DuraLast Gold Batteries

[toocrazy2yoo]

AZ is advertizing a group-size 35 rated at 800CCA @ 0 degrees, and 1000 at 32 degrees. Reserve of 110. Suspiciously the same as Interstate's MPT-24. Any chance Johnson is using the SAME guts for both batteries?

They put a limp-wristed 490 CCA (a 32 degrees) in my Hyundai at the factory, I'm thinking of swapping it out. I can see dimming when the fogs are on and I hit the brights. Can't imagine why they used such a minimalist battery in a new car..

 

[Papa Bear]

Read the latest CR magazine, Duralast was a "best buy" and Interstate was down the list.
Hope that helps.

P.B.

 

[doitmyself]

That last CR rating has puzzled me for several reasons:

1. Johnson Control's web site shows that they make both the Interstate brand and the Duralast brand.

2. I e-mailed JC within the past year about this and they said that both the Autozone batteries and the Interstate batteries are made the same (materials, design, quality, etc.)

After many years at the top of the list, Interstate is now at the bottom?? Something doesn't add up.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Thanks, Bear, I'll have to try to find it on line, I don't get CR in hard copy..

 

[JHZR2]

I noted that CR article too.

Seems that for more or less any app, you cant go wrong with AC delco or duralast batteries, as theyre always top 3 or so.

JC's info on being the same might just be public affairs standard lines to make all parties involved feel good...

I will say that the group 49 battery (big diesel battery) in my wrecked MB diesel sat at 8V for over a year now, I took it to AZ a few weeks ago to be checked (it was a duralast), and they charged and tested it twice for free, it checked out OK, and I put it into my wrecked MB diesel (to run it every now and again), and it started on the first cylinder, after one glow with lots of power to crank!!! No lie! Previously I couldnt jumpstart the diesel with even my 4.3L truck charging then jumping it after 30 minutes of truck idling and connection...

I always thought letting a discharged battery sit for months was a death sentence... I was actually hoping it would fail and Id get a new one... but no need!

To me that is a decent battery. Seems that duralast is a good deal, they sella good unit one way or another.

JMH

 

[JohnBrowning]

The Duralast Golds are a great buy. They have an 8 year prorated warranty a 3 year free replacement and a card for free jump starts if ever needed go for up to $500 of service if needed. How can you go wrong!! One of Interstates problems here in the north and north east is availability. Interstate is only carried buy small garages and independent agri type repair places in the country.Not a lot of CR readers in those locations. I am sure Johnson control builds to what ever price point the customer asked for. So while interstate may well make battery's for many companies I am sure they are all not the same. I have always like Interstate batteries but have often found that they make a better hot climate battery then cold climate battery.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

The AZ Duralast Gold and Interstate Megatron plus tested in CR aren't the same. For starters, the claimed CCA is different (AZ=500; Megagron=640). What Interstate did poorly on was the CR life test. I am also sure they get downrated for their warranty (6 mos free replacement/84 mos pro-rated). there aren't very many brands who provide less warranty. What JC provided you was a general statement of how they do business, not specifics to the exact batteries manufactured.

 

[Slick 55]

Interstate forgot to send their payment to CR.

 

[97f150]

quote:

---

Originally posted by doitmyself:


After many years at the top of the list, Interstate is now at the bottom?? Something doesn't add up.

---

CR does tests on a lot of things in any givin product, and not only the performance either. They also take into consideration the price, customer service amongst a bunch of other stuff. I am willing to bet that Interstate is lower based on price.

 

[Dave H]

toocrazy,

Do your fog lights stay on when you hit your high beams? Most newer cars I've seen switch off the fogs when the high beams come on. I actually modified my Maxima's so I could keep my fogs on when I switch my high beams on. Very effective for getting approaching cars to turn their high beams off when I hit them with mine and the fogs, too.

Dave

 

[MaxPilot]

Dave, I think most if not all states require the fogs to turn off when the high beams are on. State law.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Yeah, the stocker-fogs on my AccentGT are only a "sidelighter" accessory to my low-beam headlights. When I turn off the headlights, the fogs go off, and brights turn the fogs off too, no matter the fog-switch position.

What I SHOULD have said in my post is the cycling of my air conditioning fan to high and turning on the compressor, and then hitting the rear defog will flicker the headlights VERY briefly. like, 1/10 of a second, by which time the alternator steps in to handle the load. I realize that's quite a load, all systems up and running, but that's fairly common, and a higher-cap battery will spare the alternator a lot of stress over the coming years.

The DuraLast Gold I saw at AZ will fit the tray quite handily, and it offers 800CCA @ 0 degrees F, 1000 @ 32. Reserve cap of 115 minutes. Quite a step up for a lousy $69.00 plus tax, especially when you consider the alternator for one of these beasts runs over $300.00.

Anyone need a stock Hyundai Accent battery? Should work real well for your garden tractor. For East coasters North of Washington DC, and South of New Hampshire, I'll deliver it next week on my way to Bahston.

Cost you a beer though...

Oh, and thanks for the OPs, youse' guyz...

 

[Eddie]

Batteries degrade even when their not exercised. So, if the testing was preformed on old stock Interstate batteries that is why their down rated. ALWAYS buy batteries from a place that sells lots of batteries in your size.