Last Updated on: October 7, 2022
Every car needs a battery to start the engine and power the onboard electrical accessories. While many brands are available to choose from, we consider the Duralast battery model as one of the best car batteries on the market.
Duralast batteries have several product lines in their portfolio, manufactured for automotive applications. These include Duralast batteries, Duralast Gold, Duralast Platinum EFB, Platinum AGM, and the Marine and RV deep cycle series.
The brand also has a heavy-duty and a ProPower series for professional applications. We are comparing the Duralast Gold vs Platinum series for this review to help you get the best fit for your car.
Main Differences Between Duralast Gold vs Platinum Batteries
The main differences between Duralast Gold vs Platinum batteries are:
- Duralast Gold features Flooded Cell batteries, whereas the Duralast Platinum batteries have both Flooded Cell and AGM models.
- Duralast Gold features a high-quality vent system for safe operation, whereas the Platinum battery has a sealed construction.
- Duralast Gold batteries have the maximum number of plates to deliver high-cranking power whereas the Duralast Platinum models feature an optimized plate and grid structure to increase cycling ability.
About Duralast Gold Batteries
The Duralast Gold series features Flooded Cell batteries with larger lead plates than other models. It enables the batteries to deliver the maximum cold-cranking amps and reserve capacity to power conventional vehicles with high power demands.
The Duralast Gold series offers batteries with the best-in-class vent system for safety and features a patented stamped grid technology to optimize electrical flow for more power.
Some of the features of Duralast Gold batteries include:
- Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and Reserve Capacity (RC) values that meet or exceed your vehicle’s original equipment (OE).
- Impact-resistant polypropylene construction to minimize vibration damage.
- High-quality vent system for safe operation.
- Uniform plate thickness for better performance and service life.
- High-density paste formula improves cycling performance.
- 3-Year free replacement warranty.
Some downsides of these Duralast batteries include:
- Regular maintenance as they are flooded cell batteries
- It may have low performance in extreme temperatures
About Duralast Platinum Series
The Duralast Platinum battery series includes Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) and Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) batteries for various automotive applications.
The AGM models are ideal for vehicles with extra onboard electronic features and accessories such as heated seats and cruise control.
AGM batteries are typically spill-proof making them flexible to mount upright or sideways to get the best fit for your vehicle. They also do not require regular maintenance like the Duralast Gold varieties and have a longer service life.
The Duralast Platinum AGM battery boasts twice the cycle life of conventional batteries with faster recharge times. The batteries also deliver superior cranking power and reserve capacity to last you through the winter months. Other features include:
- More cycles and fast recharge than conventional batteries.
- Advanced AGM technology for vehicles with extra power demands.
- Enhanced vibration resistance and durability.
- Superior starting power and extreme-temperature performance.
- 3-Year free replacement warranty.
The Duralast Platinum EFB starting battery is an affordable and lower quality option to the AGM battery on durability and performance. On the other hand, it is an improved version of the Duralast Gold battery, with faster recharge rates and increased durability.
EFB batteries are ideal for start/stop vehicles with high power requirements.
The Duralast EFBs feature proprietary carbon additives and positive paste density, providing up to 1.5x more engine starts than standard flooded cell batteries.
Additionally, the Duralast Platinum batteries have high nominal capacity values to power vehicles with modern electronic accessories and entertainment features. Other features include:
- Optimized grid and plate design to improve the battery service life.
- 1.5x more engine starts than traditional wet cell batteries.
- Advanced technology to handle high-power accessories and features.
- Excellent vibration resistance and extreme-temperature performance.
- 3-Year full replacement warranty.
Let’s compare some key features of these Duralast batteries below:
1. Duralast Battery Technology
Traditional starting car batteries are typically wet cell or sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) types. The batteries, also known as flooded or Starting-Lighting-Ignition (SLI) batteries, like the Duralast Gold battery Group 75, feature lead plates submerged in sulfuric acid and water-electrolyte.
This car battery type is affordable and more robust than other models. However, they also require occasional maintenance to top up the battery water level with distilled water.
Also, the electrolyte can leak if not fitted in an upright position. The Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB), or Advanced Flooded Battery (AFB), is an in-between variety of the flooded cell and the VRLA batteries.
EFB batteries, like the Duralast Platinum EFB Group 78 models, have enhanced cyclic durability and faster rechargeability. They are ideal for small start/stop vehicles with high cycle demands.
On the other hand, most modern cars come with a VRLA battery, typically the AGM varieties like the Duralast Platinum AGM series models.
AGM batteries feature a glass mat separator that absorbs the electrolyte between the lead plates to keep it in a suspended form. This design enables faster reactions between the electrolyte and the lead plates to deliver high power output start/stop vehicles with heavy power demands.
Also, the suspended electrolyte makes the Duralast batteries leak-proof for various mounting positions and has minimal gassing. On the downside, they are sensitive to under and overcharging, thus affecting the service life and performance.
They are also more expensive than the EFB and wet cell varieties.
2. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Cranking amps (CA) and cold cranking amps (CCA) ratings on a battery refer to the power a car battery can output to start an engine that has cooled down. The higher the value, the more power the battery can provide.
Additionally, suppose you live in a cold environment, you will need to consider a model with cold cranking amperage than a person living in a warm climate area.
The difference between cranking amps and cold cranking amps values is that the CCA rating refers to the amount of current a 12V battery can deliver for 30 seconds at -18°C without going below 7.2V.
In comparison, cranking amps are measured at 0°C. Standard car batteries have a CCA rating of 300 to 500 CCA and are ideal for most weather conditions.
However, extreme cold environments require a 650 CCA to 800 CCA battery to start. The battery’s electrolyte increases viscosity in cold temperatures, increasing impedance and limiting the current flow.
3. Reserve Capacity
Reserve capacity (RC) refers to the duration in minutes a fully charged 12V battery can deliver 25 Amps at 80°F without dropping below the minimum 10.5V voltage.
RC is an important parameter to consider when buying a car battery as it denotes how long the battery can run the engine and car electronics when the alternator fails. Traditional car batteries feature cold cranking amperage, while deep cycle batteries feature the battery capacity ratings in amp-hours (Ah).
Battery capacity refers to the current a battery can provide continuously for 20/10 hours at 80°F without falling below 10.5V.
For example, the Group 51R Duralast Platinum battery EFB model rated at 50Ah can provide 2.5 Amps continuously for 20 hours while maintaining a minimum voltage of 10.5V.
However, the reserve capacity of this car battery, rated at 80 minutes, is a more accurate parameter of the battery’s capability than the amp-hours. RC ratings derive from the quality of the battery’s materials.
The Group 51R Duralast Gold battery models feature an RC capacity of 45 minutes against the Duralast Platinum model with 80 minutes. The EFB batteries have an optimized plate and grid structure, with carbon additives that make them better quality than the wet cell models in the Duralast Gold product line.
Pro Auto Thought: Here is another comparative post regarding the popular Duralast against an equally go-to competitor — Autocraft Vs Duralast.
Watch This!
Conclusion
Duralast batteries offer high-quality starting and dual-purpose models for automotive applications. The Gold and Platinum batteries are the most popular product lines from the Duralast brand.
Duralast Gold models are the most affordable and are ideal for cars with low power requirements. The Platinum series costs a little more and caters to vehicles with modern electronic accessories.