What really kills a "starting" battery is not recharging it promptly after a
deep discharge.
And, if that same battery happens to "freeze" in the winter while
discharged... that's the kiss of death!
It is very important to keep some kind of float charger on your aux battery,
and your starting battery if you store your vanagon over the winter like I
do.  My starting battery actually held up for 11 years... and it was still
good when I replaced it (just because I didn't want to press my luck).

So, as winter approaches, in the "northern parts" it is important to keep
the batteries charged, esp. if you don't plan on driving the van in the snow
(my van will only see snow when I open the garage door and it looks out at
it).  I do not plan to drive in the snow/salt ever again!!!

Jack R.
84 Westy Wolfie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77623993@N00/1084859663/in/photostream/

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark L. Hineline
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Group 41 Battery at Wal-Mart

Speaking of batteries, I've read (several times) that starting
batteries shouldn't be deeply discharged; it ruins them. I assumed
that a starting battery would be shot in no time if used as an aux
battery.

But I've recently read that what actually happens is that the life of
the battery is shortened, from five or six years to three.

Not that I would take advantage of warranties, but finding an
inexpensive group 41 battery and using it as an aux battery sounds
potentially economical.

Is the shorter-but-still-measurable-in-years story right?

Mark
'82 Westy