DieHard, Interstate or Optima?

Constantly having reliability issues if running a optima battery. To me if you’re gonna shell out for a optima you are better off not being cheap and go with the best, a Odyssey or Northstar. Sams club made me go thru hell over 4 dead yellow tops and 1 red, I wound up getting a refund.

 

If I remember I used the stock one, but I did not drill out any holes

 

Hmmm....I guess the size of the hole has changed in the most recent production as it looks like I need to drill out the hole to run the stock j-hook through.

 

I know my truck sits in the garage most of the time nowadays on a battery tender since April 2016, but that "Toyota True-Start" battery has been in there for almost 9 years and still is reliable as heck every time the truck's out and in use for 1-2 months at a time without the benefit of that tender. Only costed me $79 in 2011.
Not sure what is considered a "long life" of a car battery but I figure I'm doing pretty good with this battery.

 

4 years is decent. (climate can change the number) but 4-5 years is good. anything more is amazing.

 

Super Start Premium dated 5/17. Runs all my pods, rocks, and bar lights. I drive the truck once a week and the voltage fluctuate from 13.7-14.1. So far so good.

 

Another data point for you. My Duralast is nearly 10 years old. Getting a little weak, but still going. The truck sat for a week until this Saturday. I hopped in and it fired right up.

 

I buy my Odyssey battery on Amazon Prime. Free 2-day shipping.
Do some research and read up on them; they seem to be built a LOT tougher than most batteries.

 

Pick one they all last about 4 years. There are only about 3 manufactures and 50 different names for the same battery.

 

Copied and pasted from this thread:

Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers: Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries.

Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models.

Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries.

Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

East Penn - a much smaller company- makes Carquest, DEKA, Daimler Trucks North America, Deere & Company, Harley-Davidson and several private labels.

There are some other companies (e.g, Enersys) that make industrial batteries but avoid the automotive market.

Personally I have used batteries from all four companies and find them to be of about equal quality.

Each makes some junk, and each makes some premium batties.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1876403

 

I don't see Northstar or Odyssey on your list.

 

If you can't make up your mind between the batteries pick them up buy the heaviest one.

 

If you have Interstate local you can get discount on high end old stock shelf batteries.

 

Another add: The X2 Power from Batteries Plus Bulbs, Rebranded Northstar I believe. 840CCA group 24, 60 month warranty at any of their locations, and usually you can get 10% off with purchase online pick up in store.

 

Had an Optima die on me right at the three year mark. It was kind of my fault because I left the interior light on as I went out to sea for like six weeks. I couldn’t jump her so I went to Auto Zone and bought another Yellow top thinking I could recharge the ole one and keep for a dual battery set up but it came back bad. I’ve been running the other yellow top for a year but when I finally do my dual battery set up I’m going with Northstar or Odyssea

 

I've used Deka batteries in 2 of my vehicles in the past, both lasting over 7 years without issues in Portland, OR.

I used Interstate batteries (Costco) for my Mom and sister's cars because of convenience. Both had to be replaced under a year or two under warranty. Fortunately, the replacements have held up so far (on year 2).

 

After shopping around I ended up getting another stock OEM battery. It was much less expensive, I like it having the factory look under the hood, and for the money I could buy several OEM for the price of one of the higher end batteries.

 

not my list. directly quoted from linked thread

 

you bought an interstate battery with a Toyota sticker on it. Same one they sell at Costco.

 

Yes. I was pretty sure Toyota didn’t make the battery. Paying for the badge. Just like UnderArmor, Nike etc. But I like the look