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Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: BcudaChris] #2629965
03/07/19 01:06 PM
03/07/19 01:06 PM
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Martinsville, IN
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cdwmotorsports Offline
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Originally Posted by BcudaChris
I would say an AGM battery. Given the nature of the electrical systems, and how much the average hobby car sits, you'll get rid of the vented battery gas under your hood eating away at finish, wiring, etc. I run a Duralast Platinum. With the always available Advance Auto online coupons, they can be had for 160 or so, a fair bit less than an Optima or other equivalent.


Time for an AGM battery story....

On June 14, 2017 my truck died somewhere in Georgia in a Hardee’s parking lot is where it stopped. A whole AAA debacle that night left me frustrated and sleeping in my truck. Lucky for me I could see an Autozone, slept in my truck, woke up, ate Breakfast at Hardee’s (duh) and walked to Autozone. I bought a new alternator and two AGM batteries ($185 each). Put it all back together and drove home. Winter hits in 17/18 and if it’s below 30 degrees and my truck isn’t plugged in I have to jump it, so I start plugging it in all the time from November to March. Spring, summer and fall no issues, this winter shows up and I’m back to having to plug it in or it’s dead. So on Monday after I was late to an appointment because I had to jump it I drove to Autozone and got them replaced, not with AGM’s though I went back to lead acids. I have left my truck unplugged everyday since and can go out and fire it up anytime I want with no issue.

Long story short, AGM is not good for cold climates (in my opinion).


eBay-cdwmotorsports
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: cdwmotorsports] #2629978
03/07/19 01:26 PM
03/07/19 01:26 PM
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Posts: 6,710
KY
65pacecar Offline
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KY
Originally Posted by cdwmotorsports
Originally Posted by BcudaChris
I would say an AGM battery. Given the nature of the electrical systems, and how much the average hobby car sits, you'll get rid of the vented battery gas under your hood eating away at finish, wiring, etc. I run a Duralast Platinum. With the always available Advance Auto online coupons, they can be had for 160 or so, a fair bit less than an Optima or other equivalent.


Time for an AGM battery story....

On June 14, 2017 my truck died somewhere in Georgia in a Hardee’s parking lot is where it stopped. A whole AAA debacle that night left me frustrated and sleeping in my truck. Lucky for me I could see an Autozone, slept in my truck, woke up, ate Breakfast at Hardee’s (duh) and walked to Autozone. I bought a new alternator and two AGM batteries ($185 each). Put it all back together and drove home. Winter hits in 17/18 and if it’s below 30 degrees and my truck isn’t plugged in I have to jump it, so I start plugging it in all the time from November to March. Spring, summer and fall no issues, this winter shows up and I’m back to having to plug it in or it’s dead. So on Monday after I was late to an appointment because I had to jump it I drove to Autozone and got them replaced, not with AGM’s though I went back to lead acids. I have left my truck unplugged everyday since and can go out and fire it up anytime I want with no issue.

Long story short, AGM is not good for cold climates (in my opinion).


I agree, they do suffer some in cold climates and diesels really take their toll on them in cold weather. I’m still running lead acid in the diesel and have had great luck with the Walmart XXtream batteries in it, 8 years on my last set.

Last edited by 65pacecar; 03/07/19 01:27 PM.
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: 65pacecar] #2629983
03/07/19 01:35 PM
03/07/19 01:35 PM
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Posts: 403
Colorado front range
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BcudaChris Offline
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Colorado front range
I keep mine on a battery tender if it is going to sit more than a few days. I've fired it right up and driven in single digit temps with negative single digits over night. I'd guess the tender keeps the battery warm. That said, the last lead acid I had and plugged into the tender wouldn't crank on the coldest days, unless I put a breaker bar on the damper bolt and ugged the crank a bit.

Never had a problem with the AGM batteries in my DD brand X, parked outside. It has a point less compression than the Barracuda though.

Just my experience.

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: BcudaChris] #2629993
03/07/19 01:50 PM
03/07/19 01:50 PM
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Posts: 14,889
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AGM's are a lead acid battery. they just don't have liquid acid sloshing about like the old school removable cap flooded cells you grew up with.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: Supercuda] #2630023
03/07/19 03:20 PM
03/07/19 03:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
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Originally Posted by Supercuda
Around here NAPA has the better prices and comparable warranties.


Been using NAPA Legends for years,never a problem !

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: 62maxwgn] #2630025
03/07/19 03:32 PM
03/07/19 03:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,510
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
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Eagle, Idaho
NAPA batteries available here are a joke. I have a relative who has them in everything and he has to put a charger on anything that sits for more than a few weeks. The cars sit inside a climate controlled shop and still go dead. Been doing this for years as he likes their warranty policy.

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: Neil] #2630033
03/07/19 04:00 PM
03/07/19 04:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,917
Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag Offline
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I have had good experience with the Walmart batteries . . . then again, when I have the cars sitting, I have the battery tender on them. Still have the original batteries in my 02 cummins, 04 crossfire, and 06 Magnum RT . . . never mind the saying "Maintenance Free" . . .if it has a removable cap, pop it off and always top up with distilled water !! Much more important in hotter climates !!! . . .

Cheers

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: a12rag] #2630080
03/07/19 06:39 PM
03/07/19 06:39 PM
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Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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jcc Offline
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I have not had good luck with Walmart batteries, but had excellent luck with their NC warranty replacement 3 times, the fourth will be on me. luck


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: fullmetaljacket] #2630091
03/07/19 07:01 PM
03/07/19 07:01 PM
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Dandridge TN
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I've been using Auto Zone for at least 20 years now and have never had any issues

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: Dabee] #2630151
03/07/19 10:17 PM
03/07/19 10:17 PM
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Clinton, NJ
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njmopar Offline
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Most big chain stores supplier can vary by region. Napa in northeast is East Penn (or was recently) but not in south.
Johnson Controls made batteries are in my opinion the best. That means Walmart among others.
Key thing when buying off the shelf at big store is date code. Buy the newest you can get. Usually a letter for the month and single digit for year.
With AGMs make sure your changing system does not fluctuate too much. Due to their fixed electrolyte quantity you can boil out. They do vent, they have a valve that will release with over pressure. The rating for most is not more than 14.1v to change but slightly less is better. And they don’t do well with deep discharge again due to the nature of the electrolyte.

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: njmopar] #2630156
03/07/19 10:42 PM
03/07/19 10:42 PM
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AGM's do just fine with deep discharge, if they are designed for deep discharge usage, just like flooded cells.

Just like any battery it has to be used properly and be designed for the expected use.

That is why car starting batteries don't do as well as deep cycle batteries in deep discharge applications.

Not designed for it.

After all the industrial and commercial sized UPS' I work on use AGM batteries in deep discharge applications.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: 65pacecar] #2630163
03/07/19 10:49 PM
03/07/19 10:49 PM
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Bridgeport, WV
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Michael Offline
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Originally Posted by 65pacecar
Ive been using the AGM batteries from Sams Club, had great luck with them so far.
…...Me too

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: cdwmotorsports] #2630215
03/08/19 05:07 AM
03/08/19 05:07 AM
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Posts: 367
Akron, Ohio
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Akron, Ohio
Originally Posted by cdwmotorsports
.... A whole AAA debacle that night left me frustrated and sleeping in my truck.


AAA as in AAA roadside? If so (if you don't mind me asking) what left you frustrated?

I used to work for a towing company that honored AAA and I did the battery service. A lot of interesting stuff I learned doing so. I already had a good grasp on automotive batteries but when you install 12-15 batteries on a good day you learn a heck of a lot more.

And yes I've had my share of bad service calls with lunatic customers. However I've heard horror stories about bad AAA battery installers as well.

To honor the thread topic, I've had luck with Dura-Last (gold) and bad luck with Die Hard.

beer

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: VegasCharger] #2630267
03/08/19 10:13 AM
03/08/19 10:13 AM
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fullmetaljacket Offline OP
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By the consensus ongoing here, I guess I will be opting for the gold in them there hills, Dura-Last Gold that is.

Thank you guys for all the feed back.
Batteries not included. LOL.

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: fullmetaljacket] #2630272
03/08/19 10:23 AM
03/08/19 10:23 AM
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Batteries are hit and miss for me. I haven`t really found one brand to be much better then the other from what I have experienced. I do remember my worst one was a Walmart battery

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: mopars4ever] #2630628
03/09/19 01:00 AM
03/09/19 01:00 AM
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garnett kansas
rhad Offline
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garnett kansas
i have a interstate that was slightly used ,and i put it on a tender about 2 yrs ago,reckon its still any good?,i could check it ,but havent,the tender still glows green!


my ladder of success is missing some rungs
Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: rhad] #2630914
03/09/19 09:39 PM
03/09/19 09:39 PM
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Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag Offline
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bet that is still fine . . .

Re: Best Battery picks for a daily driver? [Re: a12rag] #2631197
03/10/19 08:03 PM
03/10/19 08:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,640
S.E.Ohio
Magnumguy Offline
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S.E.Ohio
About like anything else these days, 1 or 2 manufacturers make all the batteries, maybe not.

I work at Advance, the Autocraft Gold seem like good batteries. We get A LOT of Duralasts in that are bad, some not very old at all.

Interstate's are a good choice as well.


"Multiple Magnum owner since 1978!!"


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