# AGM Battery advantages **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089 "2020-07-31T01:43:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/1 "2020-07-31T01:43:16Z")
The battery on my 2012 Camry LE is 9 years old according to the build date on the car and shows no signs of failure. It is not an AGM battery but most websites are recommending an AGM battery for my car. Do AGM batteries stand up to hot weather better? What is the advantage of an AGM battery, I don’t think it can be longer life. Even if it is longer life, I don’t need it. It is extremely unlikely I will be here 9 years from now and about as likely as winning the grand prize in the powerball lottery that I would still be driving. Since I don’t buy lottery tickets that is unlikely indeed. I consider lottery tickets a tax on the mathematically illiterate. ---
**Author:** ![PhantomPatriot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/phantompatriot/32/20713_2.png) [@PhantomPatriot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PhantomPatriot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/2 "2020-07-31T02:00:55Z")
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ve learned that the hard way. But, if you _must_ get a new battery… I would use whatever the user manual recommends, personally. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/3 "2020-07-31T05:07:22Z")
If the battery cracks, all the electrolite in that cell won’t leak out. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 8:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/4 "2020-07-31T08:12:55Z")
Supposedly AGMs handle heat better and offer longer life. Actual experiences vary. One flat plate AGM battery, a Duracell, I bought didn’t last past its 3 year non pro rated warranty from Sams Club. Got a brand new battery for free. Had an Optima spiral cell AGM in my convertible. I let that one run down several times. Was still going strong 6 years on when I sold it. I put another in my truck 2 years ago. It may last longer than the truck. I had a series of AGMs in my motorcycle. Non spill, no venting, were the biggest advantages. If the battery is inside the car… trunk or under the seat… I’d use nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 9:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/5 "2020-07-31T09:55:15Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > I had a series of AGMs in my motorcycle. Non spill, no venting, were the biggest advantages. If the battery is inside the car… trunk or under the seat… I’d use nothing else. I agree with Mustangman. Batteries under the hood in convention location, just use conventional batteries. The only exception would be extreme off-roading. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/6 "2020-07-31T12:46:33Z")
AGM batteries need a different charging algorithm than flooded to get optimum life. So installing AGM in a vehicle designed for flooded without any mod might lead to disappointment. That said, I seen several stories about original batteries in Toyotas lasting exceptionally long times. After 10 years I replaced the battery in my 2006 Toyota Matrix even though it was going strong. I just didn’t trust it for another winter. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/7 "2020-07-31T15:40:15Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > Do AGM batteries stand up to hot weather better? I live in the southwest, which obviously gets hot weather, and I’ve seen no AGM batteries last 9 years here Your conventional battery did just fine, I wouldn’t waste additional money on AGM ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/8 "2020-07-31T16:00:55Z")
I plan to replace it with a conventional battery when the time comes. my daughters 2010 Corolla still has the original battery . I know most of the automakers have gone to AGM batteries and that they are more expensive to buy so I figure there must be some advantage to them. I was just curious what the advantage is. I have not bought a battery since 2000 when my 1992 Plymouth Voyager needed one. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/9 "2020-07-31T17:17:06Z")
I don’t know, maybe because of the auto start/stop on new cares? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/10 "2020-08-01T15:37:18Z")
My mower battery is 3” thick. The cheap batteries at store are 4.5” thick. Looked a bit and agm atv batteries are 3” thick. And $119. I found a used motorcycle agm for $20. Using it for 2 yrs now. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/11 "2020-08-01T17:23:46Z")
> [@circuitsmith](#): > > AGM batteries need a different charging algorithm than flooded to get optimum life. That was what I had read too, that I would need a new battery charger. ---
**Author:** ![mdixter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mdixter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mdixter)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/12 "2020-08-06T13:26:23Z")
AGM’s shine in remote locations and unusual configurations. They can be laid on their sides without leaking. They do not corrode battery terminals and have better recovery from deep discharge. Longevity might depend on use (short trips, lots of restarts) but as a generalization I’ve gotten more use out of my AGMs than the wet cells they replaced. The one exception is a Motorcraft battery that was OEM in a 94 Ford Ranger that lasted longer than the truck that rusted away. ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/glasspilot/32/27886_2.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/13 "2020-08-06T14:52:15Z")
> [@circuitsmith](#): > > AGM batteries need a different charging algorithm than flooded to get optimum life. > So installing AGM in a vehicle designed for flooded without any mod might lead to disappointment I can vouch for that. I have an old collectible 1975 Suzuki GT750. (2 stroke, triple cyl, water cooled) Of course it came with a conventional flooded battery. A few years ago I thought I’d try an AGM. It didn’t last 2 years. I thought it was a lemon so I bought another one. It didn’t last any longer. Then I read something similar to what circuitsmith posted above. Hmm. I went back to “old” flooded and no sign it is failing. The charging system on old vehicles is designed for flooded but overcharges/damages AGM’s. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/14 "2020-08-06T15:49:09Z")
Thanks for all the replies, they confirm my inclination to stick with a non AGM battery when it becomes time to replace my now 9 year old battery. Autozone lists a whole bunch of Batteries for my 2012 Camry, all of them are AGM. Not a problem, the one I have from the factory is a 24F, they are not hard to find. My son in law has a 2012 Triumph Bonneville T100, when the original battery went after 5 years , he replaced it with an AGM. Two ywaes later it died completely with no signs of weakness. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/15 "2020-08-06T16:23:37Z")
> [@glasspilot](#): > > I have an old collectible 1975 Suzuki GT750 I always liked the “Water Buffalo” ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/16 "2020-08-07T15:39:36Z")
Are you a Costco member? If so, is one close to you? they have plenty of conventional group 24F batteries in stock, and a little cheaper than Autozone, if you’re comparing batteries with a 3yr free replacement period ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/17 "2020-08-07T18:38:56Z")
No Costcos in the Buffalo Area. My son in law has a commercial account at an Interstate Battery store, I can get good prices at a place that sells mostly to commercial customers . They sell Dekka and Viking batteries. The last one I bought was for a church bus. He brought one out of the back room and asked me if I wanted a Dekka or a Viking. I asked him which one he brought out and he said, I haven’t put the label on it yet. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/18 "2020-08-07T20:37:50Z")
We’ve recently started carrying Dekka and Interstate batteries at work ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/agm-battery-advantages/168089/19 "2020-08-07T21:09:49Z")
Each fall Consumer Reports publishes tire and battery test results. A few years back an AGM battery - Optima? - had a special segment of the page saying it was Not Recommended, and the reasons why, based upon how it performed on CR’s tests.