gell battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Easton PA
gell battery
i have a 1998corvette with the original led acid batteryand understand the computer is under it and if it leaks bye bye computer.where do i get a true gel type battery and what is reccomended??:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
I have a Optima Red Top,, That was recommended for my car. It's 100% leak proof and is gauranteed for 10 years full replacement after 3 yrs. I know that there are many folks on this site that absolutly hate them. But touch wood I have not had any problems with it. After I bought and installed it I took it to my GM dealer (who has 2 bays just for Vettes )and had him test it. He said it was 100% perfect. He himself purchased a Red top for his car and said he would trust nothing else. You can talk to a hundred people everyone has their own opinion. There are certainly plenty to choose from. That's my 2 cents...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 20
From: FLORIDA
Originally Posted by silverbullit99
I have a Optima Red Top,, That was recommended for my car. It's 100% leak proof and is gauranteed for 10 years full replacement after 3 yrs. I know that there are many folks on this site that absolutly hate them. But touch wood I have not had any problems with it. After I bought and installed it I took it to my GM dealer (who has 2 bays just for Vettes )and had him test it. He said it was 100% perfect. He himself purchased a Red top for his car and said he would trust nothing else. You can talk to a hundred people everyone has their own opinion. There are certainly plenty to choose from. That's my 2 cents...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Originally Posted by silverbullit99
I have a Optima Red Top,, That was recommended for my car. It's 100% leak proof and is gauranteed for 10 years full replacement after 3 yrs...(snip)...
I often see the Optima Red Top and Yellow Top and now the Exide Select Orbital® and Exide Select Orbital® XCD batteries referred to here on the Forum as gel cell batteries. However, according to their respective web sites they are all Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries and there is a difference:
"All you ever wanted to know about AGM and Gel Cell batteries"
As the liquid acid electrolyte is absorbed in the glass mat, AGM batteries are much less likely to leak. However, should the battery case crack, they can sometimes leak a little from the acid that seeps from the glass mats.
Also if you go to the Optima web site, I think you will find that the Red Top in 12V Passenger Vehicle/Light Truck (noncommercial) applications is warranted for 36 months free replacement with a remaining 36 months prorated, not 10 years as you stated. The Yellow Top warranty, depending on application, is for considerably less time.
Last edited by GrayC5; Jun 12, 2006 at 11:12 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,605
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
After reading all the horror stories here I decided to replace my OEM battery in my '98. It was getting weak anyway. Bought the Red Top at Costco for $92 +Tax. Battery store wanted $135 + tax.Happy as a pig in a poke.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
thewiz,
I'm not familiar enough with any of the automotive "true" gel type batteries to make a recommendation. Too, the gel batteries can be quite a bit more expensive. For replacement batteries, many of the folks here on the Forum go with one of the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries instead. Here are a few links that talk about some of these AGM batteries should you think you might be interested in one of these as an alternative:
Wrong Delco Battery?
What is wrong with my new Optima battery???
…and if you have a Sam' Club nearby, you just find a real bargain in an AGM battery, although I'm not sure that all the Sam's Clubs will have them at this price:
Just bought Exide Orbital XLT 34 for $40.64 @ Sam's
HTH
I'm not familiar enough with any of the automotive "true" gel type batteries to make a recommendation. Too, the gel batteries can be quite a bit more expensive. For replacement batteries, many of the folks here on the Forum go with one of the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries instead. Here are a few links that talk about some of these AGM batteries should you think you might be interested in one of these as an alternative:
Wrong Delco Battery?
What is wrong with my new Optima battery???
…and if you have a Sam' Club nearby, you just find a real bargain in an AGM battery, although I'm not sure that all the Sam's Clubs will have them at this price:
Just bought Exide Orbital XLT 34 for $40.64 @ Sam's
HTH
Last edited by GrayC5; Jun 12, 2006 at 11:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
You might want to read this before you decide:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1360064
Whenever my original AC Delco AGM dies, I'd like to try the EXide Orbital - beefier case than the Optima and from recent reports I've read, is very reliable.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1360064
Whenever my original AC Delco AGM dies, I'd like to try the EXide Orbital - beefier case than the Optima and from recent reports I've read, is very reliable.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Originally Posted by GrayC5
Except that the Optima is not a gel type battery. The poster asked about a "true gel type battery."
I often see the Optima Red Top and Yellow Top and now the Exide Select Orbital® and Exide Select Orbital® XCD batteries referred to here on the Forum as gel cell batteries. However, according to their respective web sites they are all Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries and there is a difference:
"All you ever wanted to know about AGM and Gel Cell batteries"
As the liquid acid electrolyte is absorbed in the glass mat, AGM batteries are much less likely to leak. However, should the battery case crack, they can sometimes leak a little from the acid that seeps from the glass mats.
Also if you go to the Optima web site, I think you will find that the Red Top in 12V Passenger Vehicle/Light Truck (noncommercial) applications is warranted for 36 months free replacement with a remaining 36 months prorated, not 10 years as you stated. The Yellow Top warranty, depending on application, is for considerably less time.
I often see the Optima Red Top and Yellow Top and now the Exide Select Orbital® and Exide Select Orbital® XCD batteries referred to here on the Forum as gel cell batteries. However, according to their respective web sites they are all Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries and there is a difference:
"All you ever wanted to know about AGM and Gel Cell batteries"
As the liquid acid electrolyte is absorbed in the glass mat, AGM batteries are much less likely to leak. However, should the battery case crack, they can sometimes leak a little from the acid that seeps from the glass mats.
Also if you go to the Optima web site, I think you will find that the Red Top in 12V Passenger Vehicle/Light Truck (noncommercial) applications is warranted for 36 months free replacement with a remaining 36 months prorated, not 10 years as you stated. The Yellow Top warranty, depending on application, is for considerably less time.
I don't know about the warranty in the US,, but in Montreal ( Can. ) I picked up the Red Top at Walmart,, for $150. And it has a 3yr replacement and a total of 10 year coverage. Guess the warranty varies depending the city you live in.. But none the less,, I think it should be a good battery,,
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,324
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Some have reported problems with their Red Tops (especially recent purchases), but I've had mine for 4.5 years and not one problem. I'd replace it again with another Red Top.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
Some have reported problems with their Red Tops (especially recent purchases), but I've had mine for 4.5 years and not one problem. I'd replace it again with another Red Top.
I have a yellow top (2 years now) and no issues...Besides, if you have 100K (Lets say Hondas) on the road.... you can't be surprised when you go into a auto shop and see a few being worked on...
