Hey Oppo-Tell me about battery brands...

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
12/28/2016 at 09:29 • Filed to: None

I have a 2005 Pathfinder that’s been sitting for a couple of months now, and the battery is about 4 years old, and dead.

So I’m going to replace it- what brands should I consider/avoid?

Thanks!

DISCUSSION (18)

E92M3 > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 09:36

Believe it or not Consumer Reports recommends the Walmart brand (EverStart) over DieHard or any Autopart Store batteries.

Each size battery has 2 or 3 levels of CCA (cold cranking amps), get the highest one in your size.

Wacko > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 09:37

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/car-batteries/buying-guide.htm

WilliamsSW > Wacko
12/28/2016 at 09:43

Thanks- it appears that there’s a pay wall to get to the actual recommendations, although E92M3 noted that Everstart is what they recommend.

adamftw > E92M3
12/28/2016 at 09:44

EverStart/WalMart’s warranty is also outstanding. No questions asked. My buddy was having charging and drain issues in his Rover (big surprise there, lol) and warrantied two batteries in a month.

WilliamsSW > E92M3
12/28/2016 at 09:47

Yeah I am definitely going to maximize CCA. The truck sits more than it should (obviously), but when I need it, I need it.

Walmart is funny. My perception is that most of their stuff is garbage, but there are certain things that they carry are very good, and it’s pretty random.

Thanks!

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 09:48

I have always had good luck with Interstate Batteries.

WilliamsSW > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
12/28/2016 at 09:54

Thanks!

Wacko > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 09:55

Brands are basically all the same

I just wanted you to see the difference between AGM and normal.

When I replace batteries I use AGM since I live in the North.

I have AGMs in my snowmobile, side-by-side and my cars.

WilliamsSW > Wacko
12/28/2016 at 10:01

Ahh, I missed that, so I’ll have to go back and read it, thanks!

I’m in the Chicago area, so far enough north that it matters.

What prompted my post (besides the dead battery) is that I recall someone on here recently bitching about 1 particular brand, but couldn’t recall which one it was.

WilliamsSW > Wacko
12/28/2016 at 10:23

That was very helpful, thanks! The truck doesn’t get used all that much any more, so accidental and deep discharges are a concern for me, so AGM appears to be the way to go-

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/28/2016 at 10:42

Actually, for battery longevity, always get the lowest CCA you can get away with. If you live somewhere it rarely gets below about 50-60 degrees, get the lowest you can find.

E92M3 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
12/28/2016 at 11:00

Maybe if you drive the vehicle everyday. If it sits like in his case, it will never be fully charged. If it doesn’t fire right up, he’d be putting a strain on the battery. That’s not good for longevity. Especially if he’s just moving it, and not going for a drive. It can only discharge so many times before it’s junk.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/28/2016 at 11:35

The only lead acid batteries that handle that well are deep cycle batteries. It has nothing to do with CCAs.

Due to physics, what I’ve said should make sense.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/experience/2014/01/what-does-cold-cranking-amps-cca-mean

Anecdotally, the longest lasting batteries I’ve ever seen were really low CCA rated batteries in cars that were kept in good condition, operated weekly, and only above about 50 degrees. Average higher-rated batteries seem to last about 6-7 years in those conditions. The cheap low-rating batteries would last about 10 years.

It’s a lot like octane - getting more than you need is a waste of money and yields worse results.

WilliamsSW > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
12/28/2016 at 12:06

Thanks- in my case though, it’s a higher mileage (170k) vehicle that only gets used a few times per month, and 10-15 below isn’t that unusual here (Chicago), a few times per winter.

Seems like AGM is the way to go in my situation. The extra cost doesn’t bother me. That, and making more effort to drive it me frequently.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 14:02

With that usage, I’d get a mid-higher CCA battery and that is probably often enough to not need a charger. If it was like once a month or less, I’d say you should just always keep it on a float charger.

WilliamsSW > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
12/28/2016 at 16:13

A charger would be a good investment, really. Sometimes the truck sits longer than it should, and I also have a convertible that sits most of the winter.

Rykilla303 > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
12/28/2016 at 16:16

Me too. But they only had 750 cca batteries for my truck... Advance store brand had 1000 cca ones :)

RacinBob > WilliamsSW
01/08/2017 at 17:59

Never have a dead battery again

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html

Kinja'd!!!