Seems pretty simple to me-if the cars going to be sitting for any length of time. Put a battery tender on the thing. End of problem. My bike sits through the winter hooked up to a battery tender and waits for a nice 45 degree day and it fires right up-same same with the Corvette. Doesn't really matter the make of the battery-AC Delco in my 2000 was replaced only as a precaution and that was after 5 years on the original battery-put another one in with no problems to date.

 

I used a Yellow top in my Z28 for 8 years without a problem. Changed it out to a Red top and that thing never did hold a charge, even driving it every few days.

Yellow top in my C6 when I need a battery.

 

Have you ever had a yellow top in your Corvette? Mine hasn't given me a problem and it's been in the car for nearly two years. I don't think I'm going to get me a Interstate...

 

Ok I get the point that your a Red Top fan but the statement that you have yet to have one fail - either you get rid of your cars in a few years or you have true "forever" batteries. Enough said be factual.

 

I've had a $50 Duracell from pep boys in my DD going on 3 years. What does that mean?

 

I have had my Red Top two years and no problems. My 1999 is a garage queen(not by choice). I have driven less than 1,000 miles per year since we got her in 05. I started and drove it today after it sitting since last October. I do keep a battery Butler from Letric Limited on it all the time. No leaks or complaints here.

 

I've had a red top in my coupe for a year now, purchased to reduce risk of damage from battery acid. Stuff under the battery makes the cost of a battery miniscule. Anyhow I don't use a battery tender and no problems. Car has sat for ten days and started right up. I think some bad batteries from any manufacturer may be attributed to the battery sitting for an extended time in a wharehouse somewhere.

 

I have had them last up to 7 years in my cars in my care.

My point remains. It is all anecdotal. There are SO many variables and climates that could very well bring different outcomes, combined with the fact that there will probably be a bad one from time to time. I see no reason to be so Zealous about this. I have simply found a product that does well for me, so I guess you could say that I am a fan.

I have never had a failure in any of my cars. Like most people I keep my cars usually 5-10 years or so. I never suggested that I had forever batteries. I simply stated that I have never had one fail.

The thing that has made them impressive to me is that the climate, here in Phoenix, has never killed one for me. Typically, batteries have lasted 2-3 years max for me. Heat gets em. I never took a good battery out to replace it with a red top, but when the time for replacement arrives, you can bet I will use something that has worked for me in the past.

If they don't work well for you under your circumstances, then don't buy them. If they didn't do well for me, on multiple occasions, then I wouldn't buy them either.

 

Batteries don't fail because of the type of battery. They fail because they are drained by the load placed on them. They also fail earlier if the climate is extreme (hot or cold). They also fail if the charging system doesn't top them up enough either because its broken or because it doesn't have time because the journey was too short.

If you want the peace of mind of a leak proof battery, you best choice is an AGM. But AGM batteries don't take kindly to being drained. If you fit a Red Top you need to look after it if you don't drive the car every day. If you leave it for extended periods, either disconnect it or put it on a battery tender. A Red Top may not recover if it's fully discharged. A Yellow Top is more tolerant as its deep cycle.

One certainty is that the early AC Delcos made by Delphi leaked around the top posts. Anyone with a pre 01 OEM battery should seriously comsider changing it. The recent ones are fine as are most conventional batteries that meet the Corvette spec.

This car will eat batteries if you just leave it. There's a constant drain even when idle. With mods that situation can be worse. It's that simple.

If you choose the right battery for your driving pattern you'll be fine no matter which battery you choose. If you leave it for long periods buy atender.

 

Ive actually been seeing more Yellow tops in cars at shows than red tops. Maybe the yellow is the way to go for garage queens?

Once again, for the price, I cant see using them.

 

you can recharge your Optima. Pick up a trickle charger/battery maintainer for future times when you don't drive the vette much.

 

It doesn't mean much as neither I, or anyone else, made the statement that $50 Durcell batteries are trash.

 

But the statement was made that a $150 battery lasting two years was a milestone of some sort.

 

It means that a DD can live with most batteries. The regular use means its always topped off. My Red Top was great as a DD. It died when it sat idle on the ship for 2 months. It would never hold a charge after that.

Most of the problems you see here on the Forum are from lack of use. The old AC Delcos had a weak case around the side post. It seems that a lot leaked because of over tightening.

 

No milestone, but when someone goes and says something like:

I'm going to beg to differ because I have yet to have any issue with my yellow top that was in the car well before I bought it.

 

Well, that makes sense.

Any idea why the yellow top was chosen? I had mentioned previously that I notice lots of cars at shows recently, old and new, with Yellow tops rather than the red tops. Even from what U have been reading here folks have had better luck with the yellows.

 

An important fucntion of this forum is to access the experience of other Vette owners regarding products we use in our Vettes. I'd have to say that based on what has been indicated on the forum there seems to be just as many people who don't like Optima's who have had them as there are those who do like them. 50/50 is not a "glowing" recommendation for any product.

 

Sorry to move the subject a bit, but what is the expected life of a Red Top under "normal", not extreme, conditions and daily driver?