9 years in my wife's 2014 Rav4 in Minnesota. I think I could of pushed it to 10, but I did not want to "get the phone call".
Battery Longevity
- Thread starter Charmet37
- Start date
For batteries that I've fitted and looked after I get 10 -12 years in a relatively cool climate and that's without waiting until they fail. The Varta oem battery in my used Golf lasted 7 years but who knows how it was treated for the first 5 years. Stop start and exposure to engine heat will have taken a toll.
I used to try run batteries a long time just out of interest but not so much anymore. If I suspect any issues and my battery tester shows it getting weak, out it goes.
It surprises me that some BITOG members try to max out their battery life. Do you do the same with your tires? Or your engine oil and filter? I look at the battery like every other maintenance item--I like to change it before it's broken.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I change mine before its "broken". That is what a battery tester is for. I've had some sort of battery tester for at least 20 years and never been left stranded. As I posted before, I got 14 years out of my Tundra battery. My 2018 BMW has both oem AGM Varta batteries in it, they are 8 years old and continue to test fine. The battery in my other BMW is 7 years old and tests fine as well. Just test them occasionally...its simple and quick. If the resistance and capacity test fine, why preventively replace it?
I have friends and family that prefer to change out their batteries at 5 or 6 years or some arbitrary number, fine by me. I have given them an Ancel BA101 tester and suggested they consider simply testing until it starts showing they are weak...but up to them what they are comfortable with.
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Patman
Staff member
I like to save money
I probably push things a lot further than other BITOG members would be comfortable with. For example my Civic is still on the original spark plugs and original serpentine belt with 195,000 miles.
I put an Interstate MTP into my MkVI GTI back in April of 2014. I sold that car to my coworker in the spring of 2018, he still has it. He needed to replace the battery a couple weeks ago and that Interstate was still in it. I couldn't believe it.
From personal experience, factory installed batteries may last a long time exceeding 8-10 years, aftermarket ones vary quite a bit.
I start paying attention at about 5 years and if there are signs it may fail then I replace, usually 6 years mark on average. It's not worth it getting stranded especially on a dark wet winter night.
I start paying attention at about 5 years and if there are signs it may fail then I replace, usually 6 years mark on average. It's not worth it getting stranded especially on a dark wet winter night.
When discussing batteries I think of all the times mine have died and all the times I have helped someone else with a jump.
Have you tried refilling the electrolytes if they are depleted?
Also try recharging the battery with a battery tender, it may surprise you.
The ones that can be serviced I do check. The sealed ones I dont. I work at a shop and we dont have time or space to try to rejuvenate batteries.
