Battery Life

[2000Silverbullet]

I'm impressed with the AGM type batteries. Expensive initially but life cycle cost is competitive.
I replaced the original battery June 1, 2006 with a red top Optima.
Today I discover a dead optima after almost exactly 8 years......but only 30 K

Anyone beat that with an Optima?

[nos4blood70]

Not sure about Optimas but Penny's original battery lasted 9 years.

[CMNTMXR57]

8 years ain't that bad. But truth be told, I can get that out of an OEM AC Delco. The AC Delco in the Caddy is still the original so that is around ~8 years now.

It's not always the battery. It's how it's cared for during it's lifecycle. Even the best of the best will falter if you're constantly putting it under heavy amperage load and not allowing it sufficient time to recharge.

I've had Optimas crap the bed after a month, then I've had them last many years, and survive a fire.

[2000Silverbullet]

Oddly enough the Optima in my Firebird, which was installed about the same time in 2006 just went bad at almost the same time.
The original battery only lasted 6 years.

I care for batteries the same way. Trickle charge and disconnect when not in use for over a week or more.
Ya, they get run down by accident once every couple years when I forget to turn off a light or something stupid.

Darn batteries are $250 each up here, and that's at Walmart!!

Sure am glad I don't have an electric car!

[Archon]

I replaced my original battery a bit over 11 years old. Not because it was giving me any problems, but because I was afraid it might, due to its age.

[J Wikoff]

I had a yellowtop for about ten years and 100,000 miles.

[2000Silverbullet]

Will a yellow top last longer than a red for a car that is not a dd?

[J Wikoff]

It is supposedly better to respond after being drawn down.

[DarkShadow]

I personally love AGM batteries, though after optimas production was shifted to mexico the quality went down.

I use the DieHard Platinum battery in my cars, basically just a rebadged enersys odyssey battery

[2000Silverbullet]

It will be interesting to see how long this Mexican battery lasts. They don't sell any other AGM battery here.

[CMNTMXR57]

All batteries are made by two or three companies. So it's just the decorative label on the case.

[Jrs3800]

Have an interstate in the 03... Its been 6.5 years and still kicking... My aunts 04 had the original till this last fall, so it did 9+ years on the AC Delco battery..

The van and the 95 Bonneville have done better than 2 on an Exide..

The Other car did 11 years on a cheapie everstart..

The other everstarts I had never made more than 4 years, But I was always running the stereo and the like for hours on end a lot of the time.. Doesn't help them..

My riding mower had its original battery do 2 years, I dropped in a slightly larger amperage battery( everstart ) and its been 5 years now and still fires even after months of sitting.. I have never had to charge it...


I know I am a little off topic, But I think batteries can be hit or miss sometimes... It does help to take care of them tho..

But my next will most likely be a 78DT AGM battery..

[bobgto65]

On my '02, the original Battery lasted 10 years. On my '04 the original battery also lasted 10 years. I replaced both with the Everstart Maxx from WallMart but they were about $120 each.