Posted: 5/29/2026 9:40:05 AM EDT
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Is there any reason I should not get AGM batteries for my 2018 F350 diesel pickup? The batteries are the original ones and are 8 yrs old. No issues with them but, I do not want to chance any issues on the road this summer. |
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Cost might the only reason to consider a traditional battery, in my opinion. If the cost isn’t a huge factor, I say go AGM. A lot of Super Duty owners move to AGM when the OEM Motorcraft batteries need to be replaced based on what I’ve read in the various Ford truck forums I frequently. I will do the same for my 2021 F350 when the time comes to replace both of my truck’s batteries . The only considerations for me are availability/brand and warranty versus a traditional flooded battery. |
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Walmart Everstart AGM Might not be "the best," but likely the best price and easily the best geographic coverage for a possible warranty claim. |
Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.---John Adams
| AGM tend to last longer and are better quality than traditional "flooded" batteries. Since they don't have loose acid in the cells and are considered spill-proof, the likelihood of corrosion also goes down. I've had the older style pod-top batteries leak out of the pods when they overheated. The electrical demands for your truck are probably high enough to warrant going AGM, especially if you plan to keep it for a while yet. Pretty much every AGM battery is made by either DEKA or Clarios (used to be JCI) and just rebranded. |
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Originally Posted By nominion: Cost might the only reason to consider a traditional battery, in my opinion. If the cost isn’t a huge factor, I say go AGM. A lot of Super Duty owners move to AGM when the OEM Motorcraft batteries need to be replaced based on what I’ve read in the various Ford truck forums I frequently. I will do the same for my 2021 F350 when the time comes to replace both of my truck’s batteries . The only considerations for me are availability/brand and warranty versus a traditional flooded battery. This is what I did on my 2016 after the 2nd set of replacement Motorcraft OE style batteries died. |
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Originally Posted By Grizz272: Is there any reason I should not get AGM batteries for my 2018 F350 diesel pickup? The batteries are the original ones and are 8 yrs old. No issues with them but, I do not want to chance any issues on the road this summer. AGM typically has more CCA and AH because of higher plate surface area. On the down side, the plates are usually thinner, and have less tolerance for sulfation. A high-quality AGM will last you a very good, long time, a poor-quality AGM is a nightmare. Low-quality flooded batteries aren't as bad as low-quality AGM. So you can spend a good chunk of change on a high quality AGM, or you can just buy a Costco battery that will last you a good, long time and not cost nearly as much. Source: I used to buy and use AGM batteries by the pallet-load. The difference between high and low quality AGM is the difference between maybe a 1-3% failure rate over 5 years vs. a 50% failure rate over 1 year. Same equipment, same conditions, just different quality batteries. |
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Originally Posted By GlutealCleft: AGM typically has more CCA and AH because of higher plate surface area. On the down side, the plates are usually thinner, and have less tolerance for sulfation. A high-quality AGM will last you a very good, long time, a poor-quality AGM is a nightmare. Low-quality flooded batteries aren't as bad as low-quality AGM. So you can spend a good chunk of change on a high quality AGM, or you can just buy a Costco battery that will last you a good, long time and not cost nearly as much. Source: I used to buy and use AGM batteries by the pallet-load. The difference between high and low quality AGM is the difference between maybe a 1-3% failure rate over 5 years vs. a 50% failure rate over 1 year. Same equipment, same conditions, just different quality batteries. What brands of AGM batteries did you find to be the highest quality? When was this time period? |
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Theodore Roosevelt
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Originally Posted By ColtRifle: What brands of AGM batteries did you find to be the highest quality? When was this time period? Originally Posted By ColtRifle: Originally Posted By GlutealCleft: AGM typically has more CCA and AH because of higher plate surface area. On the down side, the plates are usually thinner, and have less tolerance for sulfation. A high-quality AGM will last you a very good, long time, a poor-quality AGM is a nightmare. Low-quality flooded batteries aren't as bad as low-quality AGM. So you can spend a good chunk of change on a high quality AGM, or you can just buy a Costco battery that will last you a good, long time and not cost nearly as much. Source: I used to buy and use AGM batteries by the pallet-load. The difference between high and low quality AGM is the difference between maybe a 1-3% failure rate over 5 years vs. a 50% failure rate over 1 year. Same equipment, same conditions, just different quality batteries. What brands of AGM batteries did you find to be the highest quality? When was this time period? Yuasa were hands-down the best, but they make very few large enough for cars. This was about 1997-2015. I don't necessarily know the quality ranking of different automotive AGM battery makers, just saying that in general a good AGM is very good, a bad AGM is probably the worst you can do. |
| Both my wife's truck and mine have had lead acid batteries crack in the cold. AGM is the only way to go here. |
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Originally Posted By akcaribouhunter: Agm's do not like the cold. I tried one on my 97 f350 with a 460. Went back to old fashion wet cells. Funny. My vehicles have lived in some of the coldest parts of the country - no issues... Rochester,MN Albany,NY Houghton, MI (top of the UP) Detroit MI |
Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.---John Adams
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Originally Posted By intheburbs: Funny. My vehicles have lived in some of the coldest parts of the country - no issues... Rochester,MN Albany,NY Houghton, MI (top of the UP) Detroit MI Alaska is a different level of cold compared to he lower 48. Parts of Oregon are colder than the places you listed. I got some 28 years out of a standard lead acid. Finally a week that had a high of -40 killed it. It went another 5 years limping along with a trickle charger after that. My Walmart Johnson controls lead acid went a decade in my truck seeing from -25 to 105F. I have bad luck with AGMs. I'm on my second Deka in 3 years in the Audi. It works awesome until it goes downhill over about 3 days. Still better than any interstate POS ive used! |
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my four year old efb battery died in the cold and left me stranded. even a jump wouldn't get it going. i had to push it into a spare garage and charge it overnight. it finally started but the next cold night it wouldn't start again. replaced it with an Interstate AGM from Costco. Started right up. The next few weeks of cold weather didn't bother it. |
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Definitely the Walmart Everstart AGM. $189 and has a full 4 year replacement warranty. No prorated BS. Also there is a Walmart on every 3rd corner in the US if you need to utilize the warranty at any point. Depending where in the country you are could be made by a number of manufacturers. My newest one was made my Hancook in Korea. |
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Originally Posted By intheburbs: Funny. My vehicles have lived in some of the coldest parts of the country - no issues... Rochester,MN Albany,NY Houghton, MI (top of the UP) Detroit MI Originally Posted By intheburbs: Originally Posted By akcaribouhunter: Agm's do not like the cold. I tried one on my 97 f350 with a 460. Went back to old fashion wet cells. Funny. My vehicles have lived in some of the coldest parts of the country - no issues... Rochester,MN Albany,NY Houghton, MI (top of the UP) Detroit MI For cold wet cell is still the best. |
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Originally Posted By gtsteve03: I've had a few electrical "gremlins" seem to pop up since I swapped to an AGM battery in my 2014 Mazda. But that could be more of the age of my vehicle than the battery. I had to get a voltage booster to run a agm in my 5th gen 4runner. |
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Originally Posted By nominion: Sam’s Club has the Group 65 Duracell AGM battery available for $200. The standard Duracell they carry is $140. I’m pretty sure they are made by East Penn. Both with a 3 year warranty. I have one of these in my Lexus GX 460. It died inside of the three-year sort of suddenly. Jumped it and went back to Sam’s and they gave me a full replacement. No prorate. |
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Originally Posted By Ivan1: I had to get a voltage booster to run a agm in my 5th gen 4runner. I think this is the way. Had three or four AGMs die early. I believe they were good brands. Optima red, a Deka or two and a Napa premium line. Far be it from me to attempt to reengineer a Toyota so I went back to the a battery. The starter is more enthusiastic about it. |
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Originally Posted By Mekks: Definitely the Walmart Everstart AGM. $189 and has a full 4 year replacement warranty. No prorated BS. Also there is a Walmart on every 3rd corner in the US if you need to utilize the warranty at any point. These have been a very good battery. I’ve used them for years,And you can’t beat the warranty if there’s a problem. |
| They need a slightly higher charge voltage than standard batteries. My 2017 4Runner would kill high quality AGM batteries within 18 months until I made a change to increase the charge voltage about 1.5 volts or so. |
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