mopowers
Well-Known Member
I've hat such great luck with regular acid batteries, it's hard to justify the cost of an AGM. What are your guys' thoughts on AGM vs lead acid?
Are AGM batteries worth it?
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dano
Evil Handy Man
The original AMG in my truck went 9 years and 105k and was still working but was down to 400 cranking amps out of I think 780. I think regional conditions and use really play into how long a battery lasts.
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I have Optimas in all 4 gas golf carts. The one has been in so long it fell out the bottom and still worked dragging it around until someone noticed it dragging. They sit buried in the snow all winter. Dig them out in spring and add gas. Interstates are the worst pieces of **** I ever bought.
If you have good luck with regular batteries stay with them. And it's not luck, you are doing the right things with them.
I bought an AGM on sale and it lasted 10 years. Worked great.
The normal AGM price is too high for me, but I'd buy another one. I do fine with lead acid batteries also.
I bought an AGM on sale and it lasted 10 years. Worked great.
The normal AGM price is too high for me, but I'd buy another one. I do fine with lead acid batteries also.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
Which one did you go with?
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I've had several recent Optima batteries die on me although they may have been discharged a bit far. But I switched to a conventional battery and it's held up fine.
That said, my wife's daily driver has a parts store brand AGM that has held up ok. It looks like a normal case; you would have to check the marking to know it's not a regular design.
That said, my wife's daily driver has a parts store brand AGM that has held up ok. It looks like a normal case; you would have to check the marking to know it's not a regular design.
kyvet
Active Member
I used to work with a battery distributor, it’s all about temperature control, and all about if the stores are rotating their stock and not letting it sit on the shelf for more than 7-9 months at a time. Hotter the summers= more wear and tear on them. Heat kills. You only notice it when the battery goes past the point of no return. AGM’s have their place, and if it makes sense to you to have one or if you require one make sure you pay attention to the date code stickers
33IMP
Well-Known Member
Agm's are only worth the extra cost if you believe they will last much longer than lead/acid. I've been buying batteries (Duracell brand) from Sam's, and the lead acid have THE SAME power and warrantee as the AGM.
I have had agm's in my diesel, and got good service out of them, but the last couple times the agms are almost 600 bucks, and the lead/acid around 250. If they last more than half the agm, I'm ahead.
I absolutely WOULD have bought an agm for my Opel, (WORST battery access on the planet) but the size I needed was N/A in an agm, so, stuck with lead acid.
So far, NO complaints about the six Duracells bought from Sam's (two in diesel pickup, two for liftgate on the boxtruck, Opel, and 62 Savoy.)
I have had agm's in my diesel, and got good service out of them, but the last couple times the agms are almost 600 bucks, and the lead/acid around 250. If they last more than half the agm, I'm ahead.
I absolutely WOULD have bought an agm for my Opel, (WORST battery access on the planet) but the size I needed was N/A in an agm, so, stuck with lead acid.
So far, NO complaints about the six Duracells bought from Sam's (two in diesel pickup, two for liftgate on the boxtruck, Opel, and 62 Savoy.)
33IMP
Well-Known Member
When I buy a battery at Sam's, I go thru stock on the shelves and pick out the newest date available before I bring it to the cashier.
ValiantRacing
Well-Known Member
I love my XS agm battery, only weights 22 pounds, and i can race all weekend and never put a charger on it.
33IMP
Well-Known Member
The factory agm in my camaro went eleven years. Mounted under the trunk floor, I bought another agm for it.
All the old Optimas were good. The newer ones starting about ten years ago are all now made overseas, so it's hit and miss anymore.
It was a sears diehard group 24 bought at one of the last sears stores. Summer 2014
cudamark
Well-Known Member
That's really weird as my experience was just the opposite. I ran through 4 Optimas in 6 months and finally got rid of the last replacement with a car I had for sale. Worst POS battery experience I ever had.
I buy the red tops. They never froze . My Diesels are always freezing solid if the battery heaters and blankets are removed. Old cars don't have battery heaters
kyvet
Active Member
Not being rotated out properly is my guess if it fails in a mild climate, and Ive seen where people peel off old stickers and put new stickers on..
AGMs seem to last better here in a extreme heat climate. 9 year AGM in the wife's challenger before fail. Her mustang before would kill a wet cell in 3-1/2 years. The dart is garaged so it has a 6 year old wet cell. Last one in the dart lasted 11.
Have you ever seen a battery blow up? I have. It's not pretty. A lead /acid battery emits explosive fumes.
If you let your AGM sit for months at a time, that seems to be bad for them. You need to hook them up to an AGM friendly trickle charger. If you are not inclined to remember this AGM battery maintenance, then probably not a good fit for you.
I went with a lithium titanate battery from XS Power. Group 24 size but only 7 pounds! It rests at 13.2 volts and cranks up the 440/495 as fast as if I had no spark plugs in it. I’m talking SO fast you are always surprised by it.
It really is great. $450 from Summit Racing.
It really is great. $450 from Summit Racing.
I had one blow up in my face once. I was doing an oil change on a Mazda standing on one of the ramps on a drive on alignment pit. I was on the ramp, with 4' of pit on three sides of me. My filter wrench grounded on the starter hot wire and BOOM. The battery was right under my face. I also had no safety glasses on. Having only one eye, that was a stupid mistake. I knew my surroundings well, so with my eyes closed, I turned around and jumped across the pit and made my way to the bathroom and flooded my face with water. I was very fortunate that day. I was taught two valuable lessons. First, always have my glasses on in a shop situation and secondly, if you're raising the hood on a vehicle for work, disconnect the battery even if you don't think it's necessary.
I got a good 10 years from my TurboStart Crysler Mopar Approved restoration AGM! Left it on a AGM wall wart trickle charger over the winter time!
Pleased enough to buy another one, and hope it lasts as long on a 50+ year old car!
Consider an Very important fact that these AGM Batteries carry no liquid Acid in them! You like your expensive paint job under your hood as you should!
Then Choose an AGM and proctect that investment! JMO!
Pleased enough to buy another one, and hope it lasts as long on a 50+ year old car!
Consider an Very important fact that these AGM Batteries carry no liquid Acid in them! You like your expensive paint job under your hood as you should!
Then Choose an AGM and proctect that investment! JMO!
Me too! Sounded like a civil war cannon going off! The Police were in the shopping mall (Saturday Night Cruze In) when it happend in Marrietta,Ga back in 1983, they came over in a hurry as I was dunking my face
in a cooller full of Budwieser's and ice! They were not sure what exploded but quickly figured it out, and called an ambulance to the scene. That Sears Die Hard blew up directly in my face, Caused hearing impairment
and acid/plastic instrusion in both eyes! The two officers and my brother kept flusing my face until the ambulance showed up, they took over and took me to Kennestone Hospital. The Emergency room doctor removed
something like 10 plastic fragments between both eyes, but knew there were some deeper ones that needed a specialits attention in my right eye!
I saw a specialist two days later and he found 3 more pieces in my right eye. I have had some ghosting issues since then but no real vision issue from it. Amazzing it is, was hard wearing those patches for so long.
I suppose the Patches were better than loosing an Eye!
working at napa, we only let the batteries on the shelf for 6 months. they are date coded on side. no longer. we defect them out if over 6 months old. warranty starts when battery is sold.
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