Well my batteries are at 9V after being fully charged and about one minute of cranking. One of them is dated 2007. They are definitely not matched.


I'm not sure what to buy any more. I went with a high-quality AGM on my motorcycle after going through two lead acids and a low-quality AGM in two years. But on the truck, it would seem as though the AGMs might be over charged. I've read that they need to be charged between 12.4 and 12.8 volts. It seems to me that if the alternator was designed for the higher charging voltage of lead acid batteries, then I should put lead acid batteries in. But maybe it'd be fine.


I'd like to spend $300 or less, but it seems like battery prices have been creeping up over time and I'm just now noticing. I could spend up to $400 if I'm sure that I'm getting a good battery. I'd like at least a 3 year free replacement. I just noted that the NAPA batteries only come with 18 months free replacement, YUCK!


Everything I see for the USA-made Odyssey AGM batteries are prohibitively expensive, and unfortunately their clone the Sears Diehard Platinum aren't any cheaper. I've also read that the Diehard Platinum isn't an Odyssey battery anymore.


I'd be perfectly happy with a Lead Acid battery that has at least a 3 year replacement warranty and isn't a known pile of junk..


What do you guys recommend?

 

i like the agm optimas

 

motorcraft

 

I like AGM's if for no other reason than not having to mess with terminal corrosion. No battery expert here but there is some confusion over the terms lead-acid and AGM. AGM batteries are lead-acid batteries, they just have the lead and acid in a different internal configuration than conventional flooded lead-acid batteries.

I also think that all batteries last longer when charged at a certain voltage and then switched to a float voltage once charged. This just isn't practical for automotive applications so all of our batteries suffer due to the realities of being stuffed under a hood rather than in a fixed installation.

I paid a fortune for made in USA AGM batteries. Whether it was worth it or not I can't say yet.

 

I'm with Darin, Motorcraft for the win.

 

Anybody know who makes the Motorcraft batteries for Ford?

 

XS POWER!!

 

Unsure. However they IMO are the best battery for the buck, I won't buy any other anymore. 3 year full replacement warranty, pro rated warranty up to 7 or 8 years iirc. I use a lot of batteries, and these are the best I've found for a normal battery. My dad's lasted 10 years in his V10, my van lasted over 8 years on original motorcrafts.

 

Thanks, good to know.

 

last set of lead acid batterys we got were from costco, good batterys, but dont last long as the yellow top optimas, ive had them since 2003 still going strong, but my lead acids i change out ever 5 or 7 years.