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MG MG Y Type - Battery life in typical usage

Having just put the '51 YA battery on charge for the first time in memory, I am moved to ask for typical battery lives when Y's are used these days?

Not all our runs are long distance, although we have never had a charging/lights/starting problem when doing one. Last week the car was out for a 20 mile run, then a couple of very short ones to local shows/visits. My file shows a new battery was installed in Feb 1999 - dynamo seems to be charging OK - so before removing everything else, is six years surprisingly short?

The YT needed re-charging after an extended garage spell, and the YB just plain needed a battery when we bought her! So we don't have a reference for them.

Your thoughts will be read with interest.

Cheers, Andrew
Andrew Coulson

There is a big difference in quality in batteries. To me 6 years is a good life span particularly if it is in a car that does not get a lot of use and is subject to substantial periods of non use.In 1988 I bought a battery from Canadian Tire with a free replacement warranty as long as I owned the car. Like most come on's there is a catch. They are low quality batteries and last about two years and sometimes less. Think I am on my 10th free battery but am getting my moneys worth except for hassle of frequent changes. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Andrew,

It may be that you have a small charge leakage from the battery, so check this out. Also, how good is the earth return strap from the gearbox to the chassis leg?

As with everything, you get what you pay for, so also with batteries - although with our herds this can be expensive! Alternately, you can buy a junk battery: I bought an expensive new battery for my GT a while ago when I was going rallying in Spain. It failed spectacularly on the second day of the event! So live and learn I thought.

Maybe,like you say, if they dont get used often enough,or you favour one over the others, they talkin the garage after lights out and then sulk to get back at you!!

Have fun,

Paul
Paul Barrow

6 years is probably about average for the life of a battery. Look at what the warrantee period is and add one year to it for the expected lifetime. If the battery sits for long periods of time without being cycled, the life will be greatly shortened due to sulphating of the plates. This is the process where the lead plates become coated with sulphate from the sulpheric acid in the electrolyte. The sulphate acts as an insulator and stops the battery from working properly. This is not a problem if the battery is regularly discharged and charged by normal driving.

Paul is also correct, you get what you pay for. An Interstate battery will cost more, but greatly outlast a cheap Autolite battery (in fact, I absolutely refuse to buy the autolite brand). Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I buy those for the Mini 998cc for my YB. The last one lasted nearly seven years, and cost just £21 new. I have just replaced it with an identical battery, now costing £28.

Dynamo's are hard on batteries, as they cannot take the load at low engine RPM. An alternator runs the whole show once it is spinning, giving the battery an easy life, that is why modern cars have smaller batteries.

NC.
Neil Cairns

I forgot to mention I use the starting handle in winter...

Neil.
Neil Cairns

Hi Andrew, now got the YA,we will be down your neck of the woods on Wednesday coming and we thought we might
look you up if you are available that day, could you let me know.

Regards Alan.
Alan Simpson

There are now battery chargers on the market which are intended to be kept permanently connected to an out of use battery. They work by initially trickle charging the battery to about 14.5 volts, automatically switching off for a set period of time and then, by checking the battery self discharge rate, switching on again as necessary. I write this not as an expert on the chemistry of the lead-acid battery, this is just a paraphrase of the data sheet supplied with the one I have - an Optimate.
For me, it has kept a cheapo battery in good condition for several years.
Tony Knowles

I have become a fan of Optima batteries. They cost twice as much as a standard battery but will hold a charge forever. I have seen a neighbor of mine start his old cars after a year or more of storage and they always start up strong.

I have one in my MGA now which cost $109.00 USD. It is expected to last far longer than a standard battery with no drain issues.
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed between 14/08/2005 and 23/08/2005

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