Interstate Battery -- 14years, RIP

Jeepwalker · Sep 19, 2022

Guys,

Thought I'd throw this out there, for the "which Truck battery should I buy?" crowd.

I took this out of my skid steer yesterday. Recently died. The previous owner indicated he'd instll'd a new batt about a year before I got the s/t so the timeline lines up. Sticker says 9/08. That makes it almost exactly 14 years. The Interstate guy (at the Interstate Store) looked it over, said yep, it was the date. Pretty amazing. They see that from time to time he says, but not very often. It was made by Johnson Controls (now called Clarios). In our region (WI) batteries can last a long time due to the climate.

Just conjecture, but I attribute the long life to: 1) Good fortune lol, 2) No parasitic drain. I never let it go flat, and I regularly put a Battery Minder on it, 3) Good quality battery in the first place, 4) It sits in an area that doesn't get real hot, 5) Possibly the high vibration of the machine shakes off 'flakes' and deposits helps expose as much lead over the life of the battery, so it wears evenly. IDK. The OEM battery in my Ram (also Johnson Controls) lasted 10 or 11 years (I forget now..) when it finally passed on.

So....I bought another identical battery from the interstate store, for the skid. It was actually cheaper than the local farm and barn (and theirs wasn't 950cca). The Intersate store has the freshest stock. The new battery hardly took much time to 'top-off'. Obviously YMMV, esp depending on where ya live, and how the battery is treated. Hot temps are real tough on batteries...

Jeepwalker · Sep 19, 2022

FWIW, guys looking to buy a new battery, I would ask the vendor ..whoever it is, to do a full test on a battery at the store ...BEFORE YOU PAY. If it's low on volts or load recovery, reject it and get another one (preferrably off the back of the rack).

About a month ago I bought a Group 34 battery at a farm n barn. Stupid me, I just put it in the cart ...forgetting to get it tested. Well, it took a full 12 hours of charging, if not more, @ 1.5a, to top it off. Which is quite a while based on other batteries I've bought. It was probably sitting on the shelf a while, probably getting sufated. That can't add to the battery's life.

Lesson learned: Have it checked before leaving the store ...and pick one from the back of the rack if you can. I should have known better. :emotions122:

That's why I purchased the most recent battery at the Interstate store.

GTyankee · Sep 20, 2022

I bought my Interstate Battery for my 2016 EcoDiesel
I was at Costco

I was on my knees in front of the battery rack

One of the employees walked over to me & asked what i was doing.
I told him that i was checking dates

It turns out that battery that was at the front of the rack was the freshest

It left with me

I always preferred Interstate Brands

dc327 · Sep 20, 2022

Picked up an Odyssey AGM for the Ram. Cost a touch more but knowing the East coast swing in temps isn't kind to batteries ( my last one lasted 2 years 2 months - Duralast made by East Penn ) I figure the better technology and massive draw by all the electronics... I'd spend the cash.

PolarisCobra · Sep 20, 2022

I bought a Craftsman lawn tractor in 2001. The battery lasted until 2009, longer than I thought it would. Since that one lasted so long, I went to Sears, got another. Showed the guy at the counter the date, he sait 'this new one won't last that long', which was hard to disagree with at the time.

That second battery is still in the tractor today. I don't do anything special, just park it in the shed in the fall, start it in the spring. I do blow out the engine compartment and are around the battery with the leaf blower every time I cut the grass, keeping the dust off the top helps I think.

I have needed to jump start it in the spring a couple if times, but it starts every time for the rest of the summer after that. Current battery is 12 years old.

Go figure...

Scottly · Sep 20, 2022

Jeepwalker said:
Guys,

Thought I'd throw this out there, for the "which Truck battery should I buy?" crowd.

I took this out of my skid steer yesterday. Recently died. The previous owner indicated he'd instll'd a new batt about a year before I got the s/t so the timeline lines up. Sticker says 9/08. That makes it almost exactly 14 years. The Interstate guy (at the Interstate Store) looked it over, said yep, it was the date. Pretty amazing. They see that from time to time he says, but not very often. It was made by Johnson Controls (now called Clarios). In our region (WI) batteries can last a long time due to the climate.

Just conjecture, but I attribute the long life to: 1) Good fortune lol, 2) No parasitic drain. I never let it go flat, and I regularly put a Battery Minder on it, 3) Good quality battery in the first place, 4) It sits in an area that doesn't get real hot, 5) Possibly the high vibration of the machine shakes off 'flakes' and deposits helps expose as much lead over the life of the battery, so it wears evenly. IDK. The OEM battery in my Ram (also Johnson Controls) lasted 10 or 11 years (I forget now..) when it finally passed on.

So....I bought another identical battery from the interstate store, for the skid. It was actually cheaper than the local farm and barn (and theirs wasn't 950cca). The Intersate store has the freshest stock. The new battery hardly took much time to 'top-off'. Obviously YMMV, esp depending on where ya live, and how the battery is treated. Hot temps are real tough on batteries...

This post gets an "A" for having zero hickerbilly goober nonsense in it. Good, clean, straight, true information that should be a sticker somewhere in this forum, so every time we hear something stooooopid about batteries, we can just point them to it. Now if we could just do this for oil.......Naaa, never work

Jeepwalker · Sep 20, 2022

I bought a Craftsman lawn tractor in 2001. The battery lasted until 2009, longer than I thought it would.

I've experience that too on mowers. That's why I speculate the vibration knocks off, or shakes loose some deposits or worn battery material thereby exposing still-good lead to be exposed to the electrolyte. Just a theory. That said, I've got two Yellow-tops which are approaching the 10yr mark and there's not shaking on those ..lol. But then again, different technology.

If my s/loader happens to sit a week or two w/o use, I would make a habit (if I was walking by) to reach in and give the battery a vigorous rock back-n-fourth (I loosened the hold-down). And always gave it a vigorous shake before putting the charger on it. To keep the electrolyte mixed up. Not necessary on a DD.

wgreggking · Sep 20, 2022

Interstate, 2 dual battery's in 2015 RV, lasted 7yrs. Boat same, all trickle charged. Tried Orielys deep cycle in the boat, 1.5 yrs, back to Interstate. Have a Duralast AGM in my 2500 17, I was in a pinch, on a Sunday. I test it frequently, bet it wont make 2 yrs, $200, junk.

Burla · Sep 20, 2022

Well, I will update this thread in 4 years, yeah right, but that is how long I need to see if my interstate battery outlasts my oem. So far so good, I have to check the date on the battery but so far many years on my interstate, but then again my oem lasted insanely long as well. I guess we people in mild climates benefit in many ways over our brothers and sisters who battle to live in the snow belt.

costco now sells h7 and it is a smoking deal. So good I'm not 100% it is the same interstate you can buy locally, the warranty is actually less I believe.

Wild one · Sep 20, 2022

We were looking a buddies early build 2017 over a few years ago,and it had a 2014 date on the battery.He'd bought the truck new,and had never changed the battery at the time

GTyankee · Sep 20, 2022

Is Costco higher priced Than the Interstate All Battery Center ?

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/locations/all-battery-center-la-mesa-ca?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=localmaps&utm_content=8217

PREMIUM

MTX-49/H8

$249.95 SRP (USD)
Group Size H8
900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

36 month warranty
900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Cranking Amps (CA)1125
Reserve Capacity (RC)160 minutes
Amp Hours (Ah)95
Group Size H8
Absorbed Glass-Mat (AGM)

....................................

Costco would not install the battery in the service Center

Jeepwalker · Sep 20, 2022

Who knows?? Give them a call. I'd be surprised if Interstate was cheaper than Costco. Not really a fair comparison -- they don't have the bulk or volume IDT. But a call can't hurt. Interstate gave me a price on the phone (didn't need install). I bought a second battery which was cheaper than the Premium battery at the local farm n barn, same group #. Costco is usually cheaper product for product ....and their service/returns are hard to beat. If you go to Costco a lot, that's probably a better place to get one (while you're there).

Not much to installing a Ram battery, unless you have a diesel or special application: Remove battery -> Clean battery cable terminals -> Install new battery. They're heavy though, I'll give you that. The Skid Steer battery was 62#! LOL and had to be carefully 'threaded' ...not using the handles via an awkward angle through a small opening!! Dodge Ram batt location is a lot more accessible.

GTyankee · Sep 21, 2022

Mine is a bit complex
I have 4 waterproof inline fuses that run off the battery

Jeepwalker · Sep 21, 2022

...It still has two posts (to remove) and a hold-down bolt like the other trucks

Burla · Sep 21, 2022

GTyankee said:
Is Costco higher priced Than the Interstate All Battery Center ?

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/locations/all-battery-center-la-mesa-ca?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=localmaps&utm_content=8217

PREMIUM
MTX-49/H8
$249.95 SRP (USD)
Group Size H8
900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

36 month warranty

900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

Cranking Amps (CA)1125

Reserve Capacity (RC)160 minutes

Amp Hours (Ah)95

Group Size H8

Absorbed Glass-Mat (AGM)

....................................

Costco would not install the battery in the service Center

I have not checked it recently, this was years ago and to be honest I forget, I believe the price back then was 179. It was under that for sure. Do you use a h8? Maybe costco knows the overwhelmingly number of those that will fail in 36 months is minuscule and they get a cheaper price to write of factory warranty? just a guess. When I delivered to costco not only did they sell a larger size then what I distributed, but they also sold it at a 2% margin when my other customers where at 30 to 50% depending on the store. I'd have a huge route many stores many stops, costco's order was simple and half of the sales of the entire route. Costco is so ridiculous it should be banned, lol. But it is so cool to have as a consumer I'm glad it's not.

from costco on quality and warranty..

Costco Interstate batteries offer the same reliable power as Interstate batteries, but a different warranty program supports them.

A 36-month limited replacement warranty supports all Costco car batteries.

Loudram · Sep 21, 2022

I had an Interstate battery in my '01 Ram 1500. It was in there when I bought the truck in '04. It finally died in '14 or '15. I don't know the date code. That survived for a long time up here in NJ.

Docwagon1776 · Sep 22, 2022

My OEM battery finally died last week, 10.5 years of service. I had a road trip coming up so it was perfect timing. The next day would have left me needing a jump. Due to a shortage of time I got an AutoZone battery with a 3 year warranty. I figure it's my son's problem when that one dies.

Marshall · Sep 22, 2022

My 14 is still on original battery
Most of the time is in a garage
It has sat out at -30 or so a few times. Truck is just at 80km now

mopareg · Sep 22, 2022

Put an Odyssee in my 2000 Ram 1500 and it lasted 10 years

huntergreen · Sep 22, 2022

mopareg said:
Put an Odyssee in my 2000 Ram 1500 and it lasted 10 years

Which odyssey ? Red yellow ?

Interstate Battery -- 14years, RIP

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