No real info just my experience.

My original Volvo battery lasted 10 years and I thought that was VERY good.

My wife drives an '85 Chevy pickup. We buy whatever is on sale when the batteries go bad. BUT I think because both these cars are driven 7 days a week and we put more then 20 miles at one time on them when they are driven that the battery is 'happier' then the short hop car that is only driven on weekends.

I was in Las Vegas this year, rented a 2 month old Van. Battery was dead at the rental place. The wrencher there told me that the heatwave they were having was killing many of their batteries.

I thought batteries like cold. I was always told to put Film and Batteries in the refrigerator. I thought the slow cranking was because the oil was thick.
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwr and two motorcycles: it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

Cold simply inhibits the chemical reaction in a lead-acid storage battery. Heat (such as in FL, or AZ where I am) DAMAGES batteries. Battery manufacturers make "normal" and "sun belt" batteries for marketing in those 2 vastly different regions.

I just replaced my 4-year-old Douglas (New England) battery with a Costco special for about $45. The old boy just would no longer hold a full charge. With the heat out here killing batteries, I elected for a relatively inexpensive battery with a decent warranty, and I'll be happy to get 3 or more years out of it.

Don't recall the specifics of the article that I read but the bottom line was that a hot climate is much tougher on a battery than cold. When I lived in Denver, a 4 year life expectancy for a quality battery was pretty good.

I now live in the relatively cool climate of Maine and not that my situation is typical, but the Interstate in my 240 is 15 years old. And yes, that is not a typo.... 15 years!

I have always kept extra household batteries in the refrigerator until they get used. They last much longer in the cold. I don't know about freezing temperatures, but I know several people who keep batteries in the freezer also.

I agree with David Hunter and others on the life of an interstate battery they are one of the best (lasting) Brands. I will replace the one in my VW Bus an interstate but not untill it dies. I want to get full money out of batteries untill we incorporate a better system like a hydrogen fuel cell or something to mode. I agree with David that heat would kill a battery faster than the cold. In Canada batteries life is longer than normal as long as it is Interstate.


82 Volvo 242 & 87 VW BUS "Vanagon"

ovlovrage

8+ years from any battery is exceptional service, no matter the climate. I had a friend who once got 10 years from a battery, so it's not unheard of, just not the norm. I also once got 2 years out of a battery that came from the core pile at a Chief Auto Parts store. Some cars are easier on the battery than others, and apparently that one was enough for my 69 Nova.

I don't believe in preemptive replacement of batteries, but then again, I carry a 1000 amp jump box with me all the time. I wouldn't think about replacing it till the battery actually shows signs of death.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

I have lived in Canada, Florida and the Caribbean. My experience has been that batteries last much longer in a colder or moderate climate. In a sub tropical climate I suppose high ambiant temps and associated scorching underhood temps tend to fry a battery over time. Even though it may be old and and weakened it still functions, just barely.

On the other hand cold temp starts where high cranking amps are demanded of the battery and perhaps longer cranking times cause an aging battery or even a new one to appear dead and prompt us to replace it sooner.

Bottom line in my opinion is that a colder climate is kinder to batteries. It has been my experience that in the hot climate your battery will fail without any prior warning. One day you will come out and it's just dead. In a cold climate however you will become aware over time because it will be observed to crank slowly yet still start the engine on those cold mornings.

Interstate is an excellent battery but if it is 9 years old I doubt it will last you through another Florida summer.


--
David Hunter

My old Interstate started the car with a bit more groaning than usual this morning, but I suppose that was a common experience across the northeast today. Not sure exactly how old it is; predates my ownership- but I do have the p.o.'s records... It just won't give me an excuse to replace it.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

The Interstate battery in my Volvo 240 is 7 1/2 years old and it started the car without the block heater plugged in this morning at 0F. Maybe interstate batteries are exceptional. The Motocarft Ford one in my wifes Crown Vic lasted 5 years. I live on the north shore of Lake Superior where winters are longer than summers.
--
Dave Kenney 1983 240 286000km