CCA and batteries

[Drew99GT]

I keep reading everywhere that you can't have too many CCA, but I recall reading here (and of course can't find it with the search function) that too many CCA can shorten battery life and cause problems. I did find a post on another board that high CCA batteries in the same group size have more plates close together which can end up banging into each other and causing shorts, in tern lowering the cranking amps and performance of the battery more then a lower CCA battery. It also leads to the white sulfated corrosion.

Thoughts? I have a 640 CCA battery in my Corolla (which came with a 320 CCA battery from the factory) and am wondering if that's why my battery is getting so much corrosion and moisture on top.

 

[Steve S]

Lower rated batteries have less plates in them.I have been to a place that makes batteries.I have seen the insides of batterise.Check out the weight.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
wondering if that's why my battery is getting so much corrosion and moisture on top.


Something is leaking out of your battery. It doesn't have anything to do with the capacity of the battery.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Lower rated batteries have less plates in them.I have been to a place that makes batteries.I have seen the insides of batterise.Check out the weight.


More expensive batteries, with the same sizes, have more plates therefore heavier. Also, it comes with longer warranty.

Check Duralast batteries from Autozone, Duralast Gold comes with 3 years free replacement is heavier than Duralast with 2 years free replacement.

 

[mechtech2]

Corrosion and moisture on top?
Overfilled, overcharged, or leaks [maybe at the posts].
Keep a penny on the battery top near each terminal - the corrosion will collect on them [I know they are only copper plated nowadays].

 

[SZR48207]

The real concern with a higher CCA battery is the heat dissipation properties (especially for those living in hotter weather environments).

I doubt CO Springs gets hot enough for this to be a problem, though.

It IS extra weight, though, from a MPG perspective. Why carry around the extra 320 CCA when it brings an additional 10-25lbs? As long as your car's electrical system is in good order, a OEM-spec battery will be fine.

 

[Drew99GT]

Actually, with all this global warming stuff

we did hit 100 degrees in the shade on my back porch. I use to spend a lot of time in Pueblo, CO where it gets well over 100.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
wondering if that's why my battery is getting so much corrosion and moisture on top.


Something is leaking out of your battery. It doesn't have anything to do with the capacity of the battery.



X2

Plus, since your car only came with a 320 CCA battery together it doesn't need much more power. You'd do fine with a 500-600CCA battery. More power than stock, yet not enough to have a battery that will last.

Just my experience with my 78 Jeep CJ7. I was putting the highest CCA batterys I could get. I had a 1000CCC Champion battery that lasted 6 months, used the warranty for another one. That lasted almost 4 months. Than somebody told me about the thinner plates and such and recommended me to get a lower CCA battery. I got a regular 525CCA AC Delco battery and that sucker lasted 4 years. The Jeep with its lift kit and rough ride was killing the high CCA batterys, the the smaller Delco stood up for the longer haul.

 

[Donald]

As I have said more CCAs in same physical size battery = weaker plates and shorter life battery.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I got a regular 525CCA AC Delco battery and that sucker lasted 4 years. The Jeep with its lift kit and rough ride was killing the high CCA batterys, the the smaller Delco stood up for the longer haul.


I would have considered a deep cycle marine battery for that application. The typical group 24 deep cycle marine battery is 550CCA, and they're built to take a beating on a boat slamming against waves.

Oddly enough, though, the warranty on high CCA batteries is longer.

Champion batteries are made by Exide, so that could be another factor. (Exide batteries aren't very good in my experience).

 

[GMBoy]

That was one of my thoughts when I replaced the Delco battery when it finally died, brianl703. I actually ended up getting an Optima. We'll see how that goes.