Group 78 battery for 1998 Dodge Viper

[Enthusiast]

It's time for new battery. The following are the criteria that I'm trying to decide between:

1. AGM versus flooded: AGM loses less power over time but I'm not sure How compatible a stock alternator on a Viper is for a AGM.

2. Manufacturer: in the past, I usually got about 5 years out of the battery group 34/78 from Johnson control. I never used East Penn before for the 34/78 group. Is Clarios (Johnson control) still maintaining the quality of this group or should I go with East Penn? Do East Penn batteries leak less than Clarios?

3. Brand: One of my goals is I want to buy a US-made battery. Some brands clearly display where it was made if it's US-made like Duracell and Napa. While others don't consistently list where they are made. I've seen ACDelco batteries at Menards that are pretty much all of Korean origin that are Clarios. I Don't consistently see country of origin on EverStarts at Walmart. In the case of stores like Walmart, is there a code that a person can figure out where the battery came from?




Also taking into account the fact that the battery is in the rear wheel well

 

[joegreen]

Its hard to go wrong with an east penn battery.

 

[shortyb]

See the other threads about choosing a modern AGM over conventional flooded cell for an older vehicle. Also, I'm sure there are a few Viper forums, see what others use and make the informed decision. East Penn is one of the few remaining, dedicated, US suppliers, and is a very good quality battery. Clarios also supplies some of their's made at the Wisconsin plant, but hard to pick them out. Just as good of a chance getting a Clarios from Mexico or someplace else. They are worldwide for manufacturing and also make a decent battery.

 

[Nukeman7]

East Penn flooded batteries are manufactured in the U.S. and will not leak corrosive fumes at the terminals like the Clarios (formerly Johnson Controls) batteries do.

If you go to WalMart and look at the EverStart batteries, they will have a barcode label on top and a serial number under the barcode. If the serial number starts with "EP", it is an East Penn battery. If it starts with "JCI", it is a Clarios battery. Depending on location, a very few of the EverStart batteries may have a serial number that starts with "DNA", which is a Korean company.

 

[bullwinkle]

I’ve had a 34/78 in my Express since I bought it, & it was in my 6.2 Sierra before that, it just passed 8 years old. It’s an East Penn Meijer Platinum, zero leaks, zero jump starts. Meijer doesn’t sell them anymore … It is very similar to the Super Start Platunum or Deka Ultimate flooded acid batteries.

 

[bullwinkle]

East Penn flooded batteries are manufactured in the U.S. and will not leak corrosive fumes at the terminals like the Clarios (formerly Johnson Controls) batteries do.

They can-I (somewhat) abused a AAA EP one from my MGM by leaving it on a desulphating Battery Minder in the basement for ~6 months (honestly forgot about it), it developed a small acid leak at one terminal. I gave it to my brother for his beater fleet, he put felt washers on the posts. Still better than any Clarios one.