Bill 993

I have the Interstate MTP-91, fits well and vent connection is in the correct location.

x50type

How did changing batteries become so complicated?

Has 'search' broken down again?

IXLR8

The vent hose's primary purpose is to vent explosive gases outside of the enclosed luggage compartment, should gassing during charging occur. AGM and GEL batteries can gas also.

I use a battery mat under and on top of my battery (the latter should a cap not be tight and the battery is gassing). I've never had a battery leak in over 35 years of vehicle ownership though.

IXLR8

I was thinking the same thing, but obviously it is considering the very short battery life most owners are getting. Another 3 days to go for my battery's 15th birthday.

ble2011

I just put one of these in mine last week. No reason, just thought it was a good idea.

Allen

I too use the "Battery Mat". As for the battery...some of you may have heard me talk about my Sears Die Hard International...installed 2/2002. It sits on a Deltran maintainer when I'm not driving. I just took it off the maintainer for (3) weeks...to be sure it can still 'hold' a charge...fired right up. At some point I'll get another one of those!

Dryfly57

Alex, 15 years on a battery........and still going strong. Awesome!

Allen

holy crap...and I thought I was special with 12 years...

I assume you keep yours on a maintainer as well?

IXLR8

The one in my mom's previous car was 16 years old when she sold the car. I know it lasted at least 18 years till I lost contact with the owner.

Both that one and the one in my daily driver Honda are made by Panasonic, factory supplied to the manufacturer only, unfortunately.

Since year ten, I've done a load test every two years and it passes. If it starts my car when it is -25F outside, it is good enough for me.

IXLR8

Nope, its never been on a maintainer or charger of any kind.

Except for being parked for 4 to 6 weeks a year, it is my daily driver. Charging system is spot on at 14.4V which I check twice a year.

Here are another couple of Sears DieHard batteries. Although it is on my battery list, I couldn't find a pic of the one you mentioned.


Take a close look at the casings and I'd bet they (Duracell, Sears) are all made by East Penn.

The Sears DieHard Gold (conventional) - Group 48 battery...

It looks like they cheaped out and didn't include the fold-away battery handles.


The Sears DieHard Advanced Gold - AGM - Group 48 battery...



My East Penn 648MF - Group 48 battery...

Paul M

I've been reading up on replacing the battery on my 5 series, as I think it will be coming due in the near future...

Alex, what do you make of all this BMW coding and reprogramming, (post #10 in the link)? Do you think it really can affect the 'sophisticated' electronics?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=699749

IXLR8

I highly doubt it. Good electronics should have reverse polarity and over-voltage/surge protection.

I wasn't aware that BMW took charging to such a high level/extent.

It exists in chargers, the Zantrex TrueCharge 2 chargers for example. You can select AGM, GEL, Pb-Ca and the programmed microprocessor has the appropriate charge algorithm. In fact, you can even hook up a thermocouple to that charger to monitor battery temperature to make sure it does not get overcharged.

An alternator's voltage regulator is available with different voltage set-points and then it'll even have a TC slope, for example -14 mV per degree C. So the user is the microprocessor...in that you can pick the voltage regulator for the battery type.

Check out this Bosch voltage regulator list. Note the Vsetting and TC values for the various voltage regulators.

Here is a pic of an AGM battery graveyard...guess where? Those are 6T AGM batteries found in military vehicles (tanks, etc)The ultra hot climate and incorrect charge algorithm are doing these in.