Advance Auto Parts Batteries

[RichZ]

Yesterday, my 1999 Ford F250 had a dead battery. It was the original, so I wasn't upset, until I remembered that I lent my buddy my socketwrench set, and I couldn't get the old battery out. Then I remembered that Advance Auto Parts installs batteries for free. I had been getting Interstate batteries for my trucks and tractors, but I had to replace the last two that I bought for my tractors in less than 2 years, though I always buy the top of the line battery. So, I'm now off Interstate batteries, and I bought the Autocraft Titanian battery from Advanced Auto Parts. It's got a 3 year total replacement warranty and a pro-rated 84 month warranty and 850 amps of cranking power. The price was pretty good at $79.99. The Interstates that I got only had pro-rated warranties, and were a lot more money, so I think I'm ahead of the game already.

If I had my socketwrench set, I probably would have bought the top of the line NAPA battery, whatever it is, as that's where I usually get my truck parts. For all I know, however, the Advance and NAPA batteries might even be the same rebadged battery.

Has anyone had any experience with the Advanced batteries?

 

[Soundguy]

I have a ford 850 with an advance auto battery in it. All I can tell you is that it starts the tractor... I've only had it for a couple months now, and battery is only 2ys old according to the date code.

Soundguy

 

[jwstewar]

I put one of the Advance "Silver" batteries in our '97 Accord back in the fall. It was still the original battery with 221k miles and was starting to get sluggish. Didn't figure it was worth it to get stuck at work knowing that I had used that battery a lot longer than it should have ever lasted. The first battery that I got from Advance was bad - weird bad. The ground post was made just a little too small and wouldn't allow the ground wire to tighten down Drove it to work the next day and stopped and exchanged the battery and the new one tightened up just fine. I've now put about 10k miles on it in about 5 months and it has started the car just fine in this cold weather we've been having down to -10 F.

 

[dmccarty]

Rich, many people are putting in Autozone batteries into their Ford diesels over on the TheDieselStop.Com - www.thedieselstop.com. I think they where putting in the GOLD model. I have not checked over their lately to see if there have been bad experiences. I was looking a few months ago since my batteries in the F350 are over 5 years old and still cranking in this cold weather we have been having lately. I have never had the OEM batteries last more than 2-3 years.

When I replace them I'll look at the Motorcraft brand again, Autozone and what I can get via the Farm Bureau. I have 80,000 miles on the origional brakes. They still seem fine but I think I'm going to replace them in the next 4-6 weeks. I think I'll put Motorcraft back on since they have worked so well.

There was a review of batteries by Consumer Reports and they like the Autozone product.

Later,
Dan

 

[oliver28472]

I have AC Delco in both CUTs. There was a long thread somewhere that gave the Delco pretty high marks and bashed the Interstate. Two years and so far so good.

 

[BobRip]

There are so many variables when it comes to batteries that it is hard to judge from a small sampling of data. These variables include:

How old was it when you purchased it?
How long does it sit between charges?
How much vibration is it subjected to?
How cold was it when it "failed"?
Do you leave a charger connected?
How much leakage current does you vehicle pull when off?
Has it been run down by leaving lights or something else on? (This can damage a battery, particularly if it is left discharged for a long time.)
How many extra CCA does it have for the application?
Is it parked in a garage?
Is your vehicle charging system working properly?
Are the battery terminals clean and tight?
Do you clean the top of the battery periodically?
Does the vehicle idle a lot with many electrical loads turned on.

I am sure there are other variables.

My recommendation is buy the biggest battery (CCA) that will fit in your vehicle and keep a float charger (not trickle) on it when not in use. Count yourself lucky if you go five years.

 

[DK35vince]

Count yourself lucky if you go five years.

Just my opinion, but I expect more than 5 years out of a battery.
I had a JD battery in my 850, it needed replaced after 6 years and I was disapointed in it. I'm running an Advanced Auto battery in it now. Will have to see how long it will last.
I bought my pickup truck used in early 1996 ( it had a Diehard battery in it when I bought it), I just replaced it this past summer (2006), I ran for 10 years on that battery.
The battery in my Kioti tractor has been in there for 6 years. I hope for/and expect a couple more years out of it..

 

[BobRip]

Just my opinion, but I expect more than 5 years out of a battery.
I had a JD battery in my 850, it needed replaced after 6 years and I was disapointed in it. I'm running an Advanced Auto battery in it now. Will have to see how long it will last.
I bought my pickup truck used in early 1996 ( it had a Diehard battery in it when I bought it), I just replaced it this past summer (2006), I ran for 10 years on that battery.
The battery in my Kioti tractor has been in there for 6 years. I hope for/and expect a couple more years out of it..

As I said, there are many variables. Station batteries in controlled environments last up to 15 years if memory serves me right. I have had batteries bad when new.
Are you doing anything special to make them last like you do?

 

[DK35vince]

Are you doing anything special to make them last like you do?

No. I put the battery in, put some grease on the terminals so they don't corode and I go.

 

[woodchuckie]

A battery protected from the elements will last lots longer. The battery in my Buick is under the back seat.(At least that's what the manual says) I've never seen it. It's seven years old now. Being there it's protected from vibration, heat from the road and engine. I guess VW had a good idea with their battery under the seat if they could have just kept the battery from falling through the hole the battery acid ate in the floor.

 

[ScottAR]

The Motorcrafts have a 3year replacement and 100 month prorated warranty.
I have one original on my 99 F350. When it goes, I'm getting two more.

(Yes, I know I broke the replace in pairs rule)

 

[DK35vince]

(Yes, I know I broke the replace in pairs rule)

Never heard of that rule before.

 

[Soundguy]

Keeping batteries matched... same age.. etc. That way their charge and discharge characteristics are (more likely ) to be similar, vs disparate when you have one old and one new.

Ever see a battery operated device ( portable radio ) that says not to mix old and new batteries?... same deal..

Soundguy

 

[DK35vince]

Keeping batteries matched... same age.. etc. That way their charge and discharge characteristics are (more likely ) to be similar, vs disparate when you have one old and one new.

Ever see a battery operated device ( portable radio ) that says not to mix old and new batteries?... same deal..

Soundguy

The differance is batteries in a portable radio are not being constantly recharged while in use like the batteries in a vehicle.
If you have a weak battery in a radio more than likely all the batteries are weak.
Not nessasarily true in machinery.
I've been working around trucks, loaders, pavers, rollers, Etc. for a living for the past 20+ years. Most of this equiptment uses mutiple batteries.
If we ever had a battery problem only the bad battery is replaced.
Something I see all the time is 1 bad battery in a series can draw the other batteries down. If you replace the bad battery and all the other batteries in series test good, take a charge and hold it and run for years.

 

[Soundguy]

The differance is batteries in a portable radio are not being constantly recharged while in use like the batteries in a vehicle.
If you have a weak battery in a radio more than likely all the batteries are weak..

Why not.. I did say 'mix'.. I didn't say all batteries starting out the same...also.. I have plenty of portable devices that can use and charge re-chargeable batteries. Same statement applies.. don't mix different age batteries, for optimum conditions.

Not nessasarily true in machinery.
I've been working around trucks, loaders, pavers, rollers, Etc. for a living for the past 20+ years. Most of this equiptment uses mutiple batteries.
If we ever had a battery problem only the bad battery is replaced.
Something I see all the time is 1 bad battery in a series can draw the other batteries down. If you replace the bad battery and all the other batteries in series test good, take a charge and hold it and run for years.

Hmm.. didn't my message say something about different charge and discharge characteristics for different age batteries ( different condition will apply too .. I.E. batteries with weak cells.. )


Soundguy

 

[ScottAR]

In my case, the original was rated for a higher cranking amp than the replacement. The Motorcrafts I speak of have 875 Cold cranking amps. The replacement is 690 if I remember.

My choice at the time for the lesser battery was strickly economic.

I may change in the spring as the tractor battery likely has a dead cell by now as it's been sitting all winter and it was kinda old to begin with.

 

[TractorLegend]

In my professional auto repair/ service shop we have also given up on Interstate Batteries because of too many warranty claims.
We use AutoZones Duralast Professional brand---not their cheap Auto Value line- there is a negatve difference in the lower line Auto Value.
A recent Consumer Reports article on auto batteries rated Auto Zones as a top performer and that is what I see in our real life conditions.

 

[ScottAR]

Agreed, Interstates seem to have a poor service life. We get many as cores at my job.

I blew the top off one once. Not sure what happened. Turned the key to start and BOOM! Car never had a problem with batteries before or after the Interstate. No aftermarket accessories on the car and no repairs to anything on the car near the same time.

 

[TractorLegend]

Good thing nobody was face down under the hood!!! Dang....

 

[RichZ]

Interstate used to be rated just about the best battery, but after the trouble that I've had with them, and from what I've read here, I guess I'll be sticking with Advanced Auto Parts. I got their top of the line battery, so I should be fine. I don't believe in getting anything but the best battery available. It's just not worth it when your vehicle or tractor won't start.