Optima Batteries

[30Weight]

That could've been the problem,wrong charger.Back then neither I nor anyone I talked to was aware they required a special charger.Conventional ones wouldn't charge them properly.Optimas were new on the market.

[rushgator]

I have a red top in my C5 Corvette, and in my '86 Elky. Both of them are 6-8 years old. Very few problems other than once in awhile I have to trickle charge the one in the Elky. A dry cell battery of any kind is highly recommended in any C5 Corvette since the battery is perched right above all the engine electronics. I don't want to even think of the expense you would have if a convetional battery ruptured.

[Scottm]

Had one for 6 years in my 2002 Buick Rendezvous. It was the only thing on the car I did not have to replace. Kids would leave dome lights on and it would still crank fine in the morning. My boss uses them so he bought it for me. Free is the best.

[jlcustomz]

Have both bad & good to say about them. My redtop is over 8 years old,but I,ve never been happy with the capacity of it.
Charging & chargers is a big issue with them. there was a whole writeup article about them a few years ago stating if they go dead past a certain point, you need to hook together with a good battery & a charger in order to bring them back up. There are more chargers on the market now for agm batteries.

Here's the plain truth about batteries in general, there are only a very few manufacturers who make the name brands for everybody to different specifications. Different batteries such as interstate have better specs than those made for Wal-mart. Odyssey makes higher spec batteries than Optima(more costly). Higher capacity batteries weigh more.

Did a little research for my next battery, Sears Diehard Platinum batteries are the same batteries sold under the oddosey name, but are cheaper with a better warranty. The huge one I want is around $220 at sears & near $300 at most suppliers under the Odyssey name. Same battery. Also might consider the 31m marine battery--1150 cca,205 reserve, weighs 75lbs, $279.99.

[carlfan]

I'm glad I read this post . I have had to charge my Delco battery 3 times in the last 30 days. I think I'm going to buy an Interste or a Diehard unless I hear something bad about them.

[JJLT1]

x2 first one i got used lasted 10 yrs till the side post stripped,, still good, so i put it on the trailer.
2nd one i got new lasted 3 months???

[merc2u]

I read somewhere where you need the correct charger for the Optima battery, and the cost around two hundred dollars, so, I guess I'll stick with the old style battery.

[jkk]

Originally Posted by merc2u

I read somewhere where you need the correct charger for the Optima battery, and the cost around two hundred dollars, so, I guess I'll stick with the old style battery.

Bought a "Battery Minder" Floating charger for 49.00 it will charge Optima batterys says that it is made to use on these type batterys........ be using it for 4 months leave it plugged in 24/7 no problems check out their website

[mrblanche]

I'm fairly easy on batteries. In 45 years of owning cars, now, I've bought exactly 4 batteries.

The best battery I ever bought? The Ford battery in my 2002 F150. It was nine years old and going strong when I sold the pickup to a friend in late 2010. I warned him about it, but he's one of those guys who never replaces something like that until it needs it. And now, two years later, he still hasn't replaced it.

[8t4elky]

Have one in my 47 Ford. Three years old now with no problems. Keep on a battery tender though as I do mot drive it often.

[HP11]

Originally Posted by merc2u

I read somewhere where you need the correct charger for the Optima battery, and the cost around two hundred dollars, so, I guess I'll stick with the old style battery.

It just has to be a float type charger that puts out no more than 1 amp. Anything more than that will cook an Optima or any AGM type battery. I've seen them for 65-80 dollars.

[Skandolis]

i have red tops in both my fords and blue tops in two of my chevys, absolutely love them, i have only had one go bad in better then five years and that was because the lights were left on (for weeks?) would not hold a charge ever again,(but it was three or four years old at that time)

[richbarney]

Have you ever looked at an odyssey. My 5th street rod and have used nothing else. In my estimation, the best battery out there especially if you sre relocating to frame etc. Can be mounted in anyway including upside down. We are installing one tomarrow morning on the back frame support under my 64, will put pictures up when done.

[69 SS396]

I used to have a plow truck and got a Stinger battery for it. About $250.00 in the mid 90s.

True deep cycle dry cell battery made for boom box stereo cars.

Fantastic recovery rate.

[jpmdaddy]

I just swapped out my red top Optima for an O'Reillys store brand. Optima was only a couple of years old, but yesterday the Elky wouldn't start, had only been 2 weeks since last driven. Put optima on charger and it worked for a couple of starts.

Used a test meter to determine that I didn't have a voltage draw - only .01 amp for my radio keep alive.

Oreillys tested the optima with a battery load tester and it came up bad - So replaced with a regular battery that was over $80 less than the optima.