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

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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.