optima battery
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Instructor
Joined: May 2001
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From: Yorktown Va Usa
optima battery
Is anyone out there using an optima battery .My vette sits out the winter and the cheap ones just do not cut it anymore .They make good claims just interested in your results .
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I have had the Redtop for only a few weeks and bought it based upon the Optima reputation. So good so far! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
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From: Keizer Oregon
Optima yellow top here....lots of sitting..................on a piece of wood in my garage right now!!! no probs....hold gharge for a long time......I think the yellow top is supposed to be the stud of the group 
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: parsippany nj
The Sears die hard gold has an excellent warranty and is probably half the price. Free replacement for the first 2 years and prorated for the next 3 years after that. The optima has free replacement for the first 2 years also and then prorated for the next 5 years , but costs almost double!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
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From: Ontario
Originally Posted by crazcorkath
The Sears die hard gold has an excellent warranty and is probably half the price. Free replacement for the first 2 years and prorated for the next 3 years after that. The optima has free replacement for the first 2 years also and then prorated for the next 5 years , but costs almost double!!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
Originally Posted by carguy4sure
Yes, but that is a standard lead-acid battery. The Optima has none of that, they are dry cell. Since our batteries are inside the car, for safety alone I think the optima is the way to go. No acid to leak or fumes venting into the interior.
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12. What is the difference between your deep cycle and starter battery?
The OPTIMA deep cycle battery utilizes a different chemistry for the active paste material on the plates, and a slightly stronger acid "
I always assumed they were gel batteries
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
also check-out this one (same battery technology - different mfgr):
http://www.exideworld.com/products/a...t_orbital.html
http://www.exideworld.com/products/a...t_orbital.html
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Vancouver, BC
Originally Posted by hiyosilver
Is anyone out there using an optima battery .My vette sits out the winter and the cheap ones just do not cut it anymore .They make good claims just interested in your results .
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
Ok here's my 2 cents: I agree that Sears has a good product I have had the Gold on my car for 2 years and it sat alot during that time, and it has performed well. I would recommend this battery with a quick disconnect. ( a cheap way to avoid alot of hassle)
I have an optima red top on my truck. No problems with it either, but I could have almost bought 2 conventional batteries for its cost. But, if you are dead set on the Optima go with the Red Top if your vehicle is going to sit around much, it holds a charge longer. If you have a lot of accessory equipment on your car such as a high wattage stereo, dvd player, or trolling motor (lol) get the yellow top, it is a deep cycle type of battery. 
I have an optima red top on my truck. No problems with it either, but I could have almost bought 2 conventional batteries for its cost. But, if you are dead set on the Optima go with the Red Top if your vehicle is going to sit around much, it holds a charge longer. If you have a lot of accessory equipment on your car such as a high wattage stereo, dvd player, or trolling motor (lol) get the yellow top, it is a deep cycle type of battery.
Last edited by LS-Five; Feb 9, 2005 at 12:19 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
I have been using Optima's since they first hit the shelves. The one in my Jeep is about 9 years old.
Bouncing around the desert with way over 100 degree heat will kill a wet cell off in just 6 months. My Optima just keeps on cranking.
I now put one in everything I own
Bouncing around the desert with way over 100 degree heat will kill a wet cell off in just 6 months. My Optima just keeps on cranking.
I now put one in everything I own
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,063
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From: Beverly Massachusetts
i had a 94 jeep wrangler that went through four batteries during the winter a few years ago cause it is so hard to start when it gets below freezing then i put a optima red top in and it never had a problem after that. i now have an optima in all my vehicles.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
I have had Redtops in both of my garage queens over the last three years. They are far and above a traditional battery if you don't drive your car regularly. The real benefit is the charge loss rate is so low that you don't need to be concerned about charge tenders. I appreciate the other benefits (completely sealed, resistant to shock, you can run the battery upside down if you wish) as well. Sure, they do cost a lot more than traditional batteries, but I'm happy to pay the difference just for the convenience of not having to keep a charge on them. Over the three years, I would have had to replace the batteries in both cars at least once if I had stayed traditional.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Smile, it's just the internet.
The Yellow Top is a deep cycle battery. Red Top is more conventional. I have a Red Top that I keep on a battery tender. If I was going to store over the winter without the tender, I'd get a Yellow Top; it would live a longer life under the discharge conditions of cold-storage.
Optimas CAN vent...under the right circumstances. There IS acid in them. I accidentally overcharged one this summer...had it hooked to a 35 amp charger overnight. OOPS. It boiled over and all the windows in the car were fogged over and condensing. It stunk to high heaven of acid. That was totally my mistake, so I didn't even try for a warranty replacement. I just bought another one.
Optimas CAN vent...under the right circumstances. There IS acid in them. I accidentally overcharged one this summer...had it hooked to a 35 amp charger overnight. OOPS. It boiled over and all the windows in the car were fogged over and condensing. It stunk to high heaven of acid. That was totally my mistake, so I didn't even try for a warranty replacement. I just bought another one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 52
From: Florida
I used to buy only Interstate but they began to fail on me prematurely I thought so I've switched to Optima red tops. I've bought three for three different vehicles. One died after two years but the other two have been working well for the last two years.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I have one red top that is at least 4 years old, and is on it's second car. The battery just keeps on cranking. I killed one in the 'Vette after about 2.5 years, but I think that was due to something wrong with the starter - there was an annoying electrical discharge problem that went away when the new sstarter was installed