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OEM Battery Life

GN2018
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GN2018 Enthusiast

GN2018

Posted
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Coming up on my 4th winter on my original battery and thinking about replacing it before winter cold sets in.  What's your opinion of changing out the OEM battery after four years.  Truck was put into service April of 2021.

 

This question came up on a retirement forum I visit and the consensus was to get a jumper battery pack.  If I go that route, is there a particular brand or size that you would recommend?

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99silveradoz71 Senior Enthusiast

99silveradoz71

Posted
Posted

I'm in public safety, so getting to work is a must. I typically replace my stock batteries at 3-4 years just so I won't have problems. As for a jump pack, I scored a Hulkman brand off Amazon for half off and it's jumped our E350 van that sits a lot several times with no problems.

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redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

I'm not far from north shore of Lake Erie.

I expect at least 7 years.

 

Slow starts are my signal to change.

 

 

 

 

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Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

I have 10 years plus on mine and still holds a full charge at over 95% capacity. I love GM Smart Charging systems. Should be standard on every vehicle. Live over by Rockford Illinois. I do carry a Halo Charger. Present from the wifey. :) 

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KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

My two oldest cars a 2001 Acura and 2011 Genesis have good battery life. The Acura since I put on a tender is passing 5 years on its battery. My wife’s Genesis has the battery in the trunk. The first one only went 4 years. The second one bought at the dealership is still going. Nothing changed with the driving lube. The furthest it goes at one time is 9 miles. I’m amazed at the second battery’s longevity. Sometimes when she pulls in the garage it’s 120 degrees in there. The car rarely gets a day off.

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, GN2018 said:

 What's your opinion of changing out the OEM battery after four years.  

 

Belle Tire tested my battery after 10 years and it tested okay. The tech told me what it needed was a good long drive. I took that advice. About a 400 mile trip and it took most of that distance to see the volt meter drop to 12.4 volts. On the retest by the same tech, it tested near new. 

 

Running partial discharge for months or years on end is hard on a battery and yet that is very common. Our drives are to short. To many starts per day. We don't use a maintainer (I do). Fact is I have "Battery Tenders" hard wired into most of my vehicles and they all get silly long battery lives. 

 

My opinion is then take it for a looooooooooooooog drive or let it sit on a "Tender" for a few days, like three or four. Then have it tested. 

Joe Drives Enthusiast

Joe Drives

Posted
Posted

I changed at 4 years for peace of mind with OEM replacement battery at the dealer. My last truck, I was planning on changing at 5 years and it did not make it. 

 

I also carry Schumacher Model SL 1452 Jump Starter/Power Pack.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Joe Drives said:

I changed at 4 years for peace of mind with OEM replacement battery at the dealer. My last truck, I was planning on changing at 5 years and it did not make it. 

 

I also carry Schumacher Model SL 1452 Jump Starter/Power Pack.

I keep going with my wife’s battery because she’s only ever 10 minutes from me. And I keep one of these.IMG_0776.thumb.jpeg.b6a0a406dfd681acb36f794ba83a5b13.jpeg

GN2018 Enthusiast

GN2018

Posted
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Posted

I ended up getting a Hulkman 85 jump starter from Amazon.  It lists for $199 but is on sale for $119 and $18 more off for prime members.  I got it out the door (with taxes) for $108.

 

I'm also going to put my battery on a tender on a regular basis and get it tested annually.  I think the odds of getting stranded given the jump starter and some periodic maintenance will be slim.  I'll save getting a new battery for when I see some signs of trouble or maybe something like 6 years - which ever comes first.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

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newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

Majority of original batteries put into GM stuff from about 2019-current, if you get 5 years, you are lucky.  We see a strong majority of original battery failures in 1-4 years.  Very few of the ones they've been using make it past that.  Prior gen trucks you'd easily get 5-7 years.  

redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

Batteries that live in the heat will die sooner than batteries that live in the cold. 

 

 

 

GETGONE Enthusiast

GETGONE

Posted
Posted

Put them on a battery tender every couple months to get them refreshed and topped off. I have a few different "Smart chargers" that cycle the batteries and vary charge voltage until it hits 100% charge. I bought a battery jump pack from Walmart years ago for an ex girlfriend. I think it is their Everstart brand. It works when it feels like it. I keep a set of heavy gauge long jumper cables in the truck as well. Not just for me, but if I need to help someone else. 

diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted

I won't jump another car so I don't carry cables. No worth the risk with the computers. I replace my batteries so no jumps needed.

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