ar077
Full Access Member
As already mentioned, I think almost all batteries in USA roll out of the same couple different factories... Johnson and (forget the other one). The various brands slap their label on them. Exceptions are the boutique stuff like Optima, Braille, and lithium-ions.
I generally shop by price and warranty. EverStart can be found as low as $149 at some Walmarts, but not all stores carry the H8, and some are priced at $169. A couple years ago the nEverStart H8 was Made in Germany with five year replacement warranty. Now it's down to 4 year warranty and I'm not sure where it's made, but is still one of the best deals I know of, if available where you live:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Platinum-AGM-Battery-Group-h8/40647529
I've had generally bad luck with Interstates over the past 15 years, all wet/flooded, Group 48/49. They died well short of rate of rated warranty, usually with a shorted cell. I can't make myself buy Interstate again, but a lot of people seem to have good success.
Interesting anecdote: Our LR4 purchased 4 years ago came with a Delco wet/flooded battery, date coded March 2014. Yep, that's right, it is 7 years old and still going strong. Most people have LR4 batteries dying in 2-3 years. Figure that out! Only thing I may do different than other people is always drive with the fog lights on (as DRL's), and keep it on a CTEK maintainer when parked.
Johnson Controls (which DID make Optima batteries) sold off its automotive battery business to Brookfield Business Partners in 2019. Speaking of Optima batteries, I had a low-time Optima Yellow-Top battery RUPTURE and spill acid in my GMC truck. Optima (then under Johnson Controls) blew me off and would not stand behind their product. I will never own another Optima battery.
