Do You Wait Until Your Car/Truck Batt Dies?

[Abraham]

Before replacing it?

Or, monitor it's age and prevent being stranded by buying a new battery before you technically need to?

I'm of the replace it ahead of time type.

You?

P.S. Currently, my truck battery is a tad over four years old. I will replace it Friday.

It's still strong according to the tester this morning, but a plus four year old battery in the upcoming heat isn't something I want to gamble on. I would've bought one today, but my battery model is out of stock until Friday.

[eureka40]

I pay for a membership in AAA. When the battery croaks I just call them and they bring one to me, install and test the system. Lock my keys in the car, call them, run out of gas, call them. Need a tow, call them. Also get discounts at a lot of stores, motels, rental cars, etc......

If you drive an older car it is a great investment. If you have a newer car it might not be for you.

[Charles L. Cotton]

In my wife's car I replace the battery at 2 years. They just don't last long in the Texas heat and I don't want her stranded. I'll replace her next one with the battery I use in my cars - Optima Red Top.

I used to do that with my car, until I started using Optima Red Top batteries. I just bought a new one to replace an 8 year old Red Top. They seem to last much longer than any other battery I've used over the years. I have a good friend who works for Aggreko and he said they use nothing but Optima Red Top batteries in all of their equipment.

Chas.

[RoyGBiv]

I went 7 years on my last car battery, including summer 2011.
As soon as I started experiencing extended cranking times I replaced it.

IMO, if you are in tune enough to notice things like that, it's not a problem.
If you're a gas-n-go type person, 4-5 years is a good replacement interval.

[Abraham]

Chas.,

Thanks for the tip.

I'll have to call my favorite battery place and see about them.

Since all they sell is batteries, I'm surprised they didn't suggest it as an alternative.

Lasting as long as they do, I'm sure they're not inexpensive, thus more profit for them...

[Cedar Park Dad]

In my wife's car I replace the battery at 2 years. They just don't last long in the Texas heat and I don't want her stranded. I'll replace her next one with the battery I use in my cars - Optima Red Top.

I used to do that with my car, until I started using Optima Red Top batteries. I just bought a new one to replace an 8 year old Red Top. They seem to last much longer than any other battery I've used over the years. I have a good friend who works for Aggreko and he said they use nothing but Optima Red Top batteries in all of their equipment.

Chas.

As I've had to replace two dead batteries in the last two weeks this is of keen interest to me.
Where do you find these at? I've a boy going back to Aggieville end of summer and its probably a good time to drop in a new battery for his car.

[Keith B]

The AGM cell batteries like the Optima Red Top don't normally tolerate the heat as well as flooded (wet-cell) batteries. However, the wet cells actually generate 15%-20% more in heat than an approximately 5% from the AGM cells when charging, so the AGM tends to run cooler. The electrolyte (acid in the wet cell) tends to evaporate and cause the plates in the wet cells to deteriorate much faster in the Texas heat. This causes the plates to shed faster and the particles that drop off of the plates fall to the bottom. Eventually the lead that is shed will build up high enough to short out the plates and your battery is done.

[ELB]

In my wife's car I replace the battery at 2 years. They just don't last long in the Texas heat and I don't want her stranded. I'll replace her next one with the battery I use in my cars - Optima Red Top.

I used to do that with my car, until I started using Optima Red Top batteries. I just bought a new one to replace an 8 year old Red Top. They seem to last much longer than any other battery I've used over the years. I have a good friend who works for Aggreko and he said they use nothing but Optima Red Top batteries in all of their equipment.

Chas.

As I've had to replace two dead batteries in the last two weeks this is of keen interest to me.
Where do you find these at? I've a boy going back to Aggieville end of summer and its probably a good time to drop in a new battery for his car.

Amazon.com carries them (seems there are few things Amazon doesn't carry). Prices seem to run about $140-$180, altho there is one that goes for $240. Pretty pricey, but if you can get 8 years out of one, that's a good value.

Hmmmmm..

[Keith B]

As I've had to replace two dead batteries in the last two weeks this is of keen interest to me.
Where do you find these at? I've a boy going back to Aggieville end of summer and its probably a good time to drop in a new battery for his car.

Sam's Club carries them, that's wehre I get mine. Maybe Costco as well. I assume that maybe Autozone or O'Reilys does too.

[Cedar Park Dad]

Good to know guys. Thanks!

[FL450]

The only thing I might add is as far as I know the lower cranking amp batterys have thicker plates therfore hold up longer in our Texas heat.
The higher cranking amp batterys have thiner plates to get more plates for higher amperage which is not needed in our Texas winters therfore dont last as long. If this is indeed true than cheaper is better.

[OldCurlyWolf]

The only thing I might add is as far as I know the lower cranking amp batterys have thicker plates therfore hold up longer in our Texas heat.
The higher cranking amp batterys have thiner plates to get more plates for higher amperage which is not needed in our Texas winters therfore dont last as long. If this is indeed true than cheaper is better.

Apparently you have never spent a real winter in Texas.

From about 100 miles south of Dallas on north to the northend of the Panhandle, Say Perryton, it gets just a WEE bit colder. Negative 25° F is not unheard of, without the wind chill. Though temps between 0° and 20°F with wind chills down to -35°F are more common.

I once spent a winter in Yankee Land (Connecticut). Poor Yankees. I froze them out in the winter and roasted them out in the summer. Boss asked me about the cold. I told him to spend a winter in the Texas Panhandle.

[talltex]

I've been in the automotive industry for 35+ years, and have dealt with literally thousands of battery issues. Currently, there is NO surefire way to predict how long a battery will last. 20 years ago, you could tell when a battery began to get weak, and once you hit that point it might last a few months or a few weeks. The technology and construction changed and now they either start fine or not at all. When they fail now it's almost always an internal short and it goes out suddenly with no warning. I've gotten in my truck at the dealership and it started fine, drive a mile to the Post Office to get mail and walk back out and it won't even try to turn over. I carry a spare battery to fit my truck and one to fit my wife's Jeep in my tool box at all times. Last year, we drove my wife's 11 month old Grand Cherokee 30 miles to eat supper in Waco and when we came out and I turned the key I heard and felt a loud bang...saw smoke coming out from under the hood, opened it and the positive cable on the battery was melted onto the terminal and the top of the battery case had been blown apart so the seam along one side was separated from the base. THAT was the first time I'd ever seen one do that, in spite of all those years of not wearing any kind of protective glasses or anything else when jump starting them. I'd say on average most batteries SHOULD last 3-4 years if driving a lot in city...if it's mostly highway driving with fewer starts and stops 4-5 years....but again, they CAN go out anytime.

[anygunanywhere]

Diesels go through batteries like kids through a jar of cookies. I have a battery load tester I bought to test my batteries and it also has an alternator tester. I might give those red top batteries Chas admires next time around. I bought gel cells for the RV and they have lasted longer than any lead acid battery I ever had.

Great thread.

Guy stuff.

Anygunanywhere

[nightmare69]

Battery tenders are your friend if you have a weekend only car. My last battery lasted over 8yrs before I replaced it.