If you’ve never had to shop for a car battery before, don’t worry, it’s not that complicated. When it comes time to pop a new 2012 Dodge Avenger battery under the hood, all you really need to know will be size group, battery type, and Cold Cranking Amps.
What’s the best type of battery for a 2012 Dodge Avenger?
A group size 86, 525CCA, SLI standard flooded battery. That’s all you need. You can just go ahead and write that down, and then you can go into an auto shop or head to the Dodge dealer and get it taken care of right away.
But what exactly does all that mean? What’s a Cold Cranking Amp? What’s a battery group size? And what is SLI short for, anyway? If you’re curious, keep reading, and we’ll cover everything you need to know about your car battery.
Battery Group Sizes Explained
Car battery sizes are typically identified by BCI (Battery Council International) group size. This is to ensure easier communication in the global automotive market.
Without BCI, an American car will have a battery size measured in inches, while the Japanese or European battery-maker is measuring in millimeters. And there may be language barriers to consider, too.
So with BCI coding, there’s no confusion. The American automaker tells the Japanese battery factory they need a group size 86, and the Japanese battery factory makes a group size 86. Simple.
For reference, a group size 86 battery would be 9 1/16 x 6 13/16 x 8 inches in length, width, and height.
What is SLI?
The battery type in most 2012 Dodge Avengers will be a standard flooded SLI. That’s short for Starting, Lighting, and Ignition.
They’re called “standard flooded batteries” because SLI batteries use plates submerged in electrolyte fluid to generate electricity. This is why you have to be careful about storing them upright so they won’t spill.
Alternately you can use an AGM battery, as long as it has the same group size and CCA, but you’re better off using an SLI, since that’s what the car was intended to use.
OEM vs. Aftermarket
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) batteries are generally preferred by most drivers and mechanics for a few simple reasons.
First, they’re designed specifically to fit your car. Tiny differences in specs, like anode and cathode sizes or water content, may see your aftermarket battery burning out well before an OEM battery would have died on you.
Second, OEM batteries come with a full guarantee from the same people who made your car. In fact, you might even void your warranty with an aftermarket battery in some vehicles.
Finally, it’s just easier to buy an OEM. You drive into the Dodge dealer, you say “I need a new battery,” and they hook you up. No fuss, no muss.
OEM batteries tend to be a little more expensive, but you’re going to be getting thousands of extra miles out of them, so they pay for themselves in the long run.
What if An OEM Battery isn’t Available?
If you must buy an aftermarket battery, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
- Make sure you’re getting the right specs. Group size 86, 525CCA, SLI. Memorize it, write it down, take a picture, whatever it is you like to do when you have to remember something.
- Buy from authorized sellers like O’Reilly or AutoZone. eBay purchases usually don’t come with a guarantee.
- If you can, use the aftermarket battery as a temporary fix until you can get an OEM battery in place.
You can generally count on brands like DieHard to make a decent aftermarket battery, but just remember that the very best aftermarket battery will always be a runner-up to the OEM battery.
