The stock Toyota Battery is hot garbage.

I wonder if the reason that some newer batteries do not last as long is because of using newer recycling lead processes to meet EPA standards ? I say this because NorthStar makes a big deal about using virgin lead in its batteries .

 

I recently found out that it is not pure lead in battery plates to start with. Both the cathodes and anodes are different alloys. I would imagine that as long as the crystals are skimmed off in the smelting process, there should be not great difference compared to virgin.

Now, the quality of processing may come into play?

 

I had a delco in my 01 tundra, it lasted 10 years...replaced it with a deka, it was still working perfect after 9 years. If i was to get a replacement battery deka would be it.

 

No doubt Toyota went with cheaper batteries in these trucks. It's been happening for a number of years now across many car brands. It's an easy way for these companies to save a ton of money. Figure even if Toyota shaved $20 from each vehicle sold by going with batteries that last 1.5-2 years as opposed to 5-10 years, that's $214.8 million a year.

 

The factory Toyota battery started leaking acid six months after I got my truck. Went back to the dealer and showed them the top was wet and started going down the sides. Got a new one out of warranty.

 

Stock battery still going strong on my truck. Maybe just poor QC at the factory?

 

Im on the original battery after 2 years, still going strong. My truck sits 5 days a week, i only drive it on the weekends, starts beautifully every time. When i do get to drive it, i make sure i go for a nice long drive on a hwy to make sure it gets charged.

Had a bit of corrosion few months ago. Cleaned it and applied the red anti corrosion spray, so far so good. Lets see how long it lasts, i would think another year or two no problem.

 

If you are replacing your battery get an Optima. They are expensive but they live up to the hype. Being sealed corrosion is not an issue.

I run them in all of my vehicles including a deep cycle winch battery in my Jeep.

That said a bad unit can come from any manufacturing process. I just have seen a bad Optima yet.

 

I headed all this stock battery failure off at the pass and installed a optima when I put a inverter in the truck.

 

I had mine replaced within 2 years of buying my truck. Now the replacement has started leaking too. I guess it's time for an AGM

 

There are multiple causes for different types of corrosion for a battery. It could be the battery getting to hot or cold, from rapid charging/discharging. Could be corrosion of the terminals due to the differences in the metals. Or corrosion die to the gases being vented or acid around the terminals. Or could be sulfation. You did say you haven’t been driving it much lately. This could be the issue. There are a lot of underlying issues that come into play. Not just a “garbage” battery. Every car is different and so is every battery. You could take that same battery that was in that Monte Carlo and put it in the taco and it could of lasted 10 years. Or put the battery from that monte into the Tacoma and it only last several months. Way too many variables

 

I wondered that too when reading about Odyssey Batteries, got 11 years out of my last one.

 

I’d agree with you but basic AGM batteries “which are sealed as well” can stand up to the durability/length just as well as the spiral core agm optimas but are cheaper. Also don’t let an optima drop to low in voltage because it is a pita to get them back up and you also can get corrosion issues from AGM’s as well since every lead acid battery needs to vent. Let alone the corrosion caused by the hydrogen gas from sulfuric acid, the terminal connectors can produce corrosion from moisture getting onto the copper causing either white or green corrosion on the terminals depending on the type of material used “lead vs aluminum” as well.

 

Still on my original '16 battery. I keep thinking I should replace it because it's bound to fail this year right? LOL I've never had a battery last more than 5 years.

 

Yep 4 years is about the time to empty the penny jar. There are only about 3 or 4 manufactures of batteries so no matter what brand you use it is traceable back to those 3 or 4.

 

Hmm me too maybe it’s a inferno thing

 

Still on my original battery too...
Purchased mine in 10/15; straight off the car carrier.
Mine PDI'd at 91%.
Every time I start it up, I feel like Kramer from Seinfeld on the 'test drive' episode.

 

Hmm dcsb should be a Baja Mexico build? Wonder if there is something to that . Everyone who had a failed battery check and see if it’s a Texas built truck .

It also seems like there has been a lot of 16’s that are still chugging along . Although it is a silly thing to focus on.

 

Texas built 16 here...

 

My factory battery (3/17) died almost 2 years to the day. About a week before it died I noticed it was leaking, then boom it was dead. Replaced it with a deka intimidator agm with a battery tender hard mounted so I can condition it 2-3 times a month. Oddly enough the Panasonic oem battery in my power wagon last 12 years until I sold it, which included a lot of winching.