The Ultimate Car Battery Replacement Guide Shootout
Welcome to our first ever car battery replacement guide!
We’ve collected four of the best batteries in the market today. Why only four? Because we’ve subjected this list through an intense screening process and trimmed all of the fat.
Batteries are important car components that car owners regularly forget to maintain. Despite being essential parts, checking in on a car battery’s condition usually happens only when a car refuses to start. In this car battery replacement guide, we’ll give you a short list of the best batteries in the market today.
We’ll also provide maintenance tips to keep your stock battery usable for as long as possible before you need to consult this car battery replacement guide to get another one.
Why You Need To Replace Your Stock Battery
Your car comes with a stock battery under the hood. This is the one provided for by the manufacturer, and it will serve its purpose for as long as it is within its specified operational lifespan. Since everything mechanical has a half-life, your stock battery has an expiration date. This can be shortened by several factors. Taking care of your battery is an excellent way to extend its lifespan.
Car batteries last for about three to four years. If you live in a tropical country, that lifespan can be cut in half.
To ensure your stock battery lasts longer, keep your poles clean and secure it to prevent damage caused by excessive vibration. Make sure you don’t completely drain your battery by turning everything off completely before leaving your car. Take note, dash cam systems also use part of the battery.
Lastly, check for signs of corrosion and replace your battery when it becomes evident that rust and oxidation have set in. you can spot this easily if you see white powder on top of the terminals.
Stock batteries are often just the regular kind or lead-acid. This does not mean it is automatically inferior to after-market batteries, but you’re eventually going to replace it once it expires. This car battery replacement guide will point you in the right direction to get the right one when that time comes.
Until then, save your money so you can buy these batteries:
AMAZON TABLE
Two Types Of Car Batteries
There are two types of batteries, Regular and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM).
Regular batteries are lead-acid batteries that are found in most cars today. This is because they are cheaper. But cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean low-quality. It’s just that you will eventually have to replace them at the end of their lifespan.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries have a better ability to withstand the constant charging and draining that occurs when it is in use. There are also smart features like electronic safety, convenience features, fuel-saving stop-start systems, and power outlets for mobile electronic devices.
Because of this, AGM batteries cost more than a normal lead-acid battery. But that price difference will ultimately pay for itself once you have one in your hands and under your hood.
Ok, now on to the list
The Top Four Batteries In Our Ultimate List
We initially had a list of a dozen car batteries for this ultimate car battery replacement guide. We then pared it down to half a dozen before ending the list with four of the best in the market today.
You’ll notice that we’ve mainly chosen AGM batteries. This is because
#1: Odyssey PC680MJT – car battery replacement guide
Odyssey is one of the leading car battery manufacturers operating in 17 countries all over the world. They supply batteries for commercial, industrial, and military use. Needless to say, their batteries are designed with top-notch quality.
- Cold Crank Amp (CCA) - 170
- Better : Limited 3 and 4 year full replacement - not pro rata
The best example of that is the Odyssey PC680 Battery. This is a deep-cycle battery with rugged construction and the ability to take a beating. This is why most off-roaders and RV-ers choose this battery as their main go-to.
#2: Optima D35 Yellow Top – car battery replacement guide
The Optima D35 Yellow Top is the favorite battery by car show winners. This is largely due to its clean appearance and ability to be positioned in any manner within the car for maximum aesthetic appeal.
- BATTERY SPECS: 12-Volt, 620 Cold Cranking Amps, Size: 9 5/16" x 6 13/16" x 7 5/8" tall, Weight: 36.4 pounds, SAE Post, C20 Capicity: 48 AH
- RESERVE CAPACITY of 100 minutes for constant performance. Faster charging capabilities.
There are actually three types of Optima batteries to choose from: red tops for small cars, blue tops for RVs and other large vehicles (including boats), and yellow tops for its deep cycle feature.
The small size, deep cycle feature and fast-charging abilities make it a very appealing battery to own despite the price difference over all other batteries in the market today.
But don’t let its small size fool you. This battery can deliver 650 cold cranking AMPS and has a slow discharge rate. Powering a large vehicle or storing it for a long time shouldn’t pose a problem for you. You can always make sure you’ll have a vehicle that’s ready to go with an Optima battery under its hood.
You’ll also find Optima batteries under the hood of most race cars because they don’t add too much to the car’s overall weight.
#3: AC Delco 94RAGM – car battery replacement guide
You don’t stay in operation and on top of the competition for 100 years if you don’t have the quality to back it up. That’s what AC Delco did and continues to do so to this day. AC Delco is one of the top battery brands chosen by car manufacturers to power their cars.
- High density negative paste, improves performance and increases battery life
- Enhanced life alloy or Silver Calcium stamped alloy increases cycle life and improves performance, High density plate oxide provides for maximum power-per-pound and dependable high cycling service
Take the ACDelco 94RAGM Professional AGM Automotive battery, for example. This high-quality battery is designed to last a long time with consistent performance throughout its lifespan.
With its length of tenure in the battery manufacturing industry, AC Delco has managed to perfect the process of churning out high-quality products with less than 2% defect and return rate. That’s a pretty good record for a very old company.
#4: XS Power D6500 Battery – car battery replacement guide
One of the best things we love about the XS Power D6500 battery is its leak-proof design. That means you can mount it in any position and orientation. Although this battery is often used for powering audio systems, it can easily replace your stock battery and help you keep your car running.
- 12 Volt battery with CA: 1070, Ah: 75
- Absorbed Glass Mat (electrolyte is suspended in fiberglass)
The XS Power D6500 battery is also designed to take a beating. This is the reason why it is also used for industrial and military purposes. Aside from being an excellent car battery, you can also use it for solar power grid applications.
Creating a series of these batteries will help you store energy that you can use for practical purposes within and without your home.
Tips On How To Choose The Right Battery For Your Car
And so we end this car battery replacement guide with a few helpful tips on how to choose the right one for your car. In the long run, selecting the right battery will help you save money. Taking care of your batteries will help you extend that investment even further.
Choose The Right Battery For Your Car
Let’s start with choosing the right battery for your car. You can find this information in your car’s manual. If you don’t have that, you can always consult with a professional mechanic. Or you could simply look at the information on your stock battery and ask a battery service center for an appropriate replacement.
You should also consider the climate you live in. If you live in a cold place, choose one with an “N” or “North” label. For hot-weather batteries, choose one that has an “S” or “South” label.
Get A Maintenance-Free Battery
Maintenance-free batteries reduce the need for constantly checking your fluids. That alone is reason enough for you to pick maintenance-free batteries over conventional ones. The price difference will be worth it.
Get A Battery From A Good Company
Get one of the batteries we’ve included in this ultimate car battery replacement guide. We’ve already done the necessary research for you, now all you have to do is pick one and have a worry-free experience for as long as your warranty is guaranteed.
Although the reason we’ve created this ultimate car battery replacement guide is to make it easier for you to pick which one to buy, you should still do your research. Make sure you have a service center you can bring your battery into for preventive maintenance, repairs, and proper disposal.
Always Buy New Batteries
Although you can save a lot of money by buying a second-hand battery, you should also understand that batteries lose power over time. If you’re getting an old one, make sure it will still last long enough to justify the price you bought it at.
Save your money and just go ahead and buy a new one.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this ultimate car battery replacement guide. As you can see, there are a lot of options to pick from. Just make sure you pick the right one for your car and always have your batteries checked to ensure there are no problems that will surprise you when you least expect it.
Although this list is designed to help pinpoint which ones are the best, you should still do your research and look at other batteries and compare them with what we have presented to you.
Related Questions
My Car’s Battery Keeps Dying. What Should I Do?
You should check your battery’s expiration date, terminals, and wiring. If it’s old, replace it. Pick one from our car battery replacement guide list. If it’s new, you might have a problem with your car’s wiring. Have a professional electrician look at your wiring harness to check for any grounding.
Can I Combine Different Batteries For My EV?
You can, but it’s not ideal. Batteries are basically the same when it comes to practical application. The only difference is the charging rate and output of each one. Combining different battery brands could harm your EV’s operation.
How Do I Properly Dispose Of My Dead Battery?
Bring it to a proper battery disposal center. Usually, the place where you bought your battery will also accept it when you bring it in for a replacement. This makes it convenient for you to get rid of your old dead one and get a new one within minutes of pulling into the service center.