Battery for C5
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Erie County, Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by Dave68
This is but one of many, many posts about failed Optimas over the last couple of years:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
Take a look at the Exide Orbital (AGM) or Marathon (non-AGM). Both feature much beefier contruction than the Optimas. Yes, they are also expensive, but both should last a good long time.
If you aren't screamish about lead acid batteries, then consider the 7-year AC Delco battery. It has a 50 month free replacement warranty - best in the industry. It is also highly rated, compared to most other batteries. Here's more info on cost-effective batteries:
Best for cold weather performance:
1. Everstart $60
2. AC Delco $90
3. NAPA $70
4. AC Delco (75 series) $90
5. Everstart, (75 series) $60 CR Best buy
"Batteries from EverStart, Kirkland, and NAPA are good values."
Best for warm weather performance:
1. NAPA $80 (series 65)
2. Duralast (65 series) $60 CR Best buy
3. AC Delco (65 series): $90
4. NAPA (75 series) $70
5. Nascar (75 series) $40 CR Best Buy
75 Series (the type used in Corvette C5s) batteries:
1. Nascar Select 75-84N (North) $80 Excellent reserve capacity
2. AC Delco Proffesional 75-7YR $90 Excellent CCA performance
3. EverStart MAX-75N (North) $60 Excellent reserve capacity, CR Best Buy
4. NAPA XLT N75-S (South) $70 CR Best Buy
5. Autocraft Silver 75-2 $55 Excellent reserve capacity
Notes: The best Diehard battery (WeatherHandler 30075 North) came in 9th place among the 75 series batteries. Its life test was below average, although its reserve capacity was excellent.
The best Interstate battery (Mega-Tron Plus MTP-75) came in 15th place. Its life test was below average.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
Take a look at the Exide Orbital (AGM) or Marathon (non-AGM). Both feature much beefier contruction than the Optimas. Yes, they are also expensive, but both should last a good long time.
If you aren't screamish about lead acid batteries, then consider the 7-year AC Delco battery. It has a 50 month free replacement warranty - best in the industry. It is also highly rated, compared to most other batteries. Here's more info on cost-effective batteries:
Best for cold weather performance:
1. Everstart $60
2. AC Delco $90
3. NAPA $70
4. AC Delco (75 series) $90
5. Everstart, (75 series) $60 CR Best buy
"Batteries from EverStart, Kirkland, and NAPA are good values."
Best for warm weather performance:
1. NAPA $80 (series 65)
2. Duralast (65 series) $60 CR Best buy
3. AC Delco (65 series): $90
4. NAPA (75 series) $70
5. Nascar (75 series) $40 CR Best Buy
75 Series (the type used in Corvette C5s) batteries:
1. Nascar Select 75-84N (North) $80 Excellent reserve capacity
2. AC Delco Proffesional 75-7YR $90 Excellent CCA performance
3. EverStart MAX-75N (North) $60 Excellent reserve capacity, CR Best Buy
4. NAPA XLT N75-S (South) $70 CR Best Buy
5. Autocraft Silver 75-2 $55 Excellent reserve capacity
Notes: The best Diehard battery (WeatherHandler 30075 North) came in 9th place among the 75 series batteries. Its life test was below average, although its reserve capacity was excellent.
The best Interstate battery (Mega-Tron Plus MTP-75) came in 15th place. Its life test was below average.
Newcastle Battery...that's the one for me. Made in Pennsylvania.
DG
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Delta3-2
I wouldn't hit a dog in the *** with an AC/Delco battery. If you recall these Delco OEM batteries are failing by the hundreds with the battery posts breaking off of them. My OEM Delco battery pooped the bed at 24,000 miles.
Newcastle Battery...that's the one for me. Made in Pennsylvania.
DG
Newcastle Battery...that's the one for me. Made in Pennsylvania.
DG
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Originally Posted by Dave68
This is but one of many, many posts about failed Optimas over the last couple of years:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
Take a look at the Exide Orbital (AGM) or Marathon (non-AGM). Both feature much beefier contruction than the Optimas. Yes, they are also expensive, but both should last a good long time.
If you aren't screamish about lead acid batteries, then consider the 7-year AC Delco battery. It has a 50 month free replacement warranty - best in the industry. It is also highly rated, compared to most other batteries. Here's more info on cost-effective batteries:
Best for cold weather performance:
1. Everstart $60
2. AC Delco $90
3. NAPA $70
4. AC Delco (75 series) $90
5. Everstart, (75 series) $60 CR Best buy
"Batteries from EverStart, Kirkland, and NAPA are good values."
Best for warm weather performance:
1. NAPA $80 (series 65)
2. Duralast (65 series) $60 CR Best buy
3. AC Delco (65 series): $90
4. NAPA (75 series) $70
5. Nascar (75 series) $40 CR Best Buy
75 Series (the type used in Corvette C5s) batteries:
1. Nascar Select 75-84N (North) $80 Excellent reserve capacity
2. AC Delco Proffesional 75-7YR $90 Excellent CCA performance
3. EverStart MAX-75N (North) $60 Excellent reserve capacity, CR Best Buy
4. NAPA XLT N75-S (South) $70 CR Best Buy
5. Autocraft Silver 75-2 $55 Excellent reserve capacity
Notes: The best Diehard battery (WeatherHandler 30075 North) came in 9th place among the 75 series batteries. Its life test was below average, although its reserve capacity was excellent.
The best Interstate battery (Mega-Tron Plus MTP-75) came in 15th place. Its life test was below average.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
Take a look at the Exide Orbital (AGM) or Marathon (non-AGM). Both feature much beefier contruction than the Optimas. Yes, they are also expensive, but both should last a good long time.
If you aren't screamish about lead acid batteries, then consider the 7-year AC Delco battery. It has a 50 month free replacement warranty - best in the industry. It is also highly rated, compared to most other batteries. Here's more info on cost-effective batteries:
Best for cold weather performance:
1. Everstart $60
2. AC Delco $90
3. NAPA $70
4. AC Delco (75 series) $90
5. Everstart, (75 series) $60 CR Best buy
"Batteries from EverStart, Kirkland, and NAPA are good values."
Best for warm weather performance:
1. NAPA $80 (series 65)
2. Duralast (65 series) $60 CR Best buy
3. AC Delco (65 series): $90
4. NAPA (75 series) $70
5. Nascar (75 series) $40 CR Best Buy
75 Series (the type used in Corvette C5s) batteries:
1. Nascar Select 75-84N (North) $80 Excellent reserve capacity
2. AC Delco Proffesional 75-7YR $90 Excellent CCA performance
3. EverStart MAX-75N (North) $60 Excellent reserve capacity, CR Best Buy
4. NAPA XLT N75-S (South) $70 CR Best Buy
5. Autocraft Silver 75-2 $55 Excellent reserve capacity
Notes: The best Diehard battery (WeatherHandler 30075 North) came in 9th place among the 75 series batteries. Its life test was below average, although its reserve capacity was excellent.
The best Interstate battery (Mega-Tron Plus MTP-75) came in 15th place. Its life test was below average.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Vinton VA
Well, all I can speak of is my own experience. I have 3 C5's and have had Red-Tops in all three of them. Biggest POS I've ever seen. It's true that I don't drive the vettes as much as I should, but that's just life. I also don't hook up battery tenders to them either. Red-Tops lasted 4 or 5 months, and would die deader than a door nail. The Advance auto battery I replaced them with seems to just last and last. Nothing has changed, the cars get driven the same as always with the only difference is that when you turn the key the engine starts right up and doesn't give you that Red-Top silence. As far as I'm concern red is over rated and a waste of money.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by c5coast
So far I'm good with the factory battery. How long timewise before it craps out?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Dave68
You may not know the history behind this, but some time after this was happening, it was discovered that GM was overtorqing the terminal post connections at the factory - certainly not a problem with the AC Delco battery design. AC Delco has a history of making reliable batteries long before many of you were born, and they will continue to do so for many years to come.
I like my Red Top but thats just me. The Exides get good press and I can see that its a good battery. But AC Delco
Just look at the failure rate in this poll. 54 failures against 86 good ones with 10 causing damage
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
Such a high failure rate for whatever reason is a serious issue particularly when a leak will trash the computer and wiring. Having had a "leaker" I'm not a fan
Last edited by DeeGee; Oct 13, 2006 at 08:03 AM.
