[V8] OEM batteries are good?

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

My battery finally started to act up a little. It did not totally fail but
cranking sounded odd so I checked battery voltage with a meter - and I have no
idea how a battery as dead as mine seems to be could have been working so well.

No load voltage with a good meter was 12.0 volts (engine off) - after driving
for 30 minutes.
A lead acid battery is considered "dead" at 12.2 volts.
The CC readout voltage was 13.6 volts while driving.
The new battery reads 13.8 volts while driving - as it should.

Even more strange is that this battery seems to be the original OEM unit. It
still has the Audi 441-xxx-xxx part number on it.
Is it possible for a battery to last this long? It was an "Auto Bahn" 60 month.


Dave