Project Farm tests Walmart and O'Reilly batteries

[PMT133]

but many times a much better price on what may arguably be the same battery manufacturer…I am buying a Group 48 battery soon and the Costco choice is $30 less than the same (appearance, CA, CCA, RC) battery at Walmart…a gamble for sure but if it is the same battery it should last as long shouldn’t it???



Bill

Coincidentally Costco was the same price at the time of procurement for my H8 so it made it a no brainer. Some sizes seem to vary more than others.

I'll also add they messed up my core charge at Sam's (didn't charge me for one) so I was able to take it for scrap and make some 18$. If Costco was the cheapest I'd probably have gone that route.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I'm dating myself here on this whole issue of flooded batteries. Back in the day, batteries came with individual caps. One cell had an " eye" glass cap so you could see the electrolyte level. I'd top them off with tap water when needed, and they still lasted 9-10 yrs. IMO, they just don't make batteries like they use to, no matter which manufacturer. Live in NY my whole life. Temps range from -10 to 100+ degrees here in the Northeast. Nowadays I get 4 yrs out of a flooded battery. Planned absolesence , just like everything else made ( washers, dryers, refridgerators, hot water tanks, etc.).. I buy Walmart batteries. The nearest store is a few miles away, & I like their prices and warranty. The PF video, for me, was just something to skim through to kill some time.

 

[Nukeman7]

but many times a much better price on what may arguably be the same battery manufacturer…I am buying a Group 48 battery soon and the Costco choice is $30 less than the same (appearance, CA, CCA, RC) battery at Walmart…a gamble for sure but if it is the same battery it should last as long shouldn’t it???

Bill

I only see a $9 difference between the Costco Interstate Group 48 AGM vs. the WalMart EverStart AGM. It does appear to be the exact same battery, but I'd spend the extra $9 to get the 4 yr. non-prorated warranty offered on the EverStart instead of the 3 yr. pro-rated warranty at Costco.

 

[Owen Lucas]

One cell had an " eye" glass cap so you could see the electrolyte level. I'd top them off with tap water when needed

I remember the plastic looking window, IIRC probably last saw them in the 2000's.

I guess now they don't want you maintaining them at all or removing the looking glass is for cost savings.

they still lasted 9-10 yrs. IMO,

My Scion's original Japanese Panasonic battery lasted for 11 years IIRC, topped up with water once until it it started cranking slower. After that, for the next 10 years the vehicle's been through at least 3 batteries and needs a new one right now. All Costco batteries too.

they just don't make batteries like they use to, no matter which manufacturer.

Could be an opportunity for an indy company to make a DIY'ers battery. Easier said than done, but for those who like longevity with a little elbow grease, it could be an opportunity.

 

[danstraylee]

I'll also add they messed up my core charge at Sam's (didn't charge me for one) so I was able to take it for scrap and make some 18$

Why did you not let Sam's Club employee know you were not being charged for the core?

 

[QwikKota]

I was quite shocked to get 5+ years out of the last EverStart Platinum AGM battery from Walmart. Usually the heat kills batteries here in 3 years. An OEM battery will go 5 but rarely aftermarket. The price has gone up quite a bit to nearly $200 for my size, unfortunately but worth the price for this duration. I had monkeyed with something under the hood and left a ground lug loose. This led to a fuel pump failure and I replaced the battery out of ignorance thinking that was why the truck wouldn't start. The battery may have lasted even longer.

 

[logain]

I have normally used WM batteries myself, but have noticed they don't hold up as well as they used to. I have had to replace the one in the wife's Avenger, under warranty within like a year. During the winter, if I do not drive it for a week or two, the battery is dead. Never a problem in the summer, though. I have always bought the everstart maxx batteries. As there's an O'reilly just down the road, from where I work, I might give them a try next time. Would love to see how Autozone batteries fair against them, as I can get a discount there.

 

[PMT133]

Why did you not let Sam's Club employee know you were not being charged for the core?

Still ended up at a recycling center but I got an extra 18$ in my pocket and I got to go on company time. I didn't realize it at the time as I had bought the battery with intent to swap it out a few days later when it was warmer... these things always happen during an arctic blast it seems. It's the little things that can be a win some times.

If I didn't have a planned trip to the yard and was going back to sams first I would have just corrected the issue at that level.

 

[JimPghPA]

I seriously question the age of those Walmart batteries used in that Project Farm video. I have a Walmart MAXX 23F in my CR-V that will be 4 yo in one month from now, and I have tested it many many times with my electronic tester and at a 90% SOC ( state of charge ) charge or > it has always shown a SOH ( state of health ) = 100 % , and it still does.

Granted, mine probably was not made in S. Korea, but 80 something SOH with a > than 90 % SOC , with any new flooded lead acid battery is pathetic. That's the range of SOH ya see with batteries that have aged out and are ready to die.

This Project Farm battery video is a real heads up ( warning ) to test any "new" vehicle battery before buying it.

If when my current 24F needs replaced, the 24F batteries in stock at my local WM show a SOH below 95% , I will go to an O' Riley's and shel out the extra cash for a 24F "Super Start Extreme" ( their best flooded lead acid battery, top tier ) , AFTER I ALSO TEST THAT BATTERY and it test > 90% SOH. Heck, I probably would not buy any new FLA battery that tested < 100 % SOH.

Also, new FLA batteries that are good, should test > 1.33 X the rated CCA when warm and new. My 24F WM MAXX rated 725 CCA when new, warm sitting in the store shelf before I bought it in September of 2022, tested 1117 CCA.

It is what it is. Maybe WM flooded lead acid batteries are no longer worthy of being the go-to source any longer. Testing at time of purchase will tell.

Those little hand held testers work, and certainly are worth buying. The price of most on Amazon has gone up a lot over the years. But WM online sells them at a much lower price.

 

[f355spider]

I only see a $9 difference between the Costco Interstate Group 48 AGM vs. the WalMart EverStart AGM. It does appear to be the exact same battery, but I'd spend the extra $9 to get the 4 yr. non-prorated warranty offered on the EverStart instead of the 3 yr. pro-rated warranty at Costco.

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View attachment 351239

While they appear the same and may both come from Clarios...they can come from different factories. Clarios has AGMs, documented here coming from India, China, Mexico, USA, Korea and Germany. We don't know if there are performance or length of life differences.
I have personal experience with the German ones (Clarios owns the Varta factory) and the Korean ones. Both seem solid. I have three of the German ones at 7 to 8 years old. My oldest Korean AGM is 3 years old.

 

[PandaBear]

I remember the plastic looking window, IIRC probably last saw them in the 2000's.

I guess now they don't want you maintaining them at all or removing the looking glass is for cost savings.

My Scion's original Japanese Panasonic battery lasted for 11 years IIRC, topped up with water once until it it started cranking slower. After that, for the next 10 years the vehicle's been through at least 3 batteries and needs a new one right now. All Costco batteries too.


Could be an opportunity for an indy company to make a DIY'ers battery. Easier said than done, but for those who like longevity with a little elbow grease, it could be an opportunity.

DIY with hazmat can be something that nobody would insure the product if there is any class action. I am not going to be surprised if this is the reason many of the batteries are now sealed and cannot add water.

As to why batteries from Panasonic last longer. It could be because they use different grade of lead whereas the aftermarket just use the cheapest recycled lead without refining them first. If customers are not willing to pay 3x the cost for 3x the lifespan they wouldn't sell it. A new car probably wants to avoid false warranty claim by having better quality. The money is saved elsewhere.