Longest-lasting car battery?

[knightfan26917]

The last Sunday of August (August 30, 2009), I had to buy a new battery for my 1981 Monte Carlo SC. I've owned this car since December 1999 (when I bought it from my parents) and have not previously replaced the battery during my time as owner. The old battery was a GM/AC Delco battery.

So ... I asked Dad to look through his records to find out when that battery was installed. He looked and found that it was bought and installed February 4, 1997. The '81 MC SC had 167,000 miles at that time. When I replaced that battery, the car had 192,000 miles.

Thus ... that GM/AC Delco battery lasted over 12.5 years ... and 25,000 miles.

What is the longest a battery has lasted in your car(s)?

Cort | 36swm.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...radio show, Dec 09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Nothing lasts forever" ... Guns N Roses ... 'November Rain'

[Justin Bimmer]

I can say with 100% certainty that the new ACDelco batteries will NEVER last that long. Most likely wont last more than 2 years.

I have DieHard Gold in my car. Sears has been good to me with batteries.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Factory ACDelco battery in my Cavalier lasted from 1997-2007.

[2005 EquinoxLS]

When I aqquired the Bonneville in 1998 it had an Interstate from 1987. I have Interstate in both the old cars and thats what Dad always used with good luck.

[Drew Dowdell]

I always go with the Diehard with the best warranty.

[balthazar]

7 years seems to be the average long-side expectation for modern batteries.

But while we're on batteries here, can anyone explain the OMG so much better modern car battery ??

Used to be a battery toward the sunset of it's life would crank slower, giving you a tidy nudge it was going.

But now you drive somewhere, get back in & pfft; nothing, and you are stranded.

Is this a result of lobbying by the towing industry, or what ??

[loki]

i beleive my 99 MC's i replaced last year about this time, i think, was the original. or it was winter 08 as in jan-feb. so that'd make it 8-9 years and 140,000 ish miles

[hyperv6]

I have had Delco's last anywhere from 5 years in the GTP to 18 years in the Fiero. The average Delco usally went at least as long as I have owned most cars with 5-12 year being the range.

I have been using Optima's since I have them at work and Delco's are not easy to find in my area.

So far I have had 3 and never an issue with the Optima. The first one in the fiero is now about 8 years old. I got it for $7 new so it was worth the risk.

My delema is the battery for the HHR when I need to replace it. It is a vented battery since it is next to the spare tire. The Optima is a sealed battery but does have pressure vents on the top. I have a call in to Optima's sales manager to see what we are to do with their battteries that need to be mounted inside the cars. I know their batteries only vent if they are charged over 15 volts for long periods of time. This should not happen unless a regulator goes out. I wondered if they had some vent adaptor for these.

[daves87rs]

I always go with the Diehard with the best warranty.

+1

Best bang for buck....

[daves87rs]

7 years seems to be the average long-side expectation for modern batteries.

But while we're on batteries here, can anyone explain the OMG so much better modern car battery ??

Used to be a battery toward the sunset of it's life would crank slower, giving you a tidy nudge it was going.

But now you drive somewhere, get back in & pfft; nothing, and you are stranded.

Is this a result of lobbying by the towing industry, or what ??

My Cav's battery is creeping to six years now....