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I have a C7 2016 and have heard many stories of Delco battery replacement in less that 4 years. I also have a 2008 Silverado 5.3L 1500 pickup withe a Delco battery that was OEM 12 years ago. It never gave any indication of failure in all of those years. So, I decided to run it until it failed. I have a DP power pak for backup so that I would not be stranded. The battery lasted 12 years and finally died in my garage. I replaced it Friday with an AC Delco Gold 42 month warranty battery and hope it lasts 12 years also.
My 1989 C4 Had AC Delco batteries that lasted 10 Years using a Deltran Battery Tender. My 2016 C7 will be 5 years old next month and still use the same tender and hope to get 10 years out of the battery.
My 2008 Cobalt SS is still on the original battery and I've never had it on a tender. I drive it every other week and it is still going strong. Hopefully the battery in my 2017 lasts half that long. I do keep that one on the tender.
I also have a 2008 Silverado 5.3L 1500 pickup withe a Delco battery that was OEM 12 years ago. The battery lasted 12 years and finally died in my garage. I replaced it Friday with an AC Delco Gold 42 month warranty battery and hope it lasts 12 years also.
All things being equal, figure on your new battery lasting around 10-11 years this time around because this battery will now be starting out on an used 12 year old electrical system instead of a brand new electrical system. Things like your alternator are not as efficient as it was when it was new.
Not Corvette related, but the Optima Blue Top marine battery has been in my Cole TR-2 drag boat for 11 years. Boat sits for 5 to 6 months every winter, battery has never been out of the boat, or on a trickle charger, still spins my 565 with authority. Engine is currently under going a complete rebuild, battery has been disconnected for 6 weeks, showing 12.55 volts as I type.
I had the OE delco in my 2000 GMC 2500 last about 15 years. It would go months just sitting in the driveway and always start. Sad day when it finally gave up the ghost.
My Pickup has the same Battery in it for the last 18 years, 14 corvette still has the original, just started to put it on the Trickle Charger. Still cranks strong.
Tremendous amount of $$ left on the table by all those who elect to change out their battery just because it's 4 years old.
Totally! The better way to go is like the OP did, have a power pack as a backup and then only replace the battery when it actually needs it. This way you're not going to get stranded but you're also not replacing a perfectly good battery either. The battery in my DD is now 8 years old and still going strong, but a lot of people might have changed it out at the 4 year mark, so they would have paid for 3 batteries but I've only paid for one. I hate wasting money.
The new chargers will ramp up charging when it is needed to keep optimal charging as compared to the "older" trickle ones that fed in a constant charge.
Tremendous amount of $$ left on the table by all those who elect to change out their battery just because it's 4 years old.
True.
Unfortunately, also a lot of cars that needed jumped or towed because the owner waited too long. Predicting is difficult.
Everyone needs to figure out what problems they would face if their battery died. We sometimes travel to places with no civilization and no cell service. I change at 4 years.
If we only drove the car locally for fun, waiting until it died wouldn't be unreasonable.
Jump packs are helpful, but I've seen a couple of situations where the battery went dead so suddenly and so completely that the jump pack didn't help.
I've also heard of a few situations where the jump pack started a fire while stored in the trunk, that seems pretty infrequent but there doesn't seem to be any data collected to judge.
I might get one and put it in the car only for those "middle of nowhere" trips.
A lot of the battery life depends on where you live. Here in Las Vegas, the summer heat, currently 110*, will kill a battery in 4 years or less. I have kept all my Corvettes on a trickle charger, and they lasted a maximum of 4 years. I wouldn’t assume, that in mild climate, batteries will last much longer.
True.
Unfortunately, also a lot of cars that needed jumped or towed because the owner waited too long. Predicting is difficult.
Everyone needs to figure out what problems they would face if their battery died. We sometimes travel to places with no civilization and no cell service. I change at 4 years.
If we only drove the car locally for fun, waiting until it died wouldn't be unreasonable.
Jump packs are helpful, but I've seen a couple of situations where the battery went dead so suddenly and so completely that the jump pack didn't help.
I've also heard of a few situations where the jump pack started a fire while stored in the trunk, that seems pretty infrequent but there doesn't seem to be any data collected to judge.
I might get one and put it in the car only for those "middle of nowhere" trips.
Yep, everyone's tolerance for risk is different. I'll typically start looking for signs that battery is on it's way out at 5-6 years as my experience selling and warranting thousands of batteries in my auto parts stores over the years taught me that's typically how long they last.
As been stated, a little less in extreme climates.
A lot of the battery life depends on where you live. Here in Las Vegas, the summer heat, currently 110*, will kill a battery in 4 years or less. I have kept all my Corvettes on a trickle charger, and they lasted a maximum of 4 years. I wouldn’t assume, that in mild climate, batteries will last much longer.
Same thing down here in Texas. Most batteries barely last 3 -4 years.
Battery longevity is all over the ballpark, even the "same" battery in the same cars. This is not new. The next one you buy like your "good ol'" one may last three years... or not.
07-19-2020, 01:15 PM
Delco 48HPG battery lasted 12 years
