Vehicle Longevity Battery suspicions and experiences
Hello DN,
I use batteries from multiple locations and have been noticing double labels more recently from a couple of suppliers. I am getting the impression that return cores are being flushed out then refilled with new electrolyte then being resold as new. The market is becoming more questionable to me.
Observation: Recently, a battery I have had for a year or so, started peeling the upper/top label and there was a recycle label under it. It has been giving me problems. As I searched through several cores, I found another 2 out of 6 that I happen to have here that were the same. I have had to replace batteries more than normal in recent years. The “Gold series” seems to be the top money maker and I am finding more trouble with them than I use to. Generally, I pay more for a better battery to get consistent reliability. But that is becoming more of a pain. I expect to get a better battery and I end up with a fancy label?
Anyone else seeing this slow modern trend?
We purchase most of our batteries from 2 suppliers. Local AC Delco supplier sells us AC Delco & Motorcraft. OA sells batteries made by Interstate. Have not had one questionable battery from either supplier. I do routinely check date codes. I will say in off road application, AC delco batteries tend to leak acid far more than any other brand.
Some Mopar batteries now have a Camel stamp on them. Literally from a company called Camel group, that is in China.
Looks like a two humper, must be a sign of quality.
LOL, that is funny! For some reason, I am not surprised. Next Dorman will be selling batteries.
Uhhh, Marlin… amazon.com/Dorman-Solutio… Even worse, you can buy one on Amazon
Yeah, I know about that. I had in mind, but didn't specify, lead-acid batteries.
Branding batteries is almost exclusively done by adding one or more stickers, as there are only three major manufacturers providing the main brands in NA. They are East Penn, Clarios, and Stryten. I don't know what you mean by a “recycle label”, but recycling is a major part of FLA manufacturing and distribution, and I suppose that the manufacturer sends out their product with the required…
About stryten here in kansas the battery plant is giving sign on $$ to work . Then they are making 2 of the name brand batteries you listed above. About like the pizza plant too make tony's, red baron , and other name brand pizza under the same building
Sounds like you need a new supplier. The only battery I bother with is East Penn, which I get from my NAPA store, under the title of ‘Legend’ or ‘Select’. Most are made here in the good ol' USA, and are the ‘maintenance-free’ type. I also keep an eye on the batteries manufacturing date before I buy one. Nothing over two years old for me. Remember, cheap batteries ruin good alternators and…
Hi Ernie, Likely I will be switching back to NAPA. I am in a rural area and we have a couple of parts houses, but I think they are taking whatever comes along from their warehouse supplier. When you mention battery dates, I also noticed a couple of cores I have show 2 different dates burned into the cases. One is ground to hide it so the new one will show better. A low Amperage battery will…