Having more and more back luck with lead acid batteries?

[f355spider]

The Varta OEM battery in my car lasted 12 years and I'm 10 years in on my motorcycle battery which is a cheap generic AGM/Gel hybrid.

Varta AGMs are good to go. They still OEM for BMW and several other car makers.
Though difficult to find Varta branded AGMs in the USA, you can find their private labeled ones under AC Delco, Interstate and Walmart brands...just look for the "Made in Germany" sticker to confirm. (you have to be careful, as both Interstate and Walmart recently changed vendors for AGM so may be harder to find. I believe Interstate AGM are now Chinese and Walmart is Korean)

I have over 5 years on my AC Delco/Varta AGM in my 2001 BMW, still load tests at over 1000 CCA (rated at 900 CCA)
The factory BMW/Vartas (there are two) in my 2018 BMW are now 6 years old and recently load tested at over their rated capacities.

 

[zzyzzx]

I was told at a battery shop that nowadays, recycled lead is used in manufacturing and they have lower purity and perform less well

Maybe the reason if true?

Hasn't that been the case for quite some time, as in several decades, at least?

 

[researcher]

Varta AGMs are good to go. They still OEM for BMW and several other car makers.
Though difficult to find Varta branded AGMs in the USA, you can find their private labeled ones under AC Delco, Interstate and Walmart brands...just look for the "Made in Germany" sticker to confirm. (you have to be careful, as both Interstate and Walmart recently changed vendors for AGM so may be harder to find. I believe Interstate AGM are now Chinese and Walmart is Korean)

I have over 5 years on my AC Delco/Varta AGM in my 2001 BMW, still load tests at over 1000 CCA (rated at 900 CCA)
The factory BMW/Vartas (there are two) in my 2018 BMW are now 6 years old and recently load tested at over their rated capacities.

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If you were talking only AGM's for Made in Germany by Varta.. But also remember that Varta is Made in Spain too, my regular flooded is made there. Just adding.. I think Varta makes some excellent quality batteries! I only found out recently when I got mine that Varta was bought out by Johnson Controls and now Clarios owns them. Doesn't look like the quality went down at all in the buyout.

 

[oil pan 4]

Same here

Aye

 

[SHOZ]

Nothing wrong with Korean batteries. Both my OE Hyundai batteries lasted 10 years. Sealed maintenance free but not AGM.

 

[sloinker]

Buy a Lithium battery and report back. I would be interested in how they perform and last.

 

[sloinker]

Nothing wrong with Korean batteries. Both my OE Hyundai batteries lasted 10 years. Sealed maintenance free but not AGM.

AC Delco batteries are now Korean made Yuasa's I believe.

 

[Olds394]

Walmart everstart lasted 7 years with a desulfater attached. Yes the new battery was made in Korea. 2017-24

 

[f355spider]

Nothing wrong with Korean batteries. Both my OE Hyundai batteries lasted 10 years. Sealed maintenance free but not AGM.

I bought a Korean Walmart AGM for a friend last winter. Will see how it holds up for them.

 

[f355spider]

AC Delco batteries are now Korean made Yuasa's I believe.

A friend of mine bought an AC Delco H8 Group 49 AGM a few months ago, and it still had the "Made in Germany" sticker.
Was this pretty recent? Not surprised since the other two private labeled AGMs are no longer Varta...

 

[Snagglefoot]

Actually 100 mos prorated:
https://tires.costco.ca/Batteries/P...ive-Battery&BatteryType=Automotive&lang=en-ca

I doubt the batteries are very different, prolly come from same production line, dunno why such a difference in warranty.

Because it’s hot. Darn hot.

 

[Donald]

I think we would need to know the battery manufacturer to fully evaluate the OP's claim.

I am moving to East Penn AGM myself.

 

[Skippy722]

I was told at a battery shop that nowadays, recycled lead is used in manufacturing and they have lower purity and perform less well

Maybe the reason if true?

They don’t just drain all the acid out, toss the plastic case, then throw the lead into a smelter and recast it all. It does get purified to bring it back in spec.

 

[SHOZ]

They don’t just drain all the acid out, toss the plastic case, then throw the lead into a smelter and recast it all. It does get purified to bring it back in spec.

They reuse the acid too. About all that gets thrown out is the impurities in the lead when remelted, fiberglass separators if they are and the some of the plastic.

 

[Paco Pena]

Newer vehicles also put a greater load on the battery. The parasitic drain from all the systems put a drain on the battery when the vehicle is off. A battery tender can help extend the life of the battery.

Paco