ToyoDerp

Curious if anyone here is running a larger battery for their 22RE pickup? Doing a parts search online through auto parts stores they list a wide range of battery sizes.

I know just about anything could fit somewhere in the engine bay, but what would someone be able to run in size without any modifications or alignment issues? 27F looks to have same width and height, but just longer?

I have a Napa Legend Premium in there right now, but it cranks a bit slow on cold mornings. Never had an issue like this before (owned since new). I even had Napa replace the battery and the new one still is a stinker. Napa has been tanking in quality the last few years, so it's possible they are selling me expensive junk like usual. Also had the starter replaced about a year ago with a Denso reman. Starts like a champ when warm.

Most likely will go with a Walmart Everstart Maxx going forward. I have one in my van and it spins that sludged up V6 like a cracked-out Tasmanian devil no matter the temps.

Thanks!

Paul22RE

I replaced mine recently and went with a yellow-top Optimum. Yeah, it is pricey but uses AGM technology, no more of that nasty white corrosion.
The red top is really all that's needed, but for a few bucks more I like the idea that the yellow is also made to take a deep discharge without harm.
OPTIMUM YELLOW 8012-021 GRP34

ToyoDerp

Isn't the 34 a smaller battery than stock? Plus, those things are expensive! Just looking for battery size increase options and going with the cheaper, but great, Everstart Maxx (Johnson Controls version)

Seems like the group 27F might be the one I need due to only being longer and not changing the other dimensions?

Blueman

I have a group 25 in my '87 4Runner with 22RE + the cold climate starter and even now after 9 years on the Costco battery it spins just fine. Before that the group 25 DieHard worked well from 1999 until 2011. Basically, I get a good 10+ years on a standard wet cell group 25 battery with the 22RE. I've not tried to install a larger than group 25 battery into the 4Runner.

After five years the Optima 8037-127-FFP D27F YellowTop I put in my FJ became feeble, and the factory Panasonic (flooded cell) from 2007 outperformed it. I'm not sold on the longevity of the Optima, and certainly not at the price. After much searching I went with a Duralast Gold Battery, 27F-DLG (not AGM) to replace the Optima, but if cost isn't a concern, I'd always suggest the AGM options these days.

arlindsay1992

iTrader: (8)

I use a Group 27 battery in my 1987 4Runner 22RE. Same height and width (actually 1/4" - 3/8" skinnier but just might be the brand) but a decent bit longer. Has a good bump in CCA and battery reserve over the factory Group 25 size.

Paul22RE

I put a NorthStar AGM in my last truck (Isuzu pickup), $100 more than an Optima! It melted in the engine fire I had, only 2-3 months old

The Northstar is top to the line, this is my 1st time trying an Optima.

Paul22RE

The 34 dimensions are slightly larger than a 25 but they have a spacer to put underneath it. No mention of a 27 on the site. 27 is larger than a 25 or 34?

https://www.optimabatteries.com/prod...engine=L4-2.4L

ToyoDerp

How is the fit with the 27F in there?

Also, I think Optima was bought out and production moved out of country to Mexico, and quality has been spotty in recent years.

ToyoDerp

I was going by this size chart. https://www.batteryweb.com/bci

Unless I'm mistaken, the 34 in around the same length and width, but not as tall?

Blueman

The noted Optima fits fine in the FJ, but I never tried it in the 4Runner. I ponied up big dollars for that yellow-top Optima thinking it would be great, but it's underperformed my other old-school wet cell batteries. Would not buy again.

Paul22RE

They gave me a spacer for the bottom of the 34, but I guess they add that to their dimensions on their site which is kinda BS.

Sounds like I should've stuck with a wet cell or went again with a NorthStar:

https://www.odysseybattery.com/produ...hstar-battery/

wallytoo

iTrader: (1)

i gave up on optima after my second group 25 red top only lasted about 4 years. the first lasted 15. earlier this year i relaced the failed optima with a valucraft (autozone) 26-VL.

snippits

EverStart Maxx Group size 24 works just fine on my 92 pickup 22RE. These batteries are made by East Penn now. The serial number on the battery starts with EP.

The Johnson Controls Maxx 24 lasted 3.5 years. Walmart gave me 1.5 years credit towards the purchase of the new East Penn made battery.

ToyoDerp

Are the East Pen ones considered to be better than the JC ones? I know the Exide ones were sort of junk, but didn't know they had anything other than JC these days.

snippits

Yes East Penn are supposedly better made batteries, and they are made in USA. NAPA Legend Premium are East Penn made batteries, and I think O'Reilly's stocks them too.

2ToyGuy

I've had an Optima in my pickup for 7 or 8 years, maybe more. Works great, even with the temps around 20° F. Plenty of cranking amps to it. I had one in my 4Runner, but 3 years ago, the mechanic's shop I use had a young idiot that knew less than nothing about being a mechanic. Hell, I'm a Radar Tech by trade. Electronics, not mechanic, but I knew more than he did about being a mechanic.
He "worked" on my 4Runner when I took it in for new front half-shafts, a clutch master and slave cylinders, and a timing chain replacement. Belts and hoses, too. When I got it back, the battery was blown, and it wouldn't even TRY to start. All the vacuum lines were off too, and the water pump leaked out the weep hole. I put the vacuum lines back where they belonged, and noticed when I did, that the kid had put the valve cover gasket on upside down, ie: the crossbar of the T it makes was stuffed up in the channel on the valve cover. He naturally couldn't get it to seal down, so he just glopped RTV (Ultra Copper) all over it, and used regular nuts and a washer in place of the proper gasket and the acorn nuts.
Needless to say, I took it back, told them what he had done, and told them to check it over for what else he screwed up. They replaced the battery with an Interstate that's too big, but usable, after blowing one of their replacement batteries, and fixed all the other problems he caused.
He got P/O'd at me, and stuck a screwdriver into the sidewall of one of the tires. They payed for that. OH, he was fired that day, after all this.
They fixed all the problems he caused at their expense. NOW I trust them with my truck.

Whenever this Interstate battery gives up the ghost, I figure 2-4 years from now, it gets another Optima put in again. I love those things.
Pat☺

Blueman

From what I've read, older Optimas were great, but the newer ones not so much. Likely they can ride the coattails of the old brand for awhile until people figure it out.

wallytoo

iTrader: (1)

i rode those coattails once. i'm off of them. less than 4 years is unacceptable, even for a wet-cell battery. wife's volvo 240 has an interstate that is in its third car. bought it for her corolla and used it for 3 years, transferred it to the celica for 3 years when i junked the corolla, and now it's got 2 years in the volvo after keeping it when i junked the celica. the battery in my '48 dates to 2007 when i purchased the truck.

RAD4Runner

For my past couple of battery purchases, Costco had best deals on Interstates. I bought $75 one in 2018. It's doing well. It got sluggish below freezing temps last week but never failed to start.
WOW! Those are long-lived batteries, Wally! Anything special you do to them?

wallytoo

iTrader: (1)

not really. the truck sits out in the cold central new england weather. during the two engine rebuilds, i put the battery on a noco battery maintainer/charger. the interstate that has been swapped into my wife’s cars rarely gets put on the charger/maintainer.