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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Best auto/truck battery?

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Dick2

03-08-2007 10:37:52




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I know this gets brought up every once in awhile. Saw on the internet that most auto batteries are made by just 3 manufacturers. Delphi makes ACDelco and some Everstart models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some Everstart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford) and some Everstart.

The info did not explain any difference in specifications for the different batteries that they make for other customers. They surely aren't all made to the same specifications for each customer???

I'm having difficulty finding a Group 27R battery; neither Costco or WalMart has them in stock. Don't know which company makes WalMart's best batteries; sticker says that they are made in Mexico (Exide has plants in Mexico).

Anybody got any battery recommendations??

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Charles (in GA)

03-09-2007 14:11:28




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
Don't just stick with a group 27 battery. If the tray has more length or width, most do, and possibly more height too, you possibly can find a different battery that will fit.

My Ranger 4 cyl had a small battery in it, but the tray was much longer. When the battery went bad I insisted on a Delphi and the only one they had was the largest battery that could possibly fit.

Charles



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Larry from md

03-09-2007 09:44:44




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I bought a walmart battery for my truck and when i got it home it was dead and would not charge up. Next day i took it back and had my tester in my coat pocket. All the batterys they had that fit my truck were bad( tested less than 10 volts).I ended up getting a smaller one that tested good just so i had something to drive. This was sunday and needed one.



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Jon Hagen

03-09-2007 10:37:46




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Larry from md, 03-09-2007 09:44:44  
Stuff like that happens, they get a bad run of batteries. We have one machine that takes two batteries,a grp 27 and a grp 27F. We bought a pair of new batteries at the local Interstate dealer,and when installing them, found the grp 27F battery dead and would not take a charge. Returned it to the dealer and got another 27F which was also dead. When we returned for the third time for another battery,the dealer gave us a "what the heck are you doing to my battery ?" look. The dealer pulled out his load tester and checked the half dozen or so 27F batteries he had in stock,all were bad. 24 hrs later he had an 27F for us from a new batch,no problem in the years it has been in use :-)

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buickanddeere

03-09-2007 06:13:44




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
AGM Optima or AGM Hawker. Install the highest CCA battery that can be crammed into the machine. Flooded cell batteries are only good for golf carts, wind tubine genenrator storage and large industrial stationary applications. Some I've worked on were 660 lbs dry and made 2.25 volts each.



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Ih2444

03-11-2007 09:57:28




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to buickanddeere, 03-09-2007 06:13:44  
I used to work on Telco power systems.
Individual wet cells ran up to 2000 lbs per cell. that is 6 tons for 12 volts...
that ought to crank yer tractor a while.



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dhermesc

03-09-2007 06:12:37




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
Whatever Walmart is selling that fits. Just remember that after the three year warranty is up you got the good out of the battery and should replace it. You could pay twice as much and get another brand that might last 5-6 years but how much do you trust it the last one or two?

I don't know who makes them but the "Motorcraft" batteries that come as standard equipment on new Ford cars is are a POS. I've lost three over the years that were all less then three year old when they quit. Don't know what killed the first one but the second two developed an internal short - one was in a 1999 and the other was in a 2004.

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Stumpalump

03-09-2007 04:39:32




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I have a yellow top Optima in a project vehicle I've been fooling with for a year. It seems to run down just from opening the doors for a while.
I have had to charge it 4 times in a year and I think if it was a regular battery I would have never needed to charge it. I'm not sold on it for now but time will tell. It cost twice as much so it ought to be twice as good but it's not so far.



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Jon Hagen

03-09-2007 08:06:22




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Stumpalump, 03-09-2007 04:39:32  
Stumpalump, sorry to hear that the optima is not working as you expected. My experience has been just the opposite in that self discharge of the spiral cell AGM batteries is much slower than a conventional flooded battery, but that is with a red top Optima in an engine starting application.

The yellow top Optima is a deep cycle battery designed for high amp accessory loads, and is not intended to be used as a starting battery. Might your application be wrong for the type of battery ?

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Wisconsin Cowman

03-08-2007 20:41:41




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I will never buy a battery from Napa again. Never have good luck with them. Also my Napa puts up fuss when you turn it in for a different one cause the one you got don�t last for a day.



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TimV

03-09-2007 04:49:06




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Wisconsin Cowman, 03-08-2007 20:41:41  
I agree on the NAPA batteries--I've had very poor luck with them. I know the local NAPA guy fairly well and while he's been good about exchanging them, he admitted to me they've had a lot of problems with their batteries. The last vehicle I got already had a NAPA battery in it. I changed it out for an Interstate before winter, knowing I couldn't trust the NAPA to start in below-zero weather even though it still had time on the warranty.

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Charles (in GA)

03-08-2007 18:39:56




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
Delphi. I have used Delcos for years in my Fords (yes!!!) and have always had them run 8 or 9 years of good use. They are made with a different variety of lead (calcium lead?) than other batteries, and retain more of their power at cold temps. They work well for me so I have stuck with them.

Charles



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dds-inc

03-08-2007 16:45:38




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I just don't care. I simply buy the most expensive ones at any store.

I like diehards the BEST though.



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TomTX

03-08-2007 15:38:06




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I have tried them all over the years. For years tried Interstate, Diehards, Delco, Walmart yellow MAX, Exide, and several brands - no more. Now I have moved to only using East Penn Mfg. batteries. They make the ones that have absoutely NO removable vent covers, and NO possiblilty of EVER adding water. They are making the batteries at OReilleys. You will see just a tiny vent hole on each side. So far so good. IMHO don't want any more batteries that can be serviced in any way, just asking for trouble on farm equipment. Tom

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dan hill

03-12-2007 02:54:39




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to TomTX, 03-08-2007 15:38:06  
Disagree,Hydrometer checks will spot batteries that are ready to quit.My sawmill battery is 4 years old and showing uneven charge level.A new battery will be installed before I start using the mill.A battery with a shorted cell can ruin the charging system.



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Jon Hagen

03-08-2007 16:17:44




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to TomTX, 03-08-2007 15:38:06  
My vote for the best goes to the spiral cell AGM battery, they vent no corrosive acid or gas,have a much slower self discharge than a conventional flooded cell battery. They are slow to sulfate and with care will last a very long time. My oldest is an Optima brand that is still going strong at 16 years. Exide also sells a spiral cell AGM battery under the Orbital series brand,they seem as durable as the Optima for about 25% less money. John Deere markets the Exide Orbital under the John Deere "Spiral power" brand.
As long as you do not seriously overcharge them and dry out the electrolyte, they are a "install it and forget it" battery that will usually last the life of the machine with no cable or battery box corrosion.

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T_Bone

03-08-2007 17:45:42




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Jon Hagen, 03-08-2007 16:17:44  
Hi Dick,

I gotta agree with Jon and buy the Optima for our area. The AZ heat just eats any type of wet cell in about 5yrs at best.

My son ran a red top Optima for 9yrs then sold the truck that the new owner wrecked with-in the year but the battery was still good.

Another big plus for the gell cells is they can be repeatedly discharged to zero volts without damage to the battery. On most wet cells after one time of complete discharge, there history.

Looks like Costco has the best price from the search I've been doing. My 02 F350 needs new battery's this year and it's a pair of yellow top Optima's for me.

T_Bone

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Not the National Inquirer

03-08-2007 12:52:00




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 For Inquiring Minds in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
Curious about brands and manufacturers?



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old

03-08-2007 11:43:36




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
NAPA or O'reillys should be able to get you one like that. I use wal mart batterys because they stand behind them and are easy to deal with. I had one that got a hole in it and wal mart took it back with no questions asked.



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IH2444

03-08-2007 11:26:35




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I have been using the wally world Everstart batteries for a long time with no problems.

Basically compare the weight of the same sized battery the heaviest one will probably be the best.

I used to use interstate batteries and they Lasted just as long as or longer than the Delco and Napa ones. Have not used any of those brands since I started using the everstart ones though.

A couple of friends have had bad luck with the TSC batteries.....

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RustyFarmall

03-08-2007 11:06:29




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to Dick2, 03-08-2007 10:37:52  
I'd think that NAPA could get it if they don't already have one in stock. They would also be the easiest to deal with if warranty work is needed. I've never had any NAPA battery fail prematurely, and I've had a bunch of them.



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RayP(MI)

03-08-2007 17:09:11




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 Re: Best auto/truck battery? in reply to RustyFarmall, 03-08-2007 11:06:29  
Son bought a used car with a NAPA battery which failed shortly after he purchased the car. Took it to NAPA, and they warranteed it, even though he was not the origional owner, and did not buy the battery. Got my vote!



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