Duralast platinum AGM battery?

My stock battery finally went out this weekend and spent the whole weekend trying to find a good replacement battery (Northstar would be 3+ week wait, X2 power was on an indefinite back order, Odyssey is junk these days).


It boiled down to either a interstate 27 from costco, or a Duracell 94R H7 AGM battery from autozone- fits perfectly. Reviews looked pretty rock solid- 3 year warranty- best part was it was $200 vs $350 for the X2 or northstar. Anyone have any experience with these batteries?
Cranking Amps (CA) 1000
Reserve Capacity 140
Battery Voltage 12
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) 850
Battery Group Size Designation 94R

x2 27f

• CCAs (Cold Cranking Amps): 930
• RC (Reserve Capacity): 195 min
• Ah (Ampere Hours): 103

 

I just got a duralast platinum 24f for my house battery in the dual battery system and was unable to find any real world reviews on them from people like us. Most of it was "it starts my camry so much faster than my dead 10 year old lead acid" and "it dies when I leave my key on blasting beats while shooting up and passing out for 3 days".

So I just went for it. It appears to be same case in pictures as the walmart everlast brand (Which was 25% cheaper but not in stock anywhere) however the case was not as embossed at my local autozone. I wanted a battery now so I just bought it anyway, $200 for the 24F that should fit in the stock location as well, though you can squeeze a 27F on the driver side.

I did read a bunch of recent X2 reviews about batteries going bad within a few weeks/months, bulges, etc. made me think they are not as great as they used to be, especially for the price.

The main thing is just to make sure you are charging any AGM with sufficient voltage (2017 here using an alt-s diode to bump it up) or make sure to put it on an AGM specific charger once a month or more to maintain it.

 

The X2 RC (195 vs yours at 140) is what makes it so attractive and why I’d spend the extra coin on it. The rest is moot.
The X2 31M is even better at 205 RC but is a big, heavy pig.

 

Impossible to find right now unfortunately

 

Stock battery warranty is for 2 years. If it goes out, go back to the dealer and they will replace it for free. I bought my truck in 2018 and battery went out last year, got it towed to the dealer, replaced it and I was out.

 

What if your are out in the sticks, off grid, and the crap yota battery fails?? A tow to the dealer could cost you a $1000

 

I’m curious as to the size you chose. Is that what comes in the ‘19? Mine came with a 27F due to having tow package. Pretty sure non-tow package comes with 24F. Curious about the 94R H7 size.
Thanks.

 

My battery went bad this weekend. I am in the same boat as you. I am learning towards a battery from batteries plus. It has 830 CCA and a 3 year warranty. Mine was the stock battery from 2014. I was happy with the life I got from it. If mine was a 2019 I would have them cover it. But it is your truck.

 

I got one of the last Northstar 27f’s in Canada about a month ago. During the process I heard from multiple sources that it’s unconfirmed if Enersys will restart the 27F production line it’s all. If they do it will be in March, but it is sounding like they are trying to push people to Odyssey 34R.

The moral of the story is if you can find a new Northstar 27F grab it!

 

That sucks. I had wondered why the x2 was starting to get bad reviews in the last year. Hate my odysseys, bought a nothstar 2 years ago and was getting ready to buy another for my other rig.

 

I won't even get me started in the details of my X2 disappointment.
Batteries Plus DOES NOT stand behind these batteries.
They will try to wiggle their way around blaming your vehicle to be the problem.

They will tell you they need a few days to TEST the battery if it fails (twice for me in 6 months).
If they don't have a loaner battery around, that is 2 or 3 days without your truck.
I was so pissed at them I used a 6 month old $300 X2 for a $25 core trade on an Interstate MTP-24F.

As many as some here love their AGMs, they aren't worth the hassle.
Why would anyone want to have to buy an AGM charger to 'top off' the AGM battery once a month?
I bought the charger, topped if off the 1st of every month, and my X2 still died on me.
TWICE IN 6 MONTHS..

I'd skip on the AGM and buy an Interstate MTP-24F and be done with it.
No problems with it at all..

But if you do go the AGM route, I'd buy a jump starter to keep in the truck..

Amazon.com: Audew Jump Starter, 1500A Peak 18000mAh Portable Jump Starter (Up to 8L Gas or 6.0L Diesel Engine), 12V Auto Battery Booster with Quick Charge, Built-in LED Light: Automotive

 

Is Northstar in the same boat as X2 on the new owner?

 

I can see topping off an AGM once a month if the truck isn't getting used much. Mine is my daily driver and I never had to top off my Optima's over the years. Zero hassle. Never had one fail.....yet.
Auto Zone is now selling a 2000A Duralast jump starter for $199 with a $30 kick back reward. Not sure how good it is. I got an email from Auto Zone yesterday about it.

 

I drive my truck minimum 30 miles M-F, a lot more on the weekends.
My X2 died on me twice in 6 months when it was new.
First time I took it in, they tested it and said it was fine, blamed the truck.
They deep charged it and gave it back to me.
Told me if it happened again they would replace it.
It happened again and they backtracked on that promise.

Same day I had a oil change at the dealership.
They tested the charging systems and said it was fine.

That X2 and Batteries Minus was my one and only experience with AGMs.
Only got it because I bought into the hype of the honored and cherished AGM fans.
That $300 AGM X2 didn't start my truck any better than the $125 Interstate battery does.
As well that AGM was the first new battery that ever failed on my in my 42 years of driving.

They are several posts and threads on this and other forums that say these AGMs need to be 'topped' off monthly, no matter what.
It wasn't just something I made up.

Perhaps my issue is more with Batteries + and they way they handled my issue as opposed to AGM batteries in general.
But I see no reason to spend so much on a battery, have to buy a charger, and monitor the voltage every time I get out of the truck to make sure it will start again in the morning.

Just my experience, nothing more, nothing less.
I'll never buy another one.

 

Only thing I could find that would fit without modifications and had the capacity I was looking for. The 27f was non existent from anyone hut odyssey and basic low grade batteries. The 94r h7 fits in perfectly

 

49 years driving here. Old. An AGM should have an open circuit voltage around 12.9 volts. A "deeply" discharged AGM needs to be charged to 14.7 volts then down to a float voltage of 13.7 volts. You really only need the voltage maintainer when your AGM is basically sitting around or is deeply discharged. I've never kept a maintainer on my AGMs that are getting normal daily driving usage. I use my AGM maintainer if my voltage drops too low or if I'm going out of town for a couple weeks. The big thing to worry about is that AGMs are highly sensitive to "over voltages" that will kill it. All depends on usage. Running a lot of lights, a winch, or bad ass stereo is hard on any type battery. AGMs are ideal in that situation because they can be deep cycled numerous times unlike non AGM batteries. Batteries Plus certainly didn't help you. I'd be pissed too.

 

I've tried explaining this in other threads ad nauseam. You’re pissing in the wind.

***ETA*** Fixed grammatical error.

 

Worth a shot....or not. Ha!

 

I had the same issue with Batteries Plus, and with the X2. I bought an X2 for my daughter's car thinking it would be more reliable than a standard lead acid battery. It will get changed out soon, I don't want her to get stranded somewhere by a crap battery with basically no warranty. I put a NAPA Legend Premium in the Tundra, and her car will get the same.

 

That's true. Luckily, mine was dead in my driveway so 24/7 roadside towed it for free. I mean it wouldn't be a bad idea to cash in on the old battery to have as a spare just in case.

 

Been using a Advanced auto AGM (rebranded Johnson controls) now for like 4 years or so, issue free. Bought it for like 140 otd

 

I use the Walmart one for both house and starting, same as the Advanced auto battery. No issues other than self inflicted, ran a alt-s voltage booster but after a newer HP flash it went nuts. Removed booster and it’s fine now, booster tested good.

 

In retrospect, perhaps my AGM issues should be directed more at Batteries Plus than AGM batteries in general.
Maybe I got a lemon X2 AGM battery.
But their (lack of) customer service really pissed me off.

After it died the first time I started googling info on AGMs and many stated they needed to be 'topped off' once a month.
SO I bought a charger and started doing that.
I even bought an HKB MK2 Micro blade 5A (Electronic fuse) to up the voltage for the AGM battery.
It raised the idling voltage from 13.5 to 14.1, it is still in the truck today.
The X2 died again 2 months later.

 

I ran a Sears Gold AGM in my FZJ80 for 5 years. It charged @ ~13.5V when no extras were on & ~12.9V when exterior lights were on (night time driving). I never had a single issue w/it & I never once charged it w/anything other than the alternator. Till the day I sold it, it could keep my Dometic fridge @ 38° in the dead of summer (98°+ ambient temp & ~140° inside truck) & start right up after sitting 3 days. That battery had a RC of 140 & CCA of 880. X2 27F has better specs.
Off my soapbox now!
YMMV.

 

Which model? Walmart doesn't sell a 27F so I've held off on getting one from there.

 

And I just discovered that my decent quality Schumacher charger pops up the voltage (on the AGM setting) to 16 volts on the initial test for about 2 minutes and then drops down to 14.7 and then down to 13.x when it achieves 100%.

From some basic searches online it sounds like a pop to 16 volts means a bad charger.

 

24F. Little smaller but has same specs as oem battery iirc. It shows as an option for replacement. I’m all about a smaller lighter battery, but have 2 and a jump pack, might feel differently choosing the cheaper route if I had to rely on 1 battery.

 

What s wrong with Odyssey? I am on year 3 with an Odyssey Extreme, and it still seems like new.

 

I am running dual Optima Blue Tops in my FJ-40, going on 7 years, and an Optima Red Top in my FJ-55. Have never had an issue with AGM's. When I had my rural ISP, we found the best deep cycle to be the Walmart Brand, and that is what I am running in my pop-up camper. I am running an Autozone 27F in the Tundra, but that is only 2 years old

 

Ran them for years in my 4runners and 07 tundra. When they switched to production in Mexico the quality took a dive- went through 3 of them in a year and half and will never run one again. Lots of stories that echo that online.