850cca flooded vs 750cca AGM?

[Klutch9]

Costco has both these batteries for my Explorer. Flooded is $124, AGM is $180. Other vendors also carry the same AGM battery with the lower 750 CCA. Which would you rather have? I do a fair amount of sitting in the vehicle with the fan/radio on between service calls FWIW.

 

[dogememe]

I'd go with the AGM.

 

[SC Maintenance]

What kind of driving? Your 2016 Explorer charging system is likely not set up for an AGM profile. It will work, but it will take a long time for it to charge that last 10-20%. If you drive a lot, should be fine. If your short tripping, I would do lead acid or plan on being on a charger frequently - at minimum once a month, maybe more.

 

[f355spider]

Get an AGM from WalMart...four year free replacement warranty versus the three year pro rated at Costco.
Price will be similar.

 

[GRUMPYDUDE2]

Get an AGM from WalMart...four year free replacement warranty versus the three year pro rated at Costco.
Price will be similar.

This!

 

[f355spider]

What kind of driving? Your 2016 Explorer charging system is likely not set up for an AGM profile. It will work, but it will take a long time for it to charge that last 10-20%. If you drive a lot, should be fine. If your short tripping, I would do lead acid or plan on being on a charger frequently - at minimum once a month, maybe more.

I've found for all practical purposes, AGM is superior for most cars and applications, regardless if it came with a flooded battery originally. If one is "short tripping" they really should consider using a battery tender regardless of battery type a couple times a month.

 

[DuckRyder]

Ford list an AGM for it, i'd get AGM.

What's the corresponding reserve capacity of each?

 

[Klutch9]

What kind of driving? Your 2016 Explorer charging system is likely not set up for an AGM profile. It will work, but it will take a long time for it to charge that last 10-20%. If you drive a lot, should be fine. If your short tripping, I would do lead acid or plan on being on a charger frequently - at minimum once a month, maybe more.

Most of my drives are 20+ minutes.

 

[Klutch9]

Ford list an AGM for it, i'd get AGM.

What's the corresponding reserve capacity of each?

150 mins for flooded, 120 for AGM.

 

[benjy]

IF you keep the flooded topped up with distilled water + charge it if NOT driving a LOT!! i just retired a 10 YO flooded interstate that was doing well. if the flooded fits BUY it $$$

 

[JimPghPA]

If when your doing that fair amount of sitting, the engine is not running, then get the one with the highest reserve capacity.

 

[oil pan 4]

Go bigger if you can.

 

[Atvguy]

The flooded has 13% more CCA, 25% more reserve capacity, and is 31% cheaper. Why is this even a question?

 

[wavinwayne]

The flooded has 13% more CCA, 25% more reserve capacity, and is 31% cheaper. Why is this even a question?

My understanding is for the average driver, an AGM battery will last longer than non-AGM. For example, the AGM battery in my 2016 BMW is the original battery and it's still going (touch wood).

 

[Atvguy]

My understanding is for the average driver, an AGM battery will last longer than non-AGM. For example, the AGM battery in my 2016 BMW is the original battery and it's still going (touch wood).

The flooded battery in my truck has a 11/16 sticker on it and I still consider it kinda new.

But even if AGM lasted longer, how much longer would it need to last to justify the 45% extra cost? (AGM is 45% more expensive and flooded is 31% cheaper.)

An AGM would need to last 15 years to equal a flooded that lasted 10.

$124/10 = $12.40 per year
$180/15 = $12.00 per year

And for those 15 years it will have less CCA and reserve capacity, which could shorten its life if it's being asked to do more.

 

[f355spider]

The flooded battery in my truck has a 11/16 sticker on it and I still consider it kinda new.

But even if AGM lasted longer, how much longer would it need to last to justify the 45% extra cost? (AGM is 45% more expensive and flooded is 31% cheaper.)

An AGM would need to last 15 years to equal a flooded that lasted 10.

$124/10 = $12.40 per year
$180/15 = $12.00 per year

And for those 15 years it will have less CCA and reserve capacity, which could shorten its life if it's being asked to do more.

Certainly flooded batteries can and do last as long as an AGM in some cases, perhaps longer than an AGM occasionally. But in general, as a segment, AGM are considered to be the superior choice with longer life, no topping of fluids (important for some difficult to access locations) and better response to an occasional discharge, which can often times permanently lower a flooded battery's capacity and life. This situation for the OP is unique where the AGM is of lower capacity...that is odd and unusual and may cause me to reconsider, unless I could find another brand AGM of equal or superior specification. But if the AGM meets the Ford Explorer requirements, then it may be just fine.

I've personally had an oem Toyota flooded battery go 14+ years. I replaced it with another flooded. But in all my other cars I have AGMs for the reasons stated above.

 

[Atvguy]

Certainly flooded batteries can and do last as long as an AGM in some cases, perhaps longer than an AGM occasionally. But in general, as a segment, AGM are considered to be the superior choice with longer life, no topping of fluids (important for some difficult to access locations) and better response to an occasional discharge, which can often times permanently lower a flooded battery's capacity and life. This situation for the OP is unique where the AGM is of lower capacity...that is odd and unusual and may cause me to reconsider, unless I could find another brand AGM of equal or superior specification. But if the AGM meets the Ford Explorer requirements, then it may be just fine.

I've personally had an oem Toyota flooded battery go 14+ years. I replaced it with another flooded. But in all my other cars I have AGMs for the reasons stated above.

Yes I've been seeing a trend of AGMs of less capacity being recommended as a replacement for flooded. I just pointed that out in another thread about ATVs.

Here is a case where Yuasa recommends an AGM and a conventional, but the AGM is 12ah while the conventional is 14ah.

Odyssey is the only manufacturer I know of that publishes the internal resistance of their batteries and if they are a guide in general then the smaller the AGM, the higher the resistance, and therefore the more suitable as a replacement for flooded. https://www.odysseybattery.com/applications/powersports-batteries/

So I'm going out on a limb and concluding that AGM is ok to swap for flooded if the AGM has somewhat less capacity. I don't know if that defeats the purpose of going to AGM or not. If shock and vibration is a concern then maybe not.

 

[TazzySpazzy]

So far I have had great luck with the X2 Northstar AGM batteries in my truck. I have a dual Group 65 battery setup because the 7.3 IDI has such high compression, 21.5:1, and flooded batteries don't last much more than 3 years in my experience.. So far the X2 Northstar batteries are about 5.5 yrs old and still hold 12.89v with charge voltage of about 14.3. Dang expensive batteries but at least they last.

 

[f355spider]

So far I have had great luck with the X2 Northstar AGM batteries in my truck. I have a dual Group 65 battery setup because the 7.3 IDI has such high compression, 21.5:1, and flooded batteries don't last much more than 3 years in my experience.. So far the X2 Northstar batteries are about 5.5 yrs old and still hold 12.89v with charge voltage of about 14.3. Dang expensive batteries but at least they last.

Consumer Report tested them in a few sizes, and most tested out exceptional (number 1 or 2 spot in ratings)...but the one size that failed was in Group 65. It was last place in Group 65. They claim they purchase several samples from across the country to ensure they get a representative batch, but who knows? Glad to hear yours are good...they definitely are expensive, but X2 and Odyssey are pretty consistently at the top.

 

[TazzySpazzy]

Consumer Report tested them in a few sizes, and most tested out exceptional (number 1 or 2 spot in ratings)...but the one size that failed was in Group 65. It was last place in Group 65. They claim they purchase several samples from across the country to ensure they get a representative batch, but who knows? Glad to hear yours are good...they definitely are expensive, but X2 and Odyssey are pretty consistently at the top.

Both X2 and Odyssey appear to be made by the same parent company, Enersys, so I would imagine quality is very similar between the two. FWIW, I have found Consumer Reports testing to be unreliable and I have often had opposite experiences from whatever they concluded, so as always, YMMV. But currently, pun intended, there is no way I would buy the X2 batts again as they are about $380 each locally and I can get Interstate Group65s at Costco for about $130 each.