Yellow Top battery died after only 6 years. Your experiences?

Hey folks. Wondering what others have experienced with Yellow Top deep cycle batteries? This morning I went to start my truck and it flickered and wouldn't even turn over. After jumping it I double checked and nothing was left on or ajar to trigger lights/electrical drain. I had just driven the truck for over an hour less than 10 hours prior.

I'm wondering if I just somehow already got to the end of my yellow top. When I bought it I did so for a few reasons, namely being that it should last longer than a standard lead-acid battery. I've never run it down but do have a light bar wired to it. However to my knowledge it's not doing any sort of phantom power draw. They come with a 3 year warranty, so maybe that's all that they're forecasted to last. But man, I feel like being drained after 6 years is nothing.

 

True deep cycle lead acid batteries can discharge lower, longer...but also have to charge longer. Starter batteries have thin plates that accept a charge quickly. If you were not having a regular long drive it might have not been getting fully re-charged. You end up in a deficit charging scenario. 100% becomes 98%. That becomes the new 100%, then that's 98% becomes the new 100% and so on.
People kill deep cycle off grid batteries just this way. Ask me how I know... or don't.

 

Most AGMs, assuming when you say Yellow top you mean Optima, need higher charging voltage than a Tacoma normally puts out. It never fully charges the battery. In a 2nd gen, you'd need a voltage booster to trick the alternator into putting out higher voltage. A 3rd gen, a tune can be used to the same effect. Instead of charging to 100%, it may only charge to 80-90%.

Now, in my opinion, 6 years is still pretty good. I'd be happy if it lasted longer, but not going to be disappointed if it lasts 5 or 6 years. My yellow top didn't last that long, but I'm pretty sure that me driving on it with two jump packs hooked to it to get me off the freeway when my alternator died had something to do with it. After installing the new alternator and letting it charge it blew the seals.

 

Yeah I think six years is a decent run for a yellow top. That’s about what I’ve gotten out of them.

 

I’m at almost 9 years on mine but I keep it on a trickle charger for the most part. The truck doesn’t get driven much so the slow charger maintain the battery over time.

there’s other factor that comes to play (gel, acid) that one must consider. Temperature (hot vs cold), types of draw and how often, to battery connection and charge it receives from the alternator.

 

On my daily, I’ve never gotten more than 4.5 years out of a battery. I’ve tried OEM, Odyssey Platinum, Optima Red Top, and Interstate. I think temperature was the biggest factor in the life of my batteries since I lived/worked in the desert.

I’m now using Interstate from Costco since they’re the cheapest and the warranty exchange program is the simplest.

 

yep. I tell a lot of people the same thing. Go with a national supplier such as Costco or Walmart because they’re cheap and you’re able to exchange a defective battery nationwide.

if you can get 5 years out of any battery, I consider that a win.

 

Electrical components are hard to predict. The most expensive battery I've ever purchased lasted 1 year. Around 5 years is common. They last longer in colder climates. It's hot weather that kills batteries but most guys with weak batteries don't find out until it gets cold. A weak, almost dead battery will still start a car in warm weather.

 

6 years is good. Seems like most last between 4-8 years.