What I have read is that the charging voltage coming from the 2014 Accord is a little lower than ideal for AGM (AGM prefers to be charged around 14.6-14.8V from what I can see, while the Accord is putting out 14.3-14.4. Maybe doesn't really matter, maybe does. For the price difference (premium for AGM) I didn't want to risk having the lack of proper charging basically mean the battery never gets properly charged, affecting its life. Maybe they can still get fully charged with 14.3-14.4 and what I'm reading is overly conservative but I don't know for sure
Consumer Reports Battery Ratings?
- Thread starter Hogan773
- Start date
What I have read is that the charging voltage coming from the 2014 Accord is a little lower than ideal for AGM (AGM prefers to be charged around 14.6-14.8V from what I can see, while the Accord is putting out 14.3-14.4. Maybe doesn't really matter, maybe does. For the price difference (premium for AGM) I didn't want to risk having the lack of proper charging basically mean the battery never gets properly charged, affecting its life. Maybe they can still get fully charged with 14.3-14.4 and what I'm reading is overly conservative but I don't know for sure
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I haven't found it to be an issue at all. None of my cars run anywhere that high. I'll be 7 years on an AGM in my 2001 BMW. Its right around 14.4 last time I checked. Most of my cars the batteries are in hard to each areas that make checking the fluid difficult. I like the AGM eliminating that process.
Nothing wrong with sticking with a flooded either.
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I avoid auto parts stores. There is usually a thick coat of dust on their batteries because they sit around for 6-8 months. Freshness and quick turn around is what I go for and Walmart probably has the fastest turn over of their stock.
To add…like any product, the manufacturer has to pay to be rated. Let that sink in…
All batteries have a manufacture date on them I believe.
Never had a problem with Walmart batteries, and I will continue to purchase them. The store is close by, and I normally get 6-8 years out of them. I also keep them on battery tenders which, IMO, extends their life. Also, the Walmart I use always has fresh batteries. Can't beat their price either, and no pro-rate if it dies within warranty.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
That is incorrect: "Our shoppers pay full retail and purchase all the products we test to generate our ratings from the same places consumers do; we accept no sample products for testing. And as a nonprofit organization that accepts no advertising, to pay for all this shopping we rely mostly on our millions of members and the hundreds of thousands of donors who support our work."
https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/what-we-do/research-testing/
I heartily agree their testing does not always match real world use of the products. But there is little other independent testing going on out there. I certainly cannot test multiple brands, models or types of batteries...I can go by word of mouth, forums and my own experience otherwise. It is imperfect, but another data point to consider.
I was under the impression from the CR magazine that they buy the products at retail from a retail outlet. Per CR, the manufacturers do not determine which brands get into the comparison.
Yes I know. What I am saying is battery freshness is key to a longer battery life. Sitting on the shelf for months in a partially discharged state is not a good thing for a battery.
Take a look yourself at the selection of Everstart Max batteries. They have multiple designs from multiple suppliers from multiple countries. They tested a “ Everstart Max” ? That’s a total joke simply because there is no single battery that represents the entire range. Having said that the Max is my go to battery, wherever it comes from. No problems so far. They have all exceeded their warranty life. YRMV.I was looking at the Consumer Reports battery ratings. Was surprised at how low the EverStart MAXX was scored (like way down the list). I assume CR uses objective, data-based testing so when they diss the EverStart for battery life, they have a reason? Just wanted to know if I should really trust their rankings or not. For example in the 24F class, they liked AGM batteries but they also liked a SuperStart Extreme (O'Reilly) which I believe is EastPenn made. But they listed it as $130 and the website right now is $209. And they don't list any Costco Interstates at all, but do have some other Interstates (and the MT-24F which is apparently similar to Costco's isn't ranked that highly either).
Anyone thoughts? Are these rankings helpful or do they have the impression of precision but aren't really accurate?
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Dumped them years ago because they published rankings on all sorts of products - but did not disclose all the data used for the rankings. Everyone else give the raw data. Also, they required auto-renewal to subscribe: real consumer friendly, eh?
Their battery tests included different sizes and north and south versions. Project Farm did a much better job six years ago but hasn’t repeated it. That was before Clarios bought out Johnson Controls.
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
i exclusively use walmart everstart Platniums. (other than my personal pickup as they don’t sell a platnium group 34).
out of the 50+ that i have installed over the years, only ONE has needed warranty. this is in Houston Texas with trucks that idle all day. if that doesn’t kill batteries i really don’t know what will.
out of the 50+ that i have installed over the years, only ONE has needed warranty. this is in Houston Texas with trucks that idle all day. if that doesn’t kill batteries i really don’t know what will.
I have been buying Duracell from Sam's Club. All I have gotten here in Kentucky are East Penn and all working good. I even bought some from them for the golf cart when I was getting it ready for camping season. The house deep cycles in our camper I bought from Menards cause they were on sale FVP brand from who knows where but they have the delco eye showing state of charge. I get 2-3years out of them.
I'm curious how recent this is...I haven't seen a "Made in India" sticker yet at WalMart or Costco.
Battery production is an environmentally messy business so we’ve been exporting our pollution for years.
All 3 Corolla’s in my sig are running Group 35 Everstart Maxx Batteries.
The 1998 and the 1999 I replaced out of an abundance of caution after they were over 6 years old with no observable cranking issues observed.
The 2006 is going on over 7 years with that Battery. That one, I’m able to monitor and observe as it gracefully ages. I’m not replacing that one until it’s totally dead, kinda like my own test-case of sorts. Curious as to how many years I’ll get out of it!
The 1998 and the 1999 I replaced out of an abundance of caution after they were over 6 years old with no observable cranking issues observed.
The 2006 is going on over 7 years with that Battery. That one, I’m able to monitor and observe as it gracefully ages. I’m not replacing that one until it’s totally dead, kinda like my own test-case of sorts. Curious as to how many years I’ll get out of it!
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Best investment you can make is to own a simple battery tester to track their health. I check mine each time I am changing the oil.
Wait for a sale, they are regularly around $30 to $35 if you are patient. This can help prevent a weak battery leaving you stranded.
https://www.amazon.com/ANCEL-BA101-...1M0ARG3X&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_t
My 10 yr old Maytag dryer was rated one of the worst and if you read the Lowe’s reviews then you’d believe it. Unfortunately when my dryer went out, it was one of the only ones they had in stock. Best dryer I’ve ever had. The better part of those 10 years was with a family of 5, 2 boys that played sports and a daughter who changed clothes 4 times a day. CR is a joke and I wouldn’t buy a soccer ball based off their recommendation.