on a load test and all this other stuff. It wasn't worth the vehicle being down and I was very fearful they would hand me a bill for diagnostic time.

Walmart battery was $180 vs $225 from Ford.
Walmart Battery had 850 CCA compared to 800 for Motorcraft.
Walmart had 4 year replacement and only 3 years for Motorcraft. (Biggest item in my opinion)
Add in the above experience with the hassle of a battery warranty claim from my Ford dealer, and it was an easy choice.

 

[bb37]

Despite what everyone says, I still run the Optima in my jeep and they all seem to last a long time and perform well.

Nothing wrong with Optima batteries other than the price. It's a good technology that results in a rugged battery. But, I think the off-road market has caught on and there are other batteries made for rugged applications that skirt the Optima patents.

Johnson Controls bought Optima 15-20 years ago and moved production to Mexico. I have heard rumors that the Mexican Optimas are not as good as the old ones made in Europe, but who knows if there is any legitimacy to that claim.

When I was a JCI employee, I could buy JCI batteries, including Optimas, at a discount. As I recall, I bought a $250 Optima yellow-top for about $160.

 

[SublimeHiPpOs]

I've had an Optima Yellow-top in my Jeep for a few years now. It's never let me down, although I don't think I've been excessively hard on it.

 

[SublimeHiPpOs]

my personal preferences are batteries made by East Penn. Their house brands are Deka and Intimidator but they also make Duracell, and various store brands. Their H series Euro/DIN sized batteries are distinctive by having a double handle that folds flush into the top. Their batteries are 100% made in Pennsylvania, and they have the cleanest record in the lead acid battery industry. I absolutely avoid any batteries made by Exide, who's been (ir)responsible for dozens of superfund sites and all sorts of shady activity to skate on their liabilities. Exide makes many budget store brands.

View attachment 83410

The EverStart from Wal-Mart appears to be the same design with the double handles, so I'm sticking with my plan to pick it up today.

 

[Fizzy]

The EverStart from Wal-Mart appears to be the same design with the double handles, so I'm sticking with my plan to pick it up today.

Not sure where this double-handle-signfies-a-single-brand thing started, but a lot of H7 AGM from different brands look exactly like that.

My Energizer looks like that. The factory Motocraft from Ford looked exactly like that. It's not a one brand design - I think it's more like the USB-C design - they can all use it.

 

[Boosted]

I was at Costco last night. They had the Interstate H7 for $180 with a 36 month prorated warranty. I would have thought the Interstate would carry the best warranty but for it to be shorter AND prorated just made no sense at all.

 

[SublimeHiPpOs]

I was at Costco last night. They had the Interstate H7 for $180 with a 36 month prorated warranty. I would have thought the Interstate would carry the best warranty but for it to be shorter AND prorated just made no sense at all.

Yeah, I was surprised, but for the same price getting one with a 4-year full/non-prorated warranty seemed like a no-brainer.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

Not sure where this double-handle-signfies-a-single-brand thing started, but a lot of H7 AGM from different brands look exactly like that.

My Energizer looks like that. The factory Motocraft from Ford looked exactly like that. It's not a one brand design - I think it's more like the USB-C design - they can all use it.

well, here's the Exide H7, totally different case. Exide is the 'other' major lead-acid maker in the USA, besides East Penn, and Clarios fka Johnson Controls

 

[Fizzy]

well, here's the Exide H7, totally different case. Exide is the 'other' major lead-acid maker in the USA, besides East Penn, and Clarios fka Johnson Controls
View attachment 83436

But, that’s not an AGM battery. It’s just a common flooded lead acid battery…

Exide Sprinter Max Automotive Group 94R SX-H7/L4/94R-EX Battery

orders.gocbs.com

Exide are made by Continental Batteries. Here’s their H7 AGM battery. Notice the handles.

Continental L4/H7/94R-AGM Automotive Battery Group L4 12v Battery

_EMPTY__VALUE_

orders.gocbs.com

Note the Battery Chemistry on each. One is flooded lead acid. The other AGM. It appears all/most H7 AGM batteries use a standardized case design.

 

[bb37]

It appears all/most H7 AGM batteries use a standardized case design.

Maybe that was "encouraged" by the car manufacturers knowing that they'd need to be replaced more often.

Before JCI kinda-sorta got out of the battery business, and before the EV craze, us employees got regular corporate rah-rah announcements about how the battery division was working with car manufacturers to develop 48 volt systems to replace the 12 volt systems. The thinking was that cars were going to make more and more demands on the battery, so 48 volts was a logical step towards reducing the load on the battery. Corporate claimed that the idea was gaining traction with the manufacturers. I think the idea died when the accountants started adding up how much it would cost to convert all the electrical loads in a car to 48 volts.

We've had 12 volt automotive systems since the 1950s. Why change?

 

[SyndicateZ]

well, here's the Exide H7, totally different case. Exide is the 'other' major lead-acid maker in the USA, besides East Penn, and Clarios fka Johnson Controls
View attachment 83436

I have an EXIDE battery in my 2002 mustang gt. Its the best battery! The vehicle can literally sit for weeks in freezing cold temps and still startup in 1 try and its 7 years old

 

[dtv_engineer]

An H8 will fit in a 2018+ Expedition.

 

[Danm355]

I've been able to make the original battery in my 2018 Plati last until now, but with the cold weather here, I think it's finally time to bite the bullet and replace it. Other than making sure the replacement meets the general required specs, are there any particular recommendations? Duralast/Diehard Platinum Platinum AGM are available in my local part stores. I could also get an Optima Yellow top for about $100 more, but I'm not really sure if that's worth it (and it only has a 3 year warranty vs 4 for the Duralast/Diehard Platinum). There are also a variety of batteries available on Amazon for around $100 less. I'm just curious if there is any consensus in the group as to what works best in this vehicle (or do the cheaper ones work just as well since modern vehicles chew through batteries anyway)?

Edit: I also found that Wal-Mart has the OE Motorcraft for $255 and a ACDelco AGM Automotive BCI Group 94R Battery 94RAGM with 850 CCA for $167.

I did some research when buying a new battery for my wife's car and the Dihard seemed to be rated the best. The batteries now days are junk and won't last very long.

 

[DieselMonk]

I did some research when buying a new battery for my wife's car and the Dihard seemed to be rated the best. The batteries now days are junk and won't last very long.

Voting for the H8 DieHard. Unbeatable for that price.

 

[Maxine the Max]

I've been able to make the original battery in my 2018 Plati last until now, but with the cold weather here, I think it's finally time to bite the bullet and replace it. Other than making sure the replacement meets the general required specs, are there any particular recommendations? Duralast/Diehard Platinum Platinum AGM are available in my local part stores. I could also get an Optima Yellow top for about $100 more, but I'm not really sure if that's worth it (and it only has a 3 year warranty vs 4 for the Duralast/Diehard Platinum). There are also a variety of batteries available on Amazon for around $100 less. I'm just curious if there is any consensus in the group as to what works best in this vehicle (or do the cheaper ones work just as well since modern vehicles chew through batteries anyway)?

Edit: I also found that Wal-Mart has the OE Motorcraft for $255 and a ACDelco AGM Automotive BCI Group 94R Battery 94RAGM with 850 CCA for $167.

My 2019 plat original battery died this winter too. We got an AGM battery from Menards. Husband installed it, everything has been running top notch. We farm so lots of things with batteries, the farmer really likes the AGM batteries.

 

[Dice Roll]

I’m running an Odyssey after the original died a few months back. I had a good experience in my classic car. They are dual core and don’t need a tender for two years of storage.

I ran interstate back in the 90s and 00s. We’re good then.

Tried an exide. My buddy wasn’t there that day at the auto parts store. It gurgled. Returned it and he said they all come back, use interstate. Then they slipped.

Used Dekka once on my two battery diesel, it was good.

Used duralast golds many times, they are or were Johnson. Lead acid until the agm in my wife’s car. Been three years. Good each time.

Used an optima back in the 00s. Good. Heard bad since then. Dunno.

Motor craft was on sale for 229 when I bought this time, but odyssey was ten percent off and I like the one I have so went that way.

I typically get right at five years from every battery. Always. Except that one exide.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

The batteries now days are junk and won't last very long.

+1 ... and combine that with all the extra juice modern vehicles require. My only concern at this point is the warranty. Walmart gives me free replacements for 3 years with zero hassle. Zero hassle is the key for me. I'm tired of arguing just to get what I was promised.