yes or no on optima red top battery
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
yes or no on optima red top battery
Im thinking on getting a optima red top battery for the Vette. I was talking to some c4 owners and they say that the optima red top battery is no good, For the Vette's.
what is a good battery for the c4's?
Mark
what is a good battery for the c4's?
Mark
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
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St. Jude Donor '05
Just about any battery your car doesnt know what brand is in it.
#4
Race Director
Marco had an Optima when I bought him that the previous owner installed. It failed shortly after I bought the car. It was about 18 months old. I replaced it with my favorite battery....the yellow Everstart from Wal-Mart.
I've heard both sides of the coin on Optimas. Perhaps the one in my car was allowed to run down a few times....that might have caused it to fail. That was the only personal experience I've had with them. I've also heard stories where they last 8+ years. Go figure.
To me, the Everstart is such a good battery, I can't justify any expense beyond that for a battery. And there's a Wal-Mart on every corner of the country if I ever need to exchange it.
YMMV
I've heard both sides of the coin on Optimas. Perhaps the one in my car was allowed to run down a few times....that might have caused it to fail. That was the only personal experience I've had with them. I've also heard stories where they last 8+ years. Go figure.
To me, the Everstart is such a good battery, I can't justify any expense beyond that for a battery. And there's a Wal-Mart on every corner of the country if I ever need to exchange it.
YMMV
#9
Tech Contributor
Running optima for many years no problem. However you have to mod the underside cruise control backet in order to get it to fit or else it will contact the top positive post. At least you do in a MY90-96 Just FYI
#10
Race Director
A lot of money for the same 12vdc. Although it would make sense if you are planing on flipping the vette over. On the other hand, there is the school of thought that if it costs a lot more, it has to be a lot better.
Last edited by zr1fred; 02-06-2011 at 11:46 PM.
#13
Team Owner
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Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
I have an optima in my 96. No problems in two years.
#15
Le Mans Master
Optima Red Top in my car, going on 5 years with no problems. I was putting a battery in every spring until I started using a battery tender, maybe that's why the Optima is still going strong.
#16
Le Mans Master
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Yep! A lead-acid battery that is not being charged regularly will develop a lead-sulfate layer on the plates. This sulfate, formed as part of the electro-chemical process, coats the lead plates and effectively reduces the surface area exposed to the electrolyte (sulphuric acid). This effectively increases the internal resistance, and thus limiting current output over time to the point the battery may not be able to be revived - aka won't take a charge.
However, (short lesson) if the battery is continuously being trickle charged, the formation of the sulfate layering will not occur - or at least not as quickly - and the battery's potential will be substantially extended beyond that of an "un-tended" battery.
Not all battery chargers are alike. The Battery Tender is of the type referred to as a "smart charger". It's heart is a micro processor that senses when the battery needs to be charged, and when it is fully charged. When fully charged, the BT reverts from charging mode (higher current) to a maintenance or "trickle current". This small current not only prevents sulfide formation, but will supply the tiny current used by the ECM to keep the memory alive; killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.
To some extent, the formation of sulfate is unavoidable, even with charging. Otherwise the batteries would last forever. Critical to the longevity of a lead-acid battery is (in short) dependent upon the charging taking place AND the concentration of the sulphuric acid. My point in mentioning the concentration level of sulphuric acid is it is one factor that has a drastic effect on not only longevity, but over all performance. Get it wrong, and all bets are off, as far as battery performance and life goes! This may be the reason some batteries suffer pre-mature failure. However, ignorance with regard to maintenance is by far the usual culprit. (But, this - ignorance - won't be a problem going forward, huh?)
So, I'll suffice to say that it isn't what you spend on a battery that will make the difference, it is the way it is maintained that will have the lion's share of the effective life of any lead-acid battery.
Y'all read all the battery manufacture's hype ya want. Me? Like Frizzle does: every 5 or so years I'll go down to the local WallMart and pick up a new one. Trust me... You hang one of those little 800 series Battery Tenders on the wall and plug it in every time you park (unless it is a daily driver), and unless you leave the lights on and run it flat a (very) few times, your battery woes will be a thing of the past!
P.
Last edited by Paul Workman; 02-07-2011 at 06:00 AM.
#17
Safety Car
Spend the extra bux somewhere else. The Optima is designed really for odd locations and mounting. Its great for 4X4's for off roading but I see no need to put it a regular car under regular situations. My .02 anyway.
#18
Race Director
So, I'll suffice to say that it isn't what you spend on a battery that will make the difference, it is the way it is maintained that will have the lion's share of the effective life of any lead-acid battery.
Y'all read all the battery manufacture's hype ya want. Me? Like Frizzle does: every 5 or so years I'll go down to the local WallMart and pick up a new one. Trust me... You hang one of those little 800 series Battery Tenders on the wall and plug it in every time you park (unless it is a daily driver), and unless you leave the lights on and run it flat a (very) few times, your battery woes will be a thing of the past!
P.
I replaced the battery in my '96 back in the summer of 2006.
That same battery is still in there going strong.
It was just a regular battery (whatever brand O'Reilly Auto Parts sells).
If you have to replace the battery every spring or your car won't start after sitting for a week or two, then it's not the fault of the battery.
#19
Race Director
If you do the math on the warranty replacement, I have 2 brand new Optima batteries sitting in my garage that I wouldn't even think about putting in my cars.
F-Optima.
My $.02. Take it or leave it.
Last edited by RedLS1GTO; 02-07-2011 at 11:35 AM.