Project Farm tests Walmart and O'Reilly batteries

[AZjeff]

I know we hate PF but there's a take-away here that's worth being annoyed. First, he tests the range of batteries from cheapest to most expensive of the same Group 65 battery from both places and he uses a digital tester and a carbon pile tester. The take-away is that the Walmart batteries uniformly under-performed and the O'Reilly batteries over-performed. All the usual arguments are true, a sample of 1 is garbage, methodology is crap, etc., but the uniformity of the results is interesting. It would be nice to see the same test with O'Reilly vs NAPA and/or Interstate. Not a PF fan, if you speed up the playback speed and turn the sound off and pause at the graphs it's bearable.

 

[fantastic]

I know some of my local O'reilly's carry batteries made by East-Penn. They're the best batteries I've ever used outside of Lithiums. That being said I've always purchased my automotive batteries from WM. The new WM ones are made in South Korea & look a lot better than the Clarios.

 

[4wd]

I have not had issues with Walmart batteries - and if I should - bet there is a Walmart nearby …

 

[BHopkins]

I just finished watching this video, and I thought he did a pretty good job. Test methods were consistent, one battery to another, using good tools. His tests were the right tests.

I was totally surprised to see that every lead acid Everstart tested at 84 - 88% battery health. The only Everstart that had 100% health was the AGM. I was watching the manufacturer date stickers on the batteries, and all of them were fairly fresh, so to have such lousy battery health is disappointing.

Based upon his test results, there is no way I would buy a Walmart Everstart lead acid battery right now.

 

[4wd]

Well, if my vehicle came with AGM - that’s what’s going in - so a big portion of his “squawk” means nothing to me - and I don’t put $100 batteries in $60k vehicles …
Isn’t BH subjective anyway - nobody is checking that - it cranks until it doesn’t years later …

 

[Hall]

I may watch this video later, but I'll ask - did he (trickle) charge the batteries before testing ? I never install a battery in our cars and send it. I always pre-charge them or install them and trickle charge them before using the car. I know 90% of people don't do this (or have the means to do it).

 

[AZjeff]

I may watch this video later, but I'll ask - did he (trickle) charge the batteries before testing ?

At one point he says "this fully charged battery still has a small surface charge from yesterday" when starting the 0 degree test so one can make an assumption.

 

[JavierH19]

I may watch this video later, but I'll ask - did he (trickle) charge the batteries before testing ? I never install a battery in our cars and send it. I always pre-charge them or install them and trickle charge them before using the car. I know 90% of people don't do this (or have the means to do it).

I would agree except it's not indicative of real world use since modern cars even my old 2005 yukon smart charge the battery and vary the alternator output instead of keeping a steady 14v and only charge to 12.1 or so nowadays less resting soc after shutting off for fuel economy so that's where performance should be measured.

 

[Rand]

PF can be annoying and certain tests are entertainment only.

I liked his pliers testing etc.

 

[danstraylee]

PF can be annoying and certain tests are entertainment only.

Most any of the YouTube tests are for entertainment. This dude is an absolute laugh from beginning to end. I don't take any of it seriously which makes it funny as heck!!

 

[walterjay]

I have had nothing but success over the years with WM batteries. Have a seven year old $59.00 one still going strong in my daughters car.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I would agree except it's not indicative of real world use since modern cars even my old 2005 yukon smart charge the battery and vary the alternator output instead of keeping a steady 14v and only charge to 12.1 or so nowadays less resting soc after shutting off for fuel economy so that's where performance should be measured.

My 2019 Toyota and all 3 of my Nissan's "smart" charge, and they still charge to 12.6 just not all the time, they float down or turn off charge completely when they can. Hard on the battery for sure, but nothing should be only charging to 12.1V.

I disabled 2 of the 3 Nissans - easy to do. I wouldn't know where to start on the Toyota.

 

[danstraylee]

I'm a fan of both OEM Honda and AC Delco batteries. for powersports Yuasa and Earth X are my go to.

 

[4wd]

I may watch this video later, but I'll ask - did he (trickle) charge the batteries before testing ? I never install a battery in our cars and send it. I always pre-charge them or install them and trickle charge them before using the car. I know 90% of people don't do this (or have the means to do it).

Good practice - therefore, you probably know the answer …
(Gotta have a Gotcha on YT) …

 

[Hall]

I FF'd through the video and it's the state-of-health that knocks down the WM batteries. Makes you wonder if WM specs the manufacturer to sell them the ones that test between values "X" and "Y", kinda like how Intel specs CPUs - in the same 'class', they're all the same but test out at different clock speeds, so Intel sells this one as a speed "x", another at speed "y", and so on.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I FF'd through the video and it's the state-of-health that knocks down the WM batteries. Makes you wonder if WM specs the manufacturer to sell them the ones that test between values "X" and "Y", kinda like how Intel specs CPUs - in the same 'class', they're all the same but test out at different clock speeds, so Intel sells this one as a speed "x", another at speed "y", and so on.

I have taken my Ancel tester in to walmart and tested batteries before purchase, after the time I got one home and it was only 80% health.

There definitely not all the same thats for sure, even with new dates and good charge.

 

[4wd]

I FF'd through the video and it's the state-of-health that knocks down the WM batteries. Makes you wonder if WM specs the manufacturer to sell them the ones that test between values "X" and "Y", kinda like how Intel specs CPUs - in the same 'class', they're all the same but test out at different clock speeds, so Intel sells this one as a speed "x", another at speed "y", and so on.

If it lowers the cost at delivery - and is not a threat to the warranty - Walmart Procurement section lead will know this …
My WM Platinum AGM will be 3 YO in a few days - I have no reason to think it won’t make the 4 year warranty …

 

[MetalSlug]

Walmart battery is my go to battery since 2010. Because you can find Walmart every corner of USA

 

[charbaby]

We now have O-O-O-O’Reilly’s not far from me. I’ll have to check them out.
I’d like to see more testing on other group size batteries. I mean, we know that the group 65 is better but what about others?

 

[oil pan 4]

I know we hate PF but there's a take-away here that's worth being annoyed. First, he tests the range of batteries from cheapest to most expensive of the same Group 65 battery from both places and he uses a digital tester and a carbon pile tester. The take-away is that the Walmart batteries uniformly under-performed and the O'Reilly batteries over-performed. All the usual arguments are true, a sample of 1 is garbage, methodology is crap, etc., but the uniformity of the results is interesting. It would be nice to see the same test with O'Reilly vs NAPA and/or Interstate. Not a PF fan, if you speed up the playback speed and turn the sound off and pause at the graphs it's bearable.

I've found his results identical to my own when it came to his weedeater line test, I tried half of the ones he tested and found identical results. Discovered twisted power max weedeater line.
Another one was his box cutter blade tests, I had already tried most of what he tested, identical results. Found the Irwin carbide coated blades were the best for my application, continued using them.
One of my all time favorites was his bar and chain oil tests. Had tried most of the same ones. I found motor oil seemed to be the best, he found motor oil to be the best, i continued using motor oil.