Lets talk car/truck/tractor batteries ??

[Rustyiron]

You realize there are like 3 battery companies that make all the batteries out there, right? And that they are all pretty much the same?

I was told the same thing at NAPA. I have 10 of them now, NAPA that is (fingers crossed) but in the past, I have had good results with Interstate's, I used to buy them at a little garage at the end of my lane and were VERY convienient.

 

[JJZ 109]

I was told the same thing at NAPA. I have 10 of them now, NAPA that is (fingers crossed) but in the past, I have had good results with Interstate's, I used to buy them at a little garage at the end of my lane and were VERY convienient.

I understand that Exide made or still makes NAPA batteries. I've got 2 right now. 1 in a Mustang and 1 in a skid steer. Both bought in 2015. I've heard a lot of local complaints about NAPA batteries only going a year or two, but I generally take that stuff with a grain of salt because some folks just like to complain. Time will tell how good the batteries are to me.

 

[LD1]

Resistance has nothing to do with voltage in that context. It's a fixed property of the electrical system, not the power source. As wiring ages & corodes, resitance will go up, but running 12v or 120v across the same wire & there will be the same percentage of voltage drop. A low battery won't create resistance.

Thank you for that important correction. I had missed that post or I would have chimed in.

I didnt miss it. I though about posting, but thought there was no point. The root meaning is the same, and that is a weak (low voltage) batter is indeed harder in starters and alternators.

Work done (watts) needs to be the same to start the car. Lower voltage = Higher amps to get that work done. Higher amps generate more heat. More heat breaks down insulation and windings.

 

[sld]

Replaced the battery in my 2007 (purchased August 2006) Mustang in summer 2015. So I got 9 years out of it. But in reality the car is only driven from late April until mid to late October and then put away for the winter months. But the battery has always been on a tender in the off season. I've owned the car 10 years and it has just over 28k on it.
Back to the original topic - we just had an Interstate battery store open locally. So whenever a battery goes on me, I've been replacing with Interstate. So far I've only done one on a Ferris zero turn mower and a deep cycle for the camper. I guess it's kind of an experiment to see how they last.

I have a set of 3 Interstate batteries in the boat that are 4 years and 3 months old now. I've been impressed as I never went past 3 years on any batteries before.

 

[TomSeller]

Think about it. Low voltage creates resistance. Resistance creates heat which is the killer of starters. Now because of the low voltage your alternator must work harder creating more heat and then resistance. It's a vicious endless cycle.

A lot of truth to this. In my earlier years I pushed a battery too long when I knew it was on life support while I had it's replacement on the floorboard. Battery finally went out and the alternator was right behind it. Had I just changed the battery out I may have saved the alt.

I use Optima Yellow Tops now.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

A lot of truth to this. In my earlier years I pushed a battery too long when I knew it was on life support while I had it's replacement on the floorboard. Battery finally went out and the alternator was right behind it. Had I just changed the battery out I may have saved the alt.

I use Optima Yellow Tops now.

How long does a yellow top last?

I've been tempted to try one myself...

SR

 

[dickfoster]

Odyssey AGMs for me. Optima AGMs used to be good but they are made in Mexico junk now. Odyssey's are still made in the USA and are a better design anyway. I just put a new one in my wife's car and gave the Interstate that was in it to our mechanic to help out some hard up soul someday.

 

[ultrarunner]

That's amaking. I've never had a battery make it past 4 yrs, maybe 5.

12 years on the OEM Delco with the green eye in the 2001 Corolla... it still worked but wasn't spinning as fast... so I replaced it.

The antique car batteries seem to last a few years and toast... they are seldom driven and have Tenders.

My 2004 BX is still the OEM Kubota Battery...

I attribute it to the mild Bay Area Climate...

We sold Interstate for many years... really liked them and got good pricing... for a time I was the go to battery person as Dad sold Interstate... also had a fantastic distributor... all changed when the franchise was pulled from him... he got a payout but the service was never the same... also lost about 200 core credits.

 

[CADplans]

A week or so ago, TSC had a 15% off coupon for one day only.
My Suburban needed a battery perfect timing,,
The big plus is TSC batteries are close to half the price of Sams, Autozone, Walmart,,, etc,,,

So, I got a pretty high amp battery at a very nice price,,, :thumbsup:

At 15% off,,, I ended up buying EVERYTHING!! :laughing:

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Yeah, I've been happy with Exides from TSC for my diesel truck. I use Interstate on the other road vehicles.