With my XK8, can I just walk into an autoparts store and grab a battery, or do I need a special/rare/extinct one that can only be special ordered for my 98?

If I can use any brand. What do you recommend?

 

Yes you can get it at the auto parts store. Just make sure it is vented to a tube and they actually give you the vent adapter kit it is supposed to come with. The venting is important because it is in the trunk.

Just get the best battery (highest CCAs, longest warranty) in the proper size class that they sell.

 

I read on the internet this week that there were really only 3 North American manufacturers for auto batteries.

You might want to call your local auto parts stores to make sure they have the correct size battery--and the CCA rating. (XK8 batteries are longer, shorter and not as wide as most car batteries.) This special size may have to be ordered. Prices vary greatly, however I found Autozone's DuraLast to have the highest CCA @ 925 and medium price @ $134.

Optima batteries appear to be the best battery, however they don't make a battery that'll fit a XK8. Their prices are absolutely out of sight.

 

Unfortunately around here each autoparts store is a pretty rinky dink operation. ASA is almost mom & pop, so is APC. Carquest and Napa are extremely expensive for what they offer/carry and special orders take weeks to come in which has left me with Canadian Tire. Not to mention they aren't open on Sundays.

Canadian Tire carries the Motomaster Eliminator line of batteries and they had a bunch in stock of the correct size. All I had to do was take off the leads, open up the brack, struggle to pull the thing out then the reverse to replace. No, vents, adapters necessary apparently. Though both batteries were considered vented.

One hundred thirty odd some dollars and the car stuttered, stammered, clicked, clacked and spat back to life. After 5 minutes of attempted starts and the thing was purring. As soon as I got it going, the snow started coming down, cold and heavy. Pictures to follow.

 

Another one that might fit is Interstate Batteries MTP-93, 850 CCA. I have that in my ride.

 

Sorry to say this, but it may be the correct size, but it is not the correct battery if it does not have a vent tube vented to outside of the car. As it charges, a battery give off hydrogen gas and corrosive fumes, and it is not a great idea to have that in a closed trunk.

Under the hood is OK because it is not sealed.

That being said, I know many Jags are running around with aftermarket batteries not vented to the outside. IMHO that can lead to corrosion in the trunk and a potential explosion hazard. The factory put that vent tube there for a reason.

 

I think the new "glass mat" battery technology is close to (if it has not already) eliminating the need for venting. These batteries can be shipped "wet". In fact they have to be shipped that way because they really are sealed.

Don't know if the Interstate MTP-93 (or any battery for our cars) is now of this construction, but it seems this is where things are going.

 

I have used the Interstate Mega-Tron batteries for years and highly recommend them. Just priced the MTP-93 at the local parts store 1/2 block from where I live. $115.

 

no you didn't! mega-tron is currently on life support...the magic box said so

 

Batteries Plus has them in stock. Vented. $90

 

 

That's what I was thinking too. The redtop and yellow-top gel batteries are about $200 at Pep Boys and stereo shops. For comparison, the stock battery is available from the Jag dealers for $300.

 

I don't know if glass-mat has made it into the batteries for our XKs yet, but it surely will. It's a remarkable advance. Strictly speaking, these things can vent hydrogen, but only under a pretty severe over-charge condition. To the naked eye they appear to be completely sealed.

Sorry, I don't know what red top and yellow top refer to.

 

I think the "red and yellow top" Batteries are "Optima" Battery. They are a high end product with a very good reputation. I just checked their web site and there are no Jaguars listed for the 2000 MY. I guess we are out of luck.

 

OK, had to satisfy my curiosity. Here's one example of an AGM (glass mat) battery for our cars (we're "group 49", aren't we?).

http://www.autobarn.net/eas9agm49.html

No venting. Big numbers, including the price, but maybe worth it for someone planning to hold the car a long time.

 

To echo WhiteXJR. No, you do not have the right battery. The external venting is required. Not only is the gas corrosive, it is explosive. That's why they tell you not to use a match to check electrolyte levels.

 

There are a couple things going on here, one has been noted....batteries like these gas hydrogen when charging, if it goes into the trunk, a spark could cause an explosion, very unsafe. The AGM or absorbed glass mat batteries are sensitive to charging rate and not a good fit for cars not designed for them, be careful of being the first on your block to get one. AGM was originally developed for marine use and they take special chargers, I know, I have a bank of them in my boat. The correct battery for the car is a group 49 which is a vented battery of about 1000 CCA. The nice thing is that these big momma batteries are the top of the line and you can't get them in a cheapo line. They run about $135 at an autozone.

 

Yes, for sure overcharging can be an issue. But I don't agree that they're not a good fit for cars that preceded them. The ~14V that our car's charging system puts out is just fine for an AGM.

(Some marine chargers, I think, are pretty hot, designed to rapidly recharge a deep cycle, right? As you said, these could be trouble if not matched to the battery.)

I run AGMs in my MG and my Harley and everything is fine. The thing to watch for is a regulator voltage over 14.2V. That would be trouble for an AGM.

Edit: I didn't say that last thing very well. We don't have to "watch" for voltage over 14.2V. That would only happen if the regulator failed.

 

On the MG you probably have a nice old regulator that can be adjusted to your liking.

On alternators with the stock solid state regulator, the pass range can be above 14.2VDC. If you have a regulator that is above or below the desired voltage then there are only two choices. Swap regulators until you find one that happens to regulate at the desired voltage or install an aftermarket external adjustable regulator.

 

Plumsauce,

I haven't done any adjustments on any of these, but neither my MG nor my HD nor my XK-8 puts out over 14.2 volts.

Have you seen something different?

13.8 to 14.2 is, I think, sort of a standard range.

(BTW, I picked 14.2 as the top of the safe range based on the above. You can find references that say up to 15V can be handled by an AGM battery)