Choosing The Right Car Battery for Your Vehicle

Owning a vehicle is a big responsibility. Between oil changes and routine maintenance, there are also some other expenses that come up that can throw you for a loop. Plus, decisions like choosing which type of car battery is right for your car can easily become confusing without the right information.

Below, you'll learn about the common types of car batteries out there. You'll also learn how they effect a car battery's reliability and what type of car battery will be best for your vehicle.

Every car battery is different. There are a few different constructions used to produce car batteries, and the construction of a car battery will effect its performance. It will also impact how long it will work efficiently before requiring a replacement.

SLI batteries are "Starting, Lighting, and Ignition" batteries. They help to start your vehicle quickly while also powering the ignition, lights, radio, and other aspects inside your vehicle. As you may have guessed, SLI batteries are among the most common. These types of batteries have what's known as a shallow charge cycle.

The charge cycle refers to how long it takes to run your battery down, and how long it takes to charge it back up again. This car battery can also only deliver power in short bursts. Think about the short amount of time it takes to start up your car.

A VRLA battery is a "Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid" battery. This type of battery is maintenance-free. You won't need to do anything to this battery in order to maintain it. In fact, this battery is completely sealed. That means you won't have to worry about it spilling if it gets tipped or inverted. However, these sealed batteries cannot receive serviced. You'll just need to replace them once they go bad.

One very popular type of vehicle battery today is as an AGM battery. AGM stands for "Absorption Glass Mat". AGM is a type of VRLA battery. That means no maintenance!

While they are by no means new, the market is beginning to shift in favor of AGM batteries for many reasons. First and foremost, AGM batteries are able to deliver a higher amount of power in short bursts. This is because of the quick reaction between the thin fiberglass surface mat and the electrolyte of your car.

You might choose an AGM battery for a number of reasons, including:

• No maintenance. Don't worry about maintaining your car battery or doing anything special to it.
• Better in the cold. This design of car battery stands up very well in cold temperatures. That means quicker starts even when it's frigid out.
• More reliable. A better cycle life and high specific power combine with low internal resistance and high responsiveness to load. This type of car battery is generally more reliable.
• Longer life. It's typical for an AGM battery to last two to three times longer than a flooded battery. That means one could last you for 6-10 years or more.

With all of these benefits in mind, it's not too difficult to understand why AGM batteries are becoming more popular. When it comes time to replace your current car battery, it's definitely worth considering an AGM battery.

After all, who doesn't want to avoid maintenance? You'll also deal with fewer replacements and experience all-around better performance. Those are the exact things an AGM battery can bring to the table.

The life of your car's battery will depend not only on its construction and age, but also on its maintenance. A battery that has been frequently drained will have a shorter life than one that has always held the proper charge.

Of course, most people can't help but walk out to a dead car battery at some point. If you only take your car on short trips, your battery is unlikely to get back up to a full charge before you park it again. It will also be an uphill battle for the car battery to charge if you always run accessories like the radio or heated/cooled seats.

Even when parked, your battery has strain put on it. Most newer vehicles have power locks, keyless entry, or an alarm system. These things need the battery around-the-clock. While they don't take much power, in time, they can lower your battery's charge.

Using a "trickle charger" can help. So can measuring your battery's charge every couple of months and plugging it in directly to a battery charger to ensure it doesn't get drained.

However, you'll need to replace the car battery eventually. If your car is not starting quickly or if it's struggling to start, even in warmer weather, you might need a new battery. You should generally replace your standard battery every 3-5 years, but AGM batteries last longer.

So long as your battery is consistently and reliably starting and running your vehicle, you probably don't need to replace it. With that said, you do want to maintain it. Make sure the battery posts are clean and without corrosion. This will also improve performance and extend the life of your battery.

If you are looking for a replacement battery for your vehicle, the first thing you should do is open up your car's manual. You can't take any battery off the shelf and expect it to work for your vehicle.

A smaller car is more likely to need a smaller battery, while a larger car is more likely to need a larger battery. It all depends on your car's specific requirements. The battery you need will depend on your car's model.

So, the first thing to do is check the manual or look it up online. We actually make it easy to find the car battery you need. All you have to do is look it up using the dimensions in our handy guide. All of the batteries we sell are AGM type batteries.

You should see a few options for any model of car you choose. Deciding between them will really come down to your own preference and budget. You could safely go with the most affordable option. However, if you want to maximize performance, you might consider some of the following.

• Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). This number defines a battery's ability to start an engine when it's cold outside. The rating tells you how many amps it can deliver at -17.78°C for 30 seconds. The higher the number, the better the battery will perform in cold starting conditions.
• Reserve Capacity (RC). This is how long a new, fully-charged car battery will keep accessories on if the alternator fails.
• Amp Hour and C20. These ratings tell you how much energy the battery actually stores. If you run your car with the engine off and accessories on, higher amp hour and C20 ratings mean the battery will last longer before going dead.

Generally, the average driver will be safe choosing any AGM battery that fits their vehicle. So, don't get confused or overwhelmed by the above specifics. When in doubt, you can always ask a professional technician for guidance. The Automotive Superstore's support team can help you make the right decision for your needs.

Looking to get a new battery for your vehicle? You don't have to waste time at the store only to struggle to find what you need. Here at Automotive Superstore, we carry a wide selection of car batteries to fit just about any model. All of our batteries are AGM type, meaning they'll last longer and be more reliable in the long-run.

Browse our full selection here. With our handy search function, you'll easily be able to see the battery options that will fit your specific vehicle. That means no more head scratching, no more over-paying at the dealership, and no more waiting in long service lines. Plus, if you have questions, our friendly staff will be happy to help.