batteries again

[K5IP]

OK guys, MY 03 is now16 years old. The original mopar batteries lasted 8 years which I thought was quite good. I replaced them with some Interstate (group65 from costco) which have also lasted 8 years. (funny thing, the interstates had an extended warranty for 85 months and that is exactly what they lasted.) Anyhow, I know many of you are upgrading to AGM batteries. They far exceed the costco cost for some new interstate flooded cell batteries but if there are good reasons to upgrade, chime in here and I will consider doing so.
Thanks
Roger

 

[GrantP]

You've had some great life out of your batteries. Continue doing what you're doing...

That said, I've had better luck with AGM's over lead acid but I think the longest I ever had an AGM was around 6 years. The other benefit is no acid corrosion which is worth the extra price on it's own for me.

 

[seafish]

I highly recommend any battery made by East Penn/Deka.

 

[TFucili]

Eight year battery life, especially twice in a row, will be hard to match, let alone beat, no matter whose you buy. That is just outstanding.

 

[AH64ID]

I went to Costco after the AGM’s in my 05 only lasted 4 years. I’ll likely go to Costco when these OEM’s fail.

 

[FOXY005]

I will second the benefit of no corrosion to clean up.
I switched to AGM's after I got tired of cleaning my battery cable clamps and battery posts off on a almost monthly basis

 

[Tuesdak]

One picture alone should sell you on AGM's for your Dodge Diesel. Look how clean the battery top and cables are given the age of the battery!

Warranty will cover your choice.

I believe the Dodge, temperature of the battery charging system, is light years ahead of GM. The AGM's (Rebranded Deka's I think) I put in the Dodge at about 2 years and were still going strong when I sold it. The plus for AGM's was not having to frequently clean the puked acid off the tops and battery cables. I use AGM's for faster charging and generally no constant acid clean up. I do have AGM trouble listed below in other stuff.

In the NM, AZ areas you listed in your profile: Are those the extreme heat areas? I am guessing no by your long battery life. In the extreme heat long battery life is the exception to the 2-3 year battery life norm "here in Phoenix". Maybe you have it in a garage or don't use it as a DD in the heat?

Self discharge is lower in AGM's so they take less maintenance charges. (Holds a charge for: 1 year AGM vs. 30 days flooded.) Great for a ignored small portable electric start genset or vehicle in long term storage with the battery fuse pulled or aftermarket disconnect off.

It's possible AGM's could last you longer. Their reputation is for doing so. However I do not buy AGM's for long battery life anymore due to the reduced life from high heat. Long life from Red Top AGM's is now the exception rather than the rule. Further East Penn/Deka AGM's couldn't even take the heat for Consumer Reports let alone: get out of "My Kitchen" because you can't take the heat. This pictured ballooned set scared me on the battery tester as the voltage suddenly dropped off then would recover. 6 months old and sudden cranking speed reduction indicated a bad battery, again. Yes, returned for refund. Used in a 1993 GM diesel.

Spillproof doesn't mean leakproof as I have had a couple Red Top's leak around the terminals and eat the battery cables. Example below. GM side post used below so no load on the top post...

 

[K5IP]

Thanks for all the response guys.
To answer a few questions, I do live in both AZ and NM but I leave AZ for the high country in NM in April so I avoid extreme temps. Second, the truck is not a daily driver so it often sits unused for days at a time. This limits the number of charge/discharge cycles, an important consideration in battery life. Also, the truck is usually in a garage which also helps. About the only thing I do to stress batteries is that my truck batteries are connected in parallel with my trailer batteries. When camping without power I often run everything down to about 10Vdc before connecting to my portable generator. Not the best for a non deep cycle battery. I do find amp hour capacity of flooded cell batteries to be higher than the AGM which is important for dry camping.
I appreciate all the response. My choice is to go back to Costco.
K5IP

 

[AH64ID]

When camping without power I often run everything down to about 10Vdc before connecting to my portable generator. Not the best for a non deep cycle battery.

Not the best for ANY battery.

Standard dry camping recharge voltage is 12.2V, or 50% SOC. 10V is 0% SOC.

10VDC is BEYOND dead, and not good for the battery or any of the 12V components running off of them.

I would start using the generator a LOT sooner.

 

[Ozymandias]

Or put some Lithium Batterys in the Trailer and a fair amount (500 watts or so) of Solar on the roof for dry camping, that's what I do, no need for a generator anymore, even for weeks.

 

[Motorhead]

I put a pair of Odyssey AGM's in my '07, 5.9. I agree that there is no acid to clean up but you need to make sure that you don't get a loose cross over cable because I had that and cooked a Sears Diehard Platinum (Odyssey). One major difference is that my starter sounds like it has 24 volts to it. It cranks my engine FAST!

 

[ofelas]

First pic is on an Odyssey AGM, second pic is on a lead acid battery (the one with post washers).

My trick to keeping corrosion away - a thin coating of OxGard on all contact points, and a coating of dielectric grease on any exposed surfaces.

 

[Mark31]

I changed my sig truck batteries at 7 years to (hopefully) keep the starter happy. The replacement Interstates were replaced at 7 years for same reason. I brighten up the posts good before installing and dob 'em up good with Vaseline at install and maybe a couple of times more in 7 years. Maybe wipe 'em off every year if they get too gungy or if I think the Governor is gonna come inspect. Cables look good (as in GOOD)! I had a couple of Yellow top Walmart (Johnson Controls?) batteries go 9 and 10 years. I would switch 'em around maybe 3 times a year between my "beater" S15 GMC and a seldom used 74 C60 Chev. What kilt the 9 year old was I left the dome light on till it completely deadified it and it wouldn't recharge. My trucks live under shelters when not being used, so ole Sol doesn't get to cook 'em in the summer and the winters here ain't like Green Bay. I did try some new fangled batteries when they first came out and got extremely po (2 steps beyond poor) service out of them. Everybody's conditions, needs, and expectations "vary", so whatever floats YOUR boat!