25yr old battery finally needs replacement

[Tubefreakz]

I've never heard of a car battery lasting so long. It's a NAPA Select Orbital AGM battery in an older car taking up space in the garage that's driven only a few times during the summer. Therefore, it's on a tender majority of the time. I have flooded batterys in our other vehicles but I'm planning to replace this with another AGM. This battery is orbital, are flat plate AGM batterys comparable?

 

[oil pan 4]

Thought it was going to be a nickel iron battery. They do not make the AGMs as they once did.

 

[f355spider]

The spiral wound (orbital) AGMs are made by Optima, called their "red top". They unfortunately are NOT made to the same quality anymore. Shorter life in my experience, I had three of them leak. All three started leaking at less than two years in service. Even Consumer Reports lists them as poor life and quality.

The very top rated AGMs these days are "pure lead" AGMs. They are expensive. Made by Odyssey, X2 Power and a few other manufacturers. The key feature is "pure lead", in the description...and the price... will lead you to them.

A well cared for Clarios AGM, which is a conventional plate type AGM (sold under the Interstate, AC Delco, or WalMart brands) should give you many years of service if cared for in the same way. Unlikely 25 years, but 8 to 10 would not be unusual. I have some pushing 8 years old and testing just fine. I have friends report 12 to 14 years on occasion. Note that these are the USA made or German made ones. Lately Clarios is importing their AGMs from factories all over the world: Korea, Mexico, China, as well as Germany. No one knows the longevity of them, though I have purchased four of the Korean made ones...but the oldest is just over two years. So far, so good.

 

[OX1]

Orig battery in my 03 EVO8 lasted 15

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-general/528409-original-2003-battery.html

 

[D1dad]

Proof that things aren’t made like the used to be. The motorcraft batteries on my 00 diesel last 11 yrs before they gave up. Now days a battery can test @96% state of health and the next month leave you and your wife stranded in a parking garage at Detroit airport in December.

 

[hank2]

I'm don't know the construction type on my Deka (EP) AGM auto battery, but it has gone 6 years. Surprising to me since I had two other Deka AGMs about 20 years ago that were quick failures.

The longest life battery that I've enjoyed was a Panasonic sealed lead acid standby battery purchased about 24 years ago. It happened to fit early 70's BMW airhead motorcycles and was a cult favorite. I pulled it preemptively at age 5, then used it as a slave for many years in the garage. Two top ups a year. It finally succumbed at age 14.

The battery tender use might be a factor on the long life The Deka (EP) AGM motorcycles batteries I have had on a couple of bikes lived on the correct type of smart trickle charger when not being used. Last one I had was very long lived on an application known for short life spans.

 

[D1dad]

I'm don't know the construction type on my Deka (EP) AGM auto battery, but it has gone 6 years. Surprising to me since I had two other Deka AGMs about 20 years ago that were quick failures.

The longest life battery that I've enjoyed was a Panasonic sealed lead acid standby battery purchased about 24 years ago. It happened to fit early 70's BMW airhead motorcycles and was a cult favorite. I pulled it preemptively at age 5, then used it as a slave for many years in the garage. Two top ups a year. It finally succumbed at age 14.

The battery tender use might be a factor on the long life The Deka (EP) AGM motorcycles batteries I have had on a couple of bikes lived on the correct type of smart trickle charger when not being used. Last one I had was very long lived on an application known for short life spans.

I know EP makes some Walmart brand as well as others but I went with Deka last December on 2 of my 3 cars. One year later, these flooded batteries are still testing @100% health. I treat things like this the same way I shop for food. The Meijer canned corn may have been produced at the delmonte factory, but for 20 cents more I’ll grab the name brand. I figure they skimped somewhere. Right or wrong, it makes me feel better.

 

[Donald]

The OP is from PNW. From what BITOG members have said in the past, Walmart and NAPA batteries made by East Penn are on the East Coast. But on West Coast it may not be East Penn. But that's always subject to change.

If your not willing to pay the extra $$ for a fancy AGM then check out Walmart & NAPA AGM batteries and see who manufactured them. Maybe contact East Penn and see where you can buy an East Penn AGM battery locally..

 

[Arc]

Wow...I'm lucky to get 5 years out of a battery and just replaced one that only lasted 2 years before one of the cells died.

 

[Hootbro]

Wow...I'm lucky to get 5 years out of a battery and just replaced one that only lasted 2 years before one of the cells died.

Yeah, but yours was probably a daily for that 5 years. While the OP's lasted 24 year, it is not a daily and spent most of it's life on a maintainer that was not stressing it.

 

[Donald]

Yeah, but yours was probably a daily for that 5 years. While the OP's lasted 24 year, it is not a daily and spent most of it's life on a maintainer that was not stressing it.

I think possibly more important is where he lives (not hot) and if a vehicle is driven less it's spent less time under the hood next to hot engine.

 

[k1xv]

The AGM battery in my BMW was 10 years old. I replaced it with another one while it was still going strong because I was going on a long distance vacation and didn't want to replace a battery in the middle of the trip. Surprisingly, the cheapest and best replacement was from the BMW dealer.

AGM batteries taken care of, and not located in the engine compartment and away from heat, seem to last and last.

 

[Hootbro]

Best battery I ever had was a OEM Panasonic 24F that came in a 1992 Toyota Pickup. Got 13 years out of it and was going strong when I traded the vehicle in. Had a semi-translucent case that you could see the electrolyte level in each cell with range markers that also had screw top covers on each cell. Was easy to monitor level and top off as needed which I usually did at each oil change.

 

[dfarr67]

I went years buying the fancy batteries which always left me disappointed. I believe factory oem are of the best.

 

[Patman]

I went years buying the fancy batteries which always left me disappointed. I believe factory oem are of the best.

I’m currently having great luck with the OEM batteries in both of my cars. They both have the original batteries, one is 8 years old and the other is 10.

 

[walterjay]

Installed a $49 WM battery in a Rogue 7 years ago. Still going strong

 

[panthermike]

They tend to last 2-3 years here in the Phoenix area. On the plus side, you can buy one with 3 yr free replacement and (likely) be able to use it

 

[Nick1994]

Batteries last a long time when they aren’t here in the desert, and when they’re not used a lot, and when they’re kept on a maintainer.

I’d rather replace a cheap battery a little more often than spend more $$$ on a battery that might last longer.

 

[f355spider]

The OP is from PNW. From what BITOG members have said in the past, Walmart and NAPA batteries made by East Penn are on the East Coast. But on West Coast it may not be East Penn. But that's always subject to change.

If your not willing to pay the extra $$ for a fancy AGM then check out Walmart & NAPA AGM batteries and see who manufactured them. Maybe contact East Penn and see where you can buy an East Penn AGM battery locally..

Here in the PNW all the Walmart batteries are from Clarios. East Penn can be found at Batteries Plus stores. I heard of the great reputation of EP batteries and bought flooded ones at Batteries Plus. Both lasted less than two years...disappointing.

 

[f355spider]

The AGM battery in my BMW was 10 years old. I replaced it with another one while it was still going strong because I was going on a long distance vacation and didn't want to replace a battery in the middle of the trip. Surprisingly, the cheapest and best replacement was from the BMW dealer.

AGM batteries taken care of, and not located in the engine compartment and away from heat, seem to last and last.

BMW dealer pricing on batteries is highly variable around the country. In my area, one sells batteries at extremely competitive prices. Around $200 for an H9 AGM! Presumably made by Varta. I checked two other dealers, they wanted over $300. On BMW forums I have heard similar experiences of low prices at some dealers and higher at others...