"Calcium batteries are a con."

your wrong

You must fit a replacement like for like. Infact now there is also a GFM, glass fibre matt style battery and if a cars ECU is configured to charge a GFM battery then you end up with problems if you replace with a non GFM.

Fit acalcium battery unless you want to risk other issues related to charging.

Just because someones got away with it once or twice doesnt mean its a golden rule.

Edited by injection doc on 19/03/2012 at 10:32

A normal battery works fine. My Mondeo has smart-charge, and it's been running perfectly for 2 years and 20k with an elcheapo "Lion" battery from ECP.

Calcium batteries are a con.

In the short term you are right, it will work fine, but I guarantee that exposing a regular lead acid battery to peaks of 16V in the long term will reduce its life. ie your battery may live 4 years instead of 6 or 7 years. Long journeys will help a bit as the battery usually gets blasted with voltage when it is low on charge with a cold start.

Well, the OE fit Calcium battery died at 5 years old. Replaced 2 years ago with normal battery, and everything still works.

£30 every 3 years in a 8 year old car is cheaper than ploughing £100 in to it for a calcium battery which may or may not last another 5 years, by which time the car may or may not be in the scrap yard.

Fitting a calcium battery would be 10% of the cars value...