check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar rearview170 Topargee products Enginesaver Low Water Alarms
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Techies' Corner -> Battery Longevity
Post Info TOPIC: Battery Longevity
The Travelling Dillberries


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1010
Date:
Battery Longevity
Permalink  

I have just replaced the battery in my Mothers Toyota Starlet. Interesting to note the battery was purchased and installed in 2006, ie 14 years old.

It was still starting the car but was getting slower to start. I took it out, put the meter on and it read 12.6V. Put the charger on for 24 hrs and after settling time(12hrs) it read 12.8V. For all intents a fully charged battery.

So thinking about the long life and why, the pattern of use is pretty regular over the years, (creature of habit), the car being started on average 4 times a week and mainly used on short (10 minute max)  trips. A longer trip of around 30 minutes on occasions.

 My guess is this useage (charging regime) is exactly what the battery required to keep it in good condition, plus of course a quality battery to begin with, made in Aus.

IMG_20200306_144952.jpg

 

Has anyone else had as long or longer life from a car start battery?

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Chris & Sharyn.

Tea Gardens. NSW.

2015 VW Touareg V6 Air suspension, 2012 Jayco Sterling 21.
ShortNorth


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 297
Date:
Permalink  

I have a nine year old Kia Cerato SLi - it still has the original Korean OEM battery. I only have a few minor non-starts if the car has been left for more than 2-3 weeks without starting - then I use a Smart Jump Start, to kick it over, then it all works normally again. Can't think of the name of the Korean battery.

__________________

Wondering about ShortNorth ? - Short North is the railwayman's nickname for the NSWGR main line between Sydney and Newcastle
Warren-Pat_01


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2049
Date:
Permalink  

Vibration, heat, abuse are three things that kill batteries.

The best I did were the batteries in my first Patrol (MQ & 24v). They lasted six years.

__________________

Warren

----------------

If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!

2019 Isuzu D-Max dual cab, canopy, Fulcrum suspension; 2011 17' Jayco Discovery poptop Outback
Peter_n_Margaret


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4375
Date:
Permalink  

Batteries for black top driving are like tyres.
They wear out when being used and they deteriorate with age.
It depends which gets there first.

Off road vibrations from corrugations will kill wet cell batteries. I have killed them in 2 years.
I use AGMs for cranking and have had them last 9 years.
Cheers,
Peter

__________________

OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Whenarewethere


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7579
Date:
Permalink  

Couldn't tell you how long mine last as I replace it at 4 years. Too much effort wasted with the inconvenience of a stuffed battery.



__________________

Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
Jaahn


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1947
Date:
Permalink  

Hi smile

It has been my experience over many years that battery life is very variable. Some batteries seem to go on and on with normal use and others can just quit one day for no apparent reason. In between are the average ones. So treat your batteries well, do not let them get down too far, use a battery minder to keep them charged if you do not drive much, and hope you got the long life one. aww

I find that having a solar panel with a good regulator keeps the batteries fully charged whether using the MH or not. I replaced the vehicle battery recently as it was more than 6 years old and was in there when I bought it. Still starting OK but we were going away and I cannot be bothered worrying about whether it will start when we are away.hmm  

On my car which was used regularly most days the battery just had a cell fail one day. Still started but obviously not instantly as before. My learner driver even noticed the change.  Why did it fail at 4 years, who knows. But it does have variable voltage control so is not kept as fully charged as in previous times. Hmmm is this progress ?confuse

Jaahn



__________________
Whenarewethere


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7579
Date:
Permalink  

My neighbour's Honda's battery lost one cell at 3 years. I was shocked at how small the battery was. Reducing weight maybe!



__________________

Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
bgt


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1309
Date:
Permalink  

It's not all about charge/volts. Keep in mind CCA. Our RAM was in top condition when the battery simply wouldn't turn the motor. Had plenty of volts on the meter but not enough to turn half a ton of engine over.


__________________
Peter_n_Margaret


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4375
Date:
Permalink  

bgt wrote:

It's not all about charge/volts. Keep in mind CCA. Our RAM was in top condition when the battery simply wouldn't turn the motor. Had plenty of volts on the meter but not enough to turn half a ton of engine over.

 It may have seemed to be in top condition, but it clearly was not.

A CCA test is also useless for checking the capacity of a deep cycle battery.

Cheers,

Peter



__________________

OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Bicyclecamper


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1421
Date:
Permalink  

15 years for my 2001 Vitara, and then sold vehicle, did not replace it before I sold it. It too was a smaller battery.



-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 8th of March 2020 01:53:35 PM

__________________

Ric - The Eccentric One
The Travelling Dillberries


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1010
Date:
Permalink  

Bicyclecamper wrote:

15 years for my 2001 Vitara, and then sold vehicle, did not replace it before I sold it. It too was a smaller battery.



-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 8th of March 2020 01:53:35 PM

 Do you know what make it was? Was the car used regularly?



__________________

Chris & Sharyn.

Tea Gardens. NSW.

2015 VW Touareg V6 Air suspension, 2012 Jayco Sterling 21.
Aus-Kiwi


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7642
Date:
Permalink  

About 8 to 10 years here . Too scared to say as it often brings on bad luck ! Seems every time I praise anything . Bang !! Years ago a neighbour asked how good was my hay bailer . I said great hardly cost be a cent . Next minute bang !! When its funny but not !!

__________________
Whats out there
markf


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 215
Date:
Permalink  

My wife's 1997 Subaru had it's last battery replacement in 2000. It's starting to get a bit slow in the cranking department now though. We've never really thought about it until this thread. It's probably getting on towards time for a new one though.



__________________

Cheers,

Mark F...

VK3KW

Land Rover 2002 Discovery 2 Auto Td5

2010 Outback Campers Sturt

http://jandmf.com
The Travelling Dillberries


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1010
Date:
Permalink  

markf wrote:

My wife's 1997 Subaru had it's last battery replacement in 2000. It's starting to get a bit slow in the cranking department now though. We've never really thought about it until this thread. It's probably getting on towards time for a new one though.

 That's a great battery life Mark, can you let us know what brand it is?



__________________

Chris & Sharyn.

Tea Gardens. NSW.

2015 VW Touareg V6 Air suspension, 2012 Jayco Sterling 21.
Aus-Kiwi


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7642
Date:
Permalink  

Mine is like that too !!

__________________
Whats out there
markf


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 215
Date:
Permalink  

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
markf wrote:

My wife's 1997 Subaru had it's last battery replacement in 2000. It's starting to get a bit slow in the cranking department now though. We've never really thought about it until this thread. It's probably getting on towards time for a new one though.

 That's a great battery life Mark, can you let us know what brand it is?

It's just a common or garden Century. All it's life I've only ever topped it up with just plain tap water. It's been run dead flat a number of times too. In short it hasn't been treated properly but it's lasted...

Our camper batteries are still going as new and they're Full River and the tug batteries (crank and aux) are both Century. 



__________________

Cheers,

Mark F...

VK3KW

Land Rover 2002 Discovery 2 Auto Td5

2010 Outback Campers Sturt

http://jandmf.com
Stretch60


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 270
Date:
Permalink  

Always found century batteries do outlast others. For heavy outback use consider a marine cranking battery, built tougher.

__________________

2021 V6 Amarok 580,  2005 Boroma 6.5m Tourista .
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Techies' Corner -> Battery Longevity
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook