Battery Question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Not Optima. Way too many people complaining about failures these days.
Sears DieHard Advanced Gold AGM seems to getting good reviews. I went with the Duralast Platinum AGM in my 69 because of the positive reviews but I've only had it a few months.
Sears DieHard Advanced Gold AGM seems to getting good reviews. I went with the Duralast Platinum AGM in my 69 because of the positive reviews but I've only had it a few months.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
IMHO, batteries
I have Optima in the C6 and had good luck with it.
In the C3, I just put in a Walmart battery, don't drive the C3 near as much, the battery runs down 2 or 3 times a years from sitting and has to be recharged, expensive battery is not justified for the C3 in my mind. Maybe if I drove the C3 every day, maybe different.
In the C3, I just put in a Walmart battery, don't drive the C3 near as much, the battery runs down 2 or 3 times a years from sitting and has to be recharged, expensive battery is not justified for the C3 in my mind. Maybe if I drove the C3 every day, maybe different.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Optimas are high quality but seem to be finicky. I had one in a '78 I owned and the '69 I own now. They each crapped out suddenly and without warning. I'm thinking that in vehicles that sit for extended periods and repeated charging from that sitting makes them prone to failure.
I have an Optima in another car that sits a lot and keep it on a battery tender due to past experience. It's six years old and is still starting consistently. Maybe with a battery tender maintaining it at a full charge makes the difference.
I have an Optima in another car that sits a lot and keep it on a battery tender due to past experience. It's six years old and is still starting consistently. Maybe with a battery tender maintaining it at a full charge makes the difference.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I've had an Optima red top on my '75 for 4 years now with no problems.
Giong to get one for my '04 as soon as I can find them on sale.
Giong to get one for my '04 as soon as I can find them on sale.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
For sitting over long periods the good old lead acid is the best. They will take a charge if they get to flat.
I worked at a Harley dealer for years, and I can tell you that once the AGM (all Harley uses) batteries go dead from sitting, they are next to impossible to bring back. If you hook them up to a good battery then put the charger on it you can sometimes " jump start" them in to taking a charge, but not often. A battery tender is a must for AGM's.
I worked at a Harley dealer for years, and I can tell you that once the AGM (all Harley uses) batteries go dead from sitting, they are next to impossible to bring back. If you hook them up to a good battery then put the charger on it you can sometimes " jump start" them in to taking a charge, but not often. A battery tender is a must for AGM's.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Why an Optima battery? Your car didn't come with one. It came with a "B" grade general-purpose lead-acid battery. Wal-Mart sells much better batteries than the factory ever put in the car....at half the price of an Optima.
But, if you think having an expensive, unnecessary battery stuck in that box behind your seat [that nobody ever sees!] is a good idea....it's your money.
But, if you think having an expensive, unnecessary battery stuck in that box behind your seat [that nobody ever sees!] is a good idea....it's your money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
Why an Optima battery? Your car didn't come with one. It came with a "B" grade general-purpose lead-acid battery. Wal-Mart sells much better batteries than the factory ever put in the car....at half the price of an Optima.
But, if you think having an expensive, unnecessary battery stuck in that box behind your seat [that nobody ever sees!] is a good idea....it's your money.
But, if you think having an expensive, unnecessary battery stuck in that box behind your seat [that nobody ever sees!] is a good idea....it's your money.
No theyre not half the cost anymore. I bought an optima from summit racing. I paid $160 with free shipping.
Living in the desert, heat kills batteries. I've owned my 92 for 6 yrs and am on my 3rd regular lead acid battery, batteries now run around $100 almost any place you go.
Main reason I went with it was that I did not want a reg lead acid battery gassing off inside my car. The stock battery's had vent tubes running thru the battery compartment floor. The batteries had special caps for the vent tube attachment. i have seen nothing of the sort at walmarts.
I have heard of quality control issues with the optima as they are now built in Mexico. But, i still think the design is good.
There are only like 4 battery manufacturers. They build all of them and put a brand name on it, ie. napa, diehard, duralast, etc.
Time will tell how the optima holds up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I lived in Phoenix for 5 years. Wal-Mart battery...no noticible gassing; no failure. Got 7 years out of it. $65 on sale (back then). Just bought its replacement less than 2 years ago. It was just less than $90...not too far off the 1/2 price of the Optima.
Do what you gotta do. You asked for "suggestions". Clearly, you don't have to pay heed to any that you get.
Do what you gotta do. You asked for "suggestions". Clearly, you don't have to pay heed to any that you get.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
I lived in Phoenix for 5 years. Wal-Mart battery...no noticible gassing; no failure. Got 7 years out of it. $65 on sale (back then). Just bought its replacement less than 2 years ago. It was just less than $90...not too far off the 1/2 price of the Optima.
Do what you gotta do. You asked for "suggestions". Clearly, you don't have to pay heed to any that you get.
Do what you gotta do. You asked for "suggestions". Clearly, you don't have to pay heed to any that you get.
I bought my optima in June. I priced every auto parts store in the LV, NV area. Pretty much $100 with tax for a typical reg battery. I have been on the fence for yrs on the optima, summit racings price and the idea of a typical battery sitting inside my car pushed me over. Now like I said, we'll see how it holds up.
I have lived in the SW for 12 yrs, 11 of them in PHX. 4 months of daily 100 degree + temps kills batteries faster than you can imagine. Deep cycle, starting batteries, golf cart batteries, I've replaced them all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 878
Likes: 60
From: Minneapolis, MN USA
I went through this research in heavy detail this spring for my 70 small block. With the help of others on this forum, as well as many other reviews and tips from outside, my clear winner was the Kirkland battery from Costco. The Kirkland battery is an Interstate battery...came with more CCA and a lower price than most others I found. And it comes with Costco's awesome warranty. Can't go wrong. As a result of this effort, I will be buying all my car batteries there from now on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,793
Likes: 1,938
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Love my Yellow Top Optima
It has lasted through several very cold NY winters & extreme Summer heat. Never used a trickle on it & it sits all winter & fires right up, in the spring. Parked in Nov & not cranked or messed with until March
GO FOR IT !!! It's NOT NCRS / but if you want reliability & dependablity
this is the battery to have !!!
It has lasted through several very cold NY winters & extreme Summer heat. Never used a trickle on it & it sits all winter & fires right up, in the spring. Parked in Nov & not cranked or messed with until March
GO FOR IT !!! It's NOT NCRS / but if you want reliability & dependablity
this is the battery to have !!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
My buddy had a red top Optima that lasted about 10 years. He said it went dead flat several times because it was in his car hauler and he only uses that for racing a few times a year. It always came up and lasted and lasted.
I have a Yellow-top that has gone dead flat a couple times (short) regrettably and it's always come back w/o problems and seems to work great still. It'll probably shorten the life, but for now, it seems to work fine.
Just my experience.
I have a Yellow-top that has gone dead flat a couple times (short) regrettably and it's always come back w/o problems and seems to work great still. It'll probably shorten the life, but for now, it seems to work fine.
Just my experience.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
well its been my exp that Optima batteries are pretty much crap. I have tried them in a few applications and they have failed prematurely in all cases.
If its a gel type you want I have have had great success with the Sears platinum plus versions. I use them in all my cars now.
completely anecdotal, nothing scientific about it. I just wont use Optima again.
If its a gel type you want I have have had great success with the Sears platinum plus versions. I use them in all my cars now.
completely anecdotal, nothing scientific about it. I just wont use Optima again.