BATTERIES..

The Costco brand Interstate is not the same and doesn't carry the same warranty. I got that info straight from an Interstate Dealer

 

FWIW, I'm running an Optima Red Top (AGM) in my SR 4-banger. Charging voltage is over 14 volts with no tune.

 

Toyotas with D4-S need a fuel system flush every 30k. I got this info straight from a Toyota dealer

 

funny you mention that because costco sells INTERSTATE while sam's club sells DURACELL.
i happen to have a membership for both retailers lol.

 

some costco's happen to sell "Kirkland" brand car batteries

 

Dunno about those. Id suspect rebranded Interstate.

But of course Toyota sells Toyota filters, oil and lubricants they don't make either, and some rave about those.......

 

I have understood the battery lingo as -AGM= absorbed glass mat with the absorbed part meaning no spillable liquid inside, Flooded= liquid inside, either maintenance free or not- (Toyota battery), Lead Acid= the type of battery construction, AGM and flooded are both lead acid batteries and not the lithium or NiCad type. Anyways, I've found that most cars and trucks come with maintenance free batteries, and nobody even looks at them since there is nothing to maintain. I think it's possible that the seemingly early battery failures in the Tacoma (at least) is related to the battery being a maintainable type and poor maintenance being the leading cause of failure. It needs some love too, keeping it clean, checking and topping up with some distilled water, being extra careful about contamination and it should last a good long life. Barring any extreme off-roading or climates to cause an early death. I will probably buy a maintenance free battery when it's time, just for the reduction of possible contamination from topping up the battery.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7rTcBanpMk Figured i'd post this from Project Farm. Great watch on judging the battery you should get.

Yes it also mentions cold, voltage, capacity, all of it

 

"The OEM batteries are refillable. You can pull the caps and add water."
Have you ever done that? Any instructional video exist? Really interested!

 

^Lol no. I put in an Optima Red 35 the day after I drove my truck home from the dealer and put the OEM battery up for sale. Life is too short to drive stock.