Group 34 Flooded - Interstate vs Extreme Start

[bullwinkle]

Good to know. Thanks.

My car was stranded. I'm handicapped. It came down to who was willing to deliver and install the soonest and for lowest cost. Though cost was my last priority.

Normally my tire store manager rescues me for no extra charge for delivery and install. He sells Interstate. That's fine because I got good results from Interstate's G34 rated 800 CCA.

However, this time the tire store manager was unavailable. I was closer to an Oreilly's anyway. So I next called Oreilly. The Oreilly store manager volunteered to deliver and install for free. Much thanks!

I doubt most Oreilly managers would do that, but this guy goes above and beyond. Maybe partly he did it because he knows I'm handicapped.

So now I have a new Superstart Extreme 34EXT battery made by East Penn. It has the same strong 800 CCA specs that my last 3 Interstate batteries had.

That’s some top notch, awesome customer service! It should come with 3 year replacement warranty.

 

[benjy]

store branded batteries often come from closer suppliers according to on line info, most important is keeping it well charged by driving a LOT or using a charger REGULARLY!! living near east penn in pa they supply walmart + even napa at a HIGHER cost!!

 

[Nukeman7]

I prefer highest spec flooded batteries by either brand. Just out of curiosity, it there a 3rd big manufacturer?

Previously, the 3rd largest manufacturer/label was Exide/GNB batteries. In 2020, Atlas Holdings bought the Exide branding and incorporated it under the Stryten Energy division. However, current Exide labeled batteries are being sourced and manufactured from various suppliers.

Most, but not all, of the Exide batteries will have the integrated fold-down carrying handle shown below. Clarios batteries typically have removable rectangular fill caps that are clipped at a 45 degrees angle at each corner. Most East Penn batteries are deemed "maintenance-free" and have a smooth top with no visible fill caps.

 

[Carlostrece]

That’s some top notch, awesome customer service! It should come with 3 year replacement warranty.

Yes the Superstart Extreme does have a 3 year replacement warranty. The equivalent Interstate now has a 2.5 year warranty, though until recently Interstate had a 4 year warranty on it. My Interstate was still under warranty, but that was no help because I was stranded and no one at tire store available to bring and install a battery.

I should add that I normally got 4-5 years from Interstate, but this last one only lasted 2 years probably because my caregiver (bless her heart) hooked up my old school battery charger to it bass akwards. Red to black, black to red. My old charger did not have reverse polarity protection. It was hooked up wrong for 2 days before I discovered it. Luckily it was set on 2A float setting and not 10A.

That killed my old charger. The battery was stone dead discharged, but another old charger brought it back to life and the battery worked for another year and then suddenly died without warning, stranded me on a cold winter day, and wouldn't take a charge from jumper cables. That was my first experience with a battery dying without warning signs and not taking a jump start.

Well, now I have a new Oreilly Superstart Extreme G34 and high hopes.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

You say you like Walmart Everstart and you said Everstart is made by Johnson Controls Inc (JCI). You said you don't like Interstate, but AFAIK Intertstate is made by Johnson controls.

I read somewhere online that Walmart Everstart are made by East Penn. If so, that'd mean Everstart is same as Deka. I got burned by United Battery on a weak model of Deka in the past, but in hindsight that was a United Battery issue. I'm willing to give East Penn another chance as long as it's a strong model and United Battery isn't involved.

So I conclude from recommendations in this thread that Walmart Everstart is good and a good price regardless of who makes it. However, none of that is relevant because there is no Walmart nearby and Walmart isn't going to deliver and install onsite.

One advantage of Interstate is there's many tire stores and 1 towing company that will deliver on site and install if requested. Sometimes the tire stores don't charge for delivery and install, sometimes they do. Delivery and install is helpful when I'm stranded. That was why I started using Interstate in the past.

One advantage of Superstart is (at least one) of the local Oreilly managers will deliver for free. In my case (being handicapped) he'll even install it free. I've recently learned that Superstart is made by East Penn. I also have learned that Superstart has a good reputation.

I could be well served by Interstate or Superstart.

I believe the Interstate was an old battery when it was installed and failed prematurely. It failed while I had work done at a trusted independent shop and had them install it. The second battery was a lower level replacement, which irritated me. I considered Interstate (with full knowledge it was a JCI battery) overpriced and underperforming the market.

I have no explanation as to why similar Walmart batteries performed better, but I will never buy Interstate again for any of my vehicles. Conversely, I had decent luck with an Interstate battery installed in my ag tractor, but purchased from a farm supply store.

 

[Carlostrece]

I believe the Interstate was an old battery when it was installed and failed prematurely. It failed while I had work done at a trusted independent shop and had them install it. The second battery was a lower level replacement, which irritated me. I considered Interstate (with full knowledge it was a JCI battery) overpriced and underperforming the market.

I have no explanation as to why similar Walmart batteries performed better, but I will never buy Interstate again for any of my vehicles. Conversely, I had decent luck with an Interstate battery installed in my ag tractor, but purchased from a farm supply store.

Here's some new to me info I just learned (assuming this is correct). Another forum member posted in another thread saying that each regional Walmart buys its Everstart batteries from the nearest supplier regardless of whether the supplier sells Johnson/Clarios or East Penn batteries. J/C = Interstate

If that's true, then Everstart could be either J/C or EP depending on where your local Walmart is located.

P.S. - An often overlooked factor is how good was the battery maintenance (charging, etc) done by the seller while the battery was on the shelf. Some stores are good about that. Some are not. Your farm store probably was good about taking care of their battery stock.

 

[Donald]

I would look at the various batteries you mentioned and buy one manufactured by East Penn. Even if a few dollars more.

 

[Carlostrece]

In this day and age, it is heartwarming to hear about kindness and consideration from our fellow human beings. The effort your O'Reilly's manager demonstrated is quite commendable.

I am confident that the new SuperStart Extreme 34EXT battery with 800 CCA will serve you well for years to come. My oldest East Penn manufactured battery is still going strong after 7 years of usage. When new, it was rated at 750 CCA and currently tests at 480 CCA (64% health). I'll be replacing it with another East Penn battery when it dies.

How do you test a battery to know its remaining health? For example, how do you know your battery tests at 480 CCA?

 

[Nukeman7]

How do you test a battery to know its remaining health? For example, how do you know your battery tests at 480 CCA?

I use the Ancel BA-101 tester shown below.

 

[Carlostrece]

I use the Ancel BA-101 tester shown below.

View attachment 253801

Finally! The holy grail post (yours) that I've always longed to read. Sweet vindication that my time spent at BITOG is time well spent! Thanks!

I'm going to buy that Ancel battery tester!

 

[Carlostrece]

I looked up the weights of Interstate MTP-34 vs Oreilly Superstart Extreme G34 batteries with 800 CCA each, 110 RC each.

The Interstate weighs 0.2 lbs more, if info on web is correct. That's so close that I'm going to say it's the same weight. My Superstart is likely made by East Penn since its model is 34EXT, but it's possible it's made by JCI/Clarios.

Based on electrical specs and weight, these batteries appear to be equivalent to me. The Interstate costs $5 more.

Warranty: Interstate MTP 30 months. Superstart Extreme 36 months. That extra 6 months could be important.

 

[LDB]

My friends who own the local shop are Interstate dealers so that is what we use. Always good results so far. Good luck with your decision.