Premium (or just plain good) car battery?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I'm starting to think about replacing the battery in my car. It works well enough when I drive it daily but, will discharge to a dead state if I let it sit for too long. Add the heat in Arizona and the rough roads and you can start to imagine the torture inflicted on a daily basis.

In the past, I always bought Caterpillar automotive batteries when I needed to. They seem to handle vibration better then any battery I owned previously. They also held a charge and thumped the starter good and hard in any weather to get me going.

Befoe I go out and buy another Caterpillar battery to replace the factory battery I currently have, I thought I would ask about those new fangled dry cell style batteries you see advertised in the car audio magazines. I seem to recall reading that the military used a similar style battery. Are those batteries really worth the money? Do they have a long lifespan? Will they hold a charge a long time? How about lifespan issues in severe heat and cold?

THANKS!
 
For years, I've purchased used cars that have a rather short expected lifespan, so I don't spring for batteries that will outlast the car.
 
I've had an Optima Red Top in my truck going on 4 years now, and I love it. Takes away all maintenance worries, and it is very strong. Supposedly good for 12,000 starts, which is triple a conventional battery. I do a lot of off-roading, so this baby has gotten a lot of shocks, as well as cold, and so far, it's been great!
 
I know it's not a dry cell battery, but I have had really good luck with the Interstate brand of car Battery.
 
Back in my auto-mechanic days, Interstate made the best car battery.

There's only a few actual manufacturers, which brand out to all the different brands seen.

--dan
 
Optima Red Top-Had this one in a 4 runner and then in my Land Cruiser.Texas heat,horrible roads.Bought it seven(7) years or more ago.Initial purchase price is higher,but considering it has lasted about 4 conventional batteries.You do the math.Buy the Optima,quit thinking about car batteries and concentrate on the really important stuff!!! Something with a sharp edge!!!Having said all this,it will probably crap out on me soon.
Good luck
 
Balcones has the general tone of the question I am asking.

I don't want to find myself in parking lot late at night again with a dead battery, ever. Reliability and life cycle costs are what I am looking at. I will pay a slight premium for more reliability. To get that I can replace a lesser battery often or, buy a better battery and stop worrying about replacing it.

My last battery purchase for my Nissan pickup replaced the factory stock unit at about 3 years and ~40,000 miles. That Caterpillar battery took that pickup to the end of its lifecycle with me. After 11 years and ~145,000 miles I think that was a darn good investment in a ~$65 Caterpillar battery. 100,000 miles on some of the roughest roads around didn't phase that battery a bit. The difference in cranking power was blatently obvious the first time I put the key in the ignition - it hit so hard I thought I would wear the starter out as the front suspension took a dive each time I started it up. :eek:

One cab ride or a tow truck jump start makes the $20 I save on a lesser battery pretty darn expensive ;)
 
Sid, Your observation about the Caterpillar battery
being both tough and dependable is correct.

I just retired from that company , in quality
control, after 39 yrs. I can tell you that while
Caterpillar doesn't make the batteries they are
made to Caterpillar's design and spec's to use with
heavy equipment. That does make them a bit of over
kill for "personal" use but also means they will
be there when you need them. The one in my truck is
going on 10yrs. now with good meter readings still
yet. When will it die I don't know so to be safe,
after 10yrs, I'll replace it this fall.

So from my point of view if the Cat batteries work
then "it ain't broke so don't fix it". Buy another
Cat battery. :D
 
Damn Those Caterpillar Batteries sound awesome, I think Your positive comments on that battery have me sold. hopefully I will get a few more years of service with the one I have now.
 
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