I knew my battery was old in my '64. Finally lowered the lift--screwed in green ****--dead. Jumped it with a battery pack, car started right up. Decided to get a new one. I took it out and saw it was a 1 year warranty Wally World battery--from 2005!!!!!! I'm just going to replace it. Say what you want about the expensive batteries, but this one has only been unhooked all winter--no maintainer ever.
Rick

 

I just replaced the one in my Chevelle from 2009 . and never used a maintainerv

 

Lots of folks here have said they buy the cheapest battery they can find, and have had them last seven to 10 years, with no problems. Yours, at 14, is pretty unusual, but, admirable. I happen to be in the group who likes cheaper batteries. I usually get 'em from Advance Auto, and they typically last 7 to 10 years. Whatever floats your boat, as they say.

 

I recently replaced two Wal Mart batteries in my GTO's. The one in my '67 was 17 years old and the one in the '65 was 15-16 years old. $28 batteries, never trickle charged/maintained.....the best batteries I've ever owned, bar none. The new version from Wal Mart is now $118.

 

I replaced the old Optima in my 67 last fall (2018). The date stamp was from 2000..........

 

Back when Optima was a quality unit. Not so much today, or since about 2004.

 

Started and drove a car today for the first time since November, 2018. Battery is a Sears Die Hard that has been in place since 03/11/1999. No trickle charger or battery tender involved, only a disconnect switch for when the car is not in use, Car was purchased new by my Mother and now has 79,965 miles on the odometer. Paint is original. I did however add some coolant before going out on the road. It ran beautifully.

 

Beautiful Mercedes! I've lusted after one of these since I was a small child in the early '60's. Timeless design, and worth a gazillion dollars today. Wonderful to see an original survivor like this...thanks for the post. 20 years has got to be some kind of record for a car battery!!!

 

Your Mother had great taste! That is a beauty. You are a lucky man.

 

Most battery made in China now! My last load of battery were %40 more in cost. After these new tariffs add another 10% This country was sold out by the Democrats . Trumps got it right put the coals to these bastards we do not need there crap. You can thank Johnson controls they are in China making these batterys since these large price increases. Walmart batterys are made by Johnson all off them and it is a hit or miss with there quality. These old Die hards will never be the same!

 

Re check your facts on battery production. Johnson Controls, Decca, Excide all produce in the USA. Even Mexico Batteries are not brought accross the border because it adds cost.
Batteries are like bread, as soon as they are made they start going stale. Shipping from China would add a lot of time that is not in a car.
When you purchase a battery always check its manufacture date, buy the freshest one you can find.
Lead is one of the Toxic compounds our EPA has targeted to clean up the environment. Recycling and handling of Lead has raised the cost on your batteries.

Copper, Chromium, Tin and many other metals are targeted by the EPA also, not just lead.
I hate all the production we have shipped to China but Auto Batteries so far are mostly made in the USA.

Since Johnson controls was targeted you might take a read.

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 2, 2017 –The world’s largest automotive battery supplier and recycler, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), is announcing investments to grow manufacturing capability in the United States. The company will accelerate $450 million USD in investment at its existing facilities across the country to increase capacity to grow its aftermarket service and supply capabilities. This amount includes an announcement today of an additional $50 million to increase capacity at 8 U.S. plants by 10 million batteries in 2017.

“Power demands on batteries are increasing as vehicles add more safety and convenience features, and the number of vehicles in operation continues to grow, creating more replacement opportunities,” said Joe Walicki, Johnson Controls Power Solutions president. “In the last year alone, the U.S. battery replacement market has grown 8 percent.”

Here’s how other previously announced Johnson Controls’ investments break out:

$245 million for additional Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) manufacturing capacity largely to serve the domestic market with expansion in four U.S. facilities, including St. Joseph, Missouri and Middletown, Delaware

$100 million to more than double AGM production in Toledo, Ohio

$50 million to add manufacturing capacity in Middletown, Delaware

 

I have had three batteries ruined after only a couple years when using battery maintainers all winter and none of them were cheap batteries . I used three separate maintainers so it wasn't that I had a defective maintainer . They all did the same thing . I threw them all away and will never use one again . I used to always get at least 7 years out of my batteries by just using them in a every day vehicle and occasionally charging the classic cars during the winter with a regular 2 amp slow charger . ( maybe twice during the winter for an hour each time )

 

Not sure why that would have happened, but it does raise one question. Were you using a trickle charger or a float charger? A trickle charger will maintain win a constant flow of current - between .75 and 1.5 amps - and can overcharge a battery and burn it out. Float chargers will cycle on and off to maintain the corr ct battery voltage (12.6 V) and not overcharge the battery.

I have used float chargers for 30+ years and never had a problem.

 

I didn't know Optima had gone downhill. Is that just a general sense of things, or can you point us to an info source? I usually buy Interstate, but was thinking about Optima the next time I have to wrestle the battery out of my '67.

 

My understanding is that Optima quality did take a major hit initially after their move to Mexico, but that they have more recently upgraded their manufacturing standards and quality control. If I last another 18 years I’ll let you know how that worked out!

 

Cool climates helps battery life.
Hot climates kills batteries, as the irreversible chemical reactions are sped up greatly.
Batteries would last me for years in Montana, i rarely get more than 4 years when i was in Phoenix, failure at 3 was not unusual.

I now replace the batts on my DDs at 3 years, whether they need it or not.

Doug

 

Personal experience with our fleet at work. Used Optima's exclusively until about 2004, when they started to fail early and often on multiple vehicles. Trucks and cars. Now we run the cheapest we can find and it's been working for us. I recently picked up 2 new batteries for my old GTO's....for $58 apiece. RayOVac group 24 from Batteries Plus. They are working just fine and are 50% of the cost of Walmart's cheapest. Like tires on my old cars, batteries time out more than wear out.

 

Earlier this month had a battery fail in my Ford Edge. Took it back to the Advance auto parts place only to find its 2 year full replacement warranty had run out a month earlier. I must have been desperate to pay over $100 for that battery. Now using one of Walmart's units - will see...

Had an old Forever battery sitting in my garage for decades, was tempted to exercise the warranty, but decided to just send it peacefully to the recycling center.

 

Interesting, thanks. I checked online at Batteries Plus and the cheapest RayOVac battery I see for our cars is $89, but online is often not the latest prices. Or it might be a Silicon Valley price for my area.

Edit: Just checked Walmart and their cheapest appropriate battery is $49.88.

 

Do you have any more recent experience with Optimas other then the bad ones in 2004? I agree they were bad after they first moved to Mexico but seem to have improved since. I’ve had one in my 06 for about 2 years now and a buddy with a 34 Ford hot rod has 4 years on his. So - we shall see.......