Should we get AGM or just normal batteries

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bowlofturtle

Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
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Location
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I'm the type that buys loves the $50-70 el-cheapo walmart batteries. Mainly because i have a USB portable jump pack in every car I own, and these batteries are awesome. $50 and they last me 5 years VS spending $200 on a AGM one.

But I realize times are changing and cars are getting too advanced, the car came with a EFB. Its a daily driven car.
 
I switch the Tundra to an AGM 5 years ago and had to change a fuse to allow higher charging voltage by 0.5v. Normally, people were using a GM fuse and sanding off a bit of it to fit but I got lucky and found a company in Australia that made one. It took 7 months to get here during the pandemic but it has worked.
 
Normal if your vehicle doesn't have an AGM specific charging profile. Undercharging AGMs causes sulfation and shortens their lifespan
 
An original EFB fitment suggest the car could have stop/start. A standard battery might not cope too well with stop/start and the car will disable the stop/start if the battery voltage is too low. That of course might be considered a good thing depending on your point of view.
 
All I buy anymore is AGMs. Started using them selectively 25 years ago, but all I buy the last 15 years. I have used them in all types of cars from a 1978 308 GTS Ferrari to a 2001 540 BMW, neither of which came originally with an AGM...all have lasted many years longer than the flooded they came with. Its all I put in the cars I help maintain for friends and family members, cause I know they are not going to check the electrolyte or maintain them in anyway. I hear all the concerns about undercharging, but I have never experienced it.
 
bowlofturtle said:
I'm the type that buys loves the $50-70 el-cheapo walmart batteries. Mainly because i have a USB portable jump pack in every car I own, and these batteries are awesome. $50 and they last me 5 years VS spending $200 on a AGM one.

But I realize times are changing and cars are getting too advanced, the car came with a EFB. Its a daily driven car.
Click to expand...
If your car came with an EFB, I would be inclined to at least stick with that technology at the minimum.
 
I replaced the OEM flood acid battery in my 2020 Pilot with an AGM Walmart battery due to the better 4 yr warranty.
Specifications stated that the AGM was for upper level models of 2020 Pilots and not the base LX models like mine.
So far no issues with charging or undercharging of the AGM replacement.
Going on two years with no issues.
 
bowlofturtle said:
I'm the type that buys loves the $50-70 el-cheapo walmart batteries. Mainly because i have a USB portable jump pack in every car I own, and these batteries are awesome. $50 and they last me 5 years VS spending $200 on a AGM one.

But I realize times are changing and cars are getting too advanced, the car came with a EFB. Its a daily driven car.
Click to expand...
I like AGM batteries. I have two in my truck and one in my boat.

East Penn has a list their tech support guys can look up your vehicle and tell you if vehicle's charging system will work properly with an AGM battery.

I would not pay for the high end AGM however.

Walmart has only a few AGM battery group sizes and around the northeast they are East Penn.

NAPA also has AGM in more sizes and again around the northeast they are East Penn.
 
Strictly FLA for me. They have a lower freeze point than AGM. Here in NY, we get these Arctic Blasts from Canada in the winter. Sometimes down to -1 with a wind chill of -20. Had an AGM freeze up on me, and it was plugged into a maintainer overnight. The wind must have gotten to it, and it was totally dead in the am. Wouldn't even take a jump. It was an Optima Yellowtop. 2 yrs old. Late for work and the whole bit. Never again for me. My Kohler whole house standby generator came with an FLA, with a battery warmer wrapped around it. IMO that AGM's are fantastic for a more temperate climate.
 
Buy the type of battery your vehicle is specifying. AGM and non-AGM batteries have different charging algorithms, so it is important your vehicles have the correct charging system for the battery installed. There are other components of your vehicle that play better or not so well with AGM batteries.
 
I agree. The car came with an FLA when I bought it new, I should have put an FLA back in it. This stupid car, a 13' CRV, doesn't charge when their is no load. Went dead on me a few weeks after I bought it. Brought it back to the dealer to find out why it died. Shop mechanics said it has a " dual charging" alternator. You want it to charge 14.4 volts , leave the headlights on. No load it does squat. They said Honda did that to increase gas mileage. I told the mechanic's, ( like they cared), that it was the stupidest idea I'd ever heard of. So now, it goes on a maintainer every night since 2013, to bring it back up to full charge. But that still doesn't explain the frozen AGM that was on a maintainer. I guess it just froze and gave up. Was a terribly cold night & very windy.
 
RaymondP said:
Buy the type of battery your vehicle is specifying. AGM and non-AGM batteries have different charging algorithms, so it is important your vehicles have the correct charging system for the battery installed. There are other components of your vehicle that play better or not so well with AGM batteries.
Click to expand...
Or change it in the software. My Tiguan came with an EFB but I bought an AGM and changed the type.
 
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