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Battery Life

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 3:23 pm
by 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?

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 8:08 pm
by nos4blood70
Not sure about Optimas but Penny's original battery lasted 9 years.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 9:43 pm
by 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.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 5:50 pm
by 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!

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 12:57 am
by 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.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 1:31 am
by J Wikoff
I had a yellowtop for about ten years and 100,000 miles.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 12:01 pm
by 2000Silverbullet
Will a yellow top last longer than a red for a car that is not a dd?

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 12:18 pm
by J Wikoff
It is supposedly better to respond after being drawn down.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:09 pm
by 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

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:16 pm
by 2000Silverbullet
It will be interesting to see how long this Mexican battery lasts. They don't sell any other AGM battery here.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:13 pm
by CMNTMXR57
All batteries are made by two or three companies. So it's just the decorative label on the case.

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 9:32 pm
by 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..

Re: Battery Life

Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:02 am
by 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.