My batteries in my 2018 GMC 2500HD Duramax need replacing. I have replaced them one other time, 4 years ago, but wanted to get some feedback on battery options.

The current batteries, from AutoZone, are the Duralast Platinum H6-AGM. These are currently $244 (with core discount). They have performed well; over 45k miles and right at 4 years of service.

I also looked at Walmart, and it looks like a similar battery would be the EverStart Platinum H6-AGM for $180, when ordered online and picked up at the store.

Both batteries have 760 CCA and a 4-year warranty. Is there any reason to stick with them more expensive Duralast over the EverStart? Any other recommendations I should look into?

OEM Battery specs:

P/N 23104474
730 CCA
Type: Flooded Lead Acid

No need to pay for AGM battery. If you are buying from a retail parts store, I would just go with the Gold-level flooded lead acid battery, vs. the "Platinum" AGM-style.

AC Delco P/N: 48PG
GM Part Number: 88865245

Seems there is a newer part number that replaces these older ones:

GM Part # 88866309 (Replaces: #88865245)

ACDelco Part # 48GHRA (Replaces: #88865245)

https://parts.gmparts.com/product/acdelco-gold-42-month-warranty-high-reserve-bci-group-48-battery-88866309?evar25=gmgp_parts_automotive-batteries

Looks like $202.04 at any Chevy dealer. 42 month free replacement.

Interesting... good info. Thanks for that. I'm only continuing below because I'm curious, not second guessing your post...

It looks like the EverStart AGM at $180 is still the cheaper option, even if the AGM upgrade isn't necessary. The Gold Duralast FLA at AutoZone is still $209, and the GM one you linked is $202. The Gold EverStart FLA at Walmart is $140.

Is the EverStart "less" of a battery to justify the extra cost of the OEM GM one?

Seems like the Everstart is universally cheaper, for sure. In-house retail brands are all similarly priced, and Walmart undercuts them pretty substantially.

I can't personally speak to the Everstart quality; however, the "NEverstart" nickname must have come from somewhere...

I did that same repair last October. I had interstates in it but NTB quit carrying them and I was 3 days out of warranty. Ended up going to Batteries Plus and got Duracells with full 48-month replacement coverage.

Costco

https://www.duramaxforum.com/threads/ac-delco-or-walmarts-everstart-battery.1006730/

Consensus is Delco is the preferred brand for your truck, but mostly:

1) get a battery that meets/exceeds your CCA requirement, 2) Get the best price, 3) Get the longest warranty.

Bonus points if 2 and 3 are from a retailer with locations everywhere, like Wal*Mart.

I replaced the batteries in my 2019 Dirtymax several years ago with the AGM from Vatozone. Lasted about two years. Had them replaced at the dealer with A/C Delco, and it was less expensive, including labor.

Thanks for all of the help. To end the saga, I went with the EverLast AGM batteries from Walmart. I may not need the AGM, but they had a 4-yr warranty and were the cheaper option.

I will come back to update though, if I have any trouble out of them.

Read the fine print on all of the flooded batteries mentioned above and there is a fine chance they're all coming off the same line from the same plant.

Used to be Johnson Controls, but I think they spun off the battery side. They pretty much made EVERYONES batteries.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Read the fine print on all of the flooded batteries mentioned above and there is a fine chance they're all coming off the same line from the same plant.

Used to be Johnson Controls, but I think they spun off the battery side. They pretty much made EVERYONES batteries.

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Yeah. Clarios is the new name the PE company named it.

I just do Costco so I don't have to save the receipt.

Looking at that same EverStart AGM for my Tahoe. Wondering if anyone has experience with it as well

I always bought the AGM from O'Reilly's because it was the only one they had that fit the stupid positive battery cable encased in the red plastic box GM used. They have 3 year warranties and about 50% of the time they fail right before 3 years is up. Looked up the prices as you did and for $65 less I'll buy the Walmart battery with a year longer warranty and 160 more CCA.

Interstate/Costco is hard to beat

Costco's store hours and more limited locations make them less ideal, and I don't get the Interstate love.

The best battery I ever had was an AC Delco that came stock from the factory in my '90 C1500. Lasted 7.5 years in the Texas heat. But that truck didn't have many electronics straining the system

Never had an Interstate last more than 3.5, just long enough to die a few months out of warranty like ever other brand made by the one or two companies that make all the batteries.

Roger350 said:

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Costco's store hours and more limited locations make them less ideal, and I don't get the Interstate love.

The best battery I ever had was an AC Delco that came stock from the factory in my '90 C1500. Lasted 7.5 years in the Texas heat. But that truck didn't have many electronics straining the system

Never had an Interstate last more than 3.5, just long enough to die a few months out of warranty like ever other brand made by the one or two companies that make all the batteries.

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The batteries built in 1990 are way different than today. Go read any GM forum and you'll see the hate on the stock batteries from today that they have a tendency to die well before their expected life.

Flaith said:

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https://www.duramaxforum.com/threads/ac-delco-or-walmarts-everstart-battery.1006730/

Consensus is Delco is the preferred brand for your truck, but mostly:

1) get a battery that meets/exceeds your CCA requirement, 2) Get the best price, 3) Get the longest warranty.

Bonus points if 2 and 3 are from a retailer with locations everywhere, like Wal*Mart.

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4. Get the friken AGM. Lead acid is old school tech. Noise and nonsense.

Does it really matter what the sticker name is? No. Get the Walmart battery.

Roger350 said:

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Costco's store hours and more limited locations make them less ideal, and I don't get the Interstate love.

The best battery I ever had was an AC Delco that came stock from the factory in my '90 C1500. Lasted 7.5 years in the Texas heat. But that truck didn't have many electronics straining the system

Never had an Interstate last more than 3.5, just long enough to die a few months out of warranty like ever other brand made by the one or two companies that make all the batteries.

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I've noticed the same. I'm generally replacing a battery a year in something. I've bought from Walmart, Sams, Tractor Supply, Advance, and O'Reilly. No difference in any of them for my use case. Now I just buy the cheapest I can find with the highest CCA.

I don't doubt that at all. Even in 1998 when I went to replace that battery I did not buy an AC Delco replacement because I assumed my 7.5 year experience was luck and that the AC Delco that Sears sold at the time had only a sticker in common with the original anyway.

Nothing is the same, and the electrical draw of today's vehicles is probably 10x what it was in' 90 which has to be a factor in battery longevity. Heck, my 2007 Tahoe has a variable rate voltage regulator so the alternator doesn't charge at a constant 14.5 volts to save fuel which is laughable in concept and reality.