Look at the build date sticker. Don't buy one more than a couple months old. Usually it's a round sticker on one of the sides of the battery.

 

I don't have one in my car, but someone here (I think TexSexLex) made a compelling argument for an AGM battery, They are a little more expensive, but not outrageous. They are manufactured a little different than a traditional battery.

Here is what a quick search revealed
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/fi...atteries.c9912

 

I was under the impression that most batteries in modern cars are maintenance free. That is there sealed do not require to add water. AGM are also sealed not sure how they differ from maintenance free.

 

If I understand correctly, unlike a "flooded" battery, in AGM batteries (Absorbent glass mat) the acid is absorbed into a glass mat (like fiberglass) It allows placement on it's side if need be (obviously not in this application) The discharge rate is suppose to be better.

I believe all the OPTIMA batteries, (Red, Blue & Yellow top) batteries are AGM.

I am not that informed about batteries, but you can read what Wikipedia has to say if you are interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_b...d_glass_mat.29

 

I just read this post by HotRodSRJ https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post9942484

He says AGM batteries handle heat better than flooded batteries and it is heat that kills batteries

 

Common wisdom is that cold winter weather damages batteries - which is dead wrong. Heat is the killer of any type of battery (high temps significantly accelerates aging) but you don't notice your battery has been weakened by heat until it gets really cold outside (when cranking amps produced are down due to the cold temperature). The way to preserve a battery's useful lifetime is to keep it chilled so it never overheats.

 

yes sir, that is a very true statement...then when it gets cold, the weak battery problem shows up because the CCAs are gone.

 

 

....hey Dash thanks for the credit, but I didn't make the argument....lol.....there have been so many threads about battery life, that I can't remember who brought up the AGM battery. I do own a Duralast Gold battery & really have never had an issue. It has a 5yr warranty (3yrs replacement, after that prorated)......mine went dead with about 4 months left on the warranty & they replaced it free, no issues since