optima batteries
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola Florida
optima batteries
Just wanted to know how long every one was getting out of there optima batteries. I have had a red top for a while and wanted to know how long they where lasting . I got about seven years out of mine and just wanted to see what every one else was getting.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 768
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From: Whittier CA
I have one in my C4 an my C5Z 12yrs in the C4 an going on 6yrs on the Z Always on tenders when they sit.
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The first Optima Red Top I had was a little over 7 years old when I sold the car and it was still working fine. The one that came with my '03 when I bought it used failed right after the three year old mark. Replaced it with a Sears DieHard Platinum that is now 4.5 years old and still going strong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
My red top lasted a little over 15 years and I did not always connect it to a tender when I should have. Only recently did it finally die. I haven't replaced it yet but I will soon. Extremely happy with it.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Ravensdale WA
2 in my truck since 2008. It sits in the summer sometimes over a month and no tender. In my C5 since 2010. It is on a tender when not in use. I just put one in my C6. I like them because they will never leak. The ECM is under the battery in our cars. That is reason enough for me. The truck batteries failed at 3 years old. The first replacements were not well sealed. Rain would run down the back of the hood and overfilled the right battery. I saw it in time to take everything apart and clean up the mess. then repaint the firewall and the battery tray and mount. Since then I will never buy any non AGM battery. Except deep cycles for my RV that's all I have now. The red top in Michelles Malibu is about 2 years old. I may try blue tops in the RV. House batteries only last about 3 years so if they don't last a lot longer there it's not worth the cost. They sit in plastic cases so if they leak it won't hurt anything. When I just got the red top for my C6 I looked at all the AGMs I could find. I could not find a better price than EBAY on a red top with free shipping. Then a local battery shop gave me $12 for my old AC Delco. There is no core charge on EBAY. Since the ECMs are hard to find for a C5 it is foolish to put a flooded cell battery in a C5. C6s will have the same problem soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
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From: Havre de Grace Maryland
I replace my all car's batteries every 4 years whether they need it or not. I have been stuck (my wife also, 
) several times in the most inconvient places with a dead battery. Since the 4 year change process, not once.
) several times in the most inconvient places with a dead battery. Since the 4 year change process, not once.
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From: Southern NH
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Ravensdale WA
Our Malibu had the original battery when we replaced it 2 years ago. The car was 10 years old. The only reason it went bad was for some reason Michelle turned on the ignition in the garage and left it on all night. It was deader than a popcorn fart the net morning. It may have charged up and still been OK. I did not want to risk it as it was winter time and did not want her to be stranded. When I traded in my 83 Camaro in 95 it had the original battery and it was fine. They normally don't die all at once. You can buy a battery load tester cheap at Harbor Freight. I test them all every fall. If they don't hold enough load they get replaced. The ones that fail suddenly can do so at any age. It is a defect or a damaging event that causes that.
Safety Car
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From: Ravensdale WA
i am not stupid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: chicago area IL.
I've had a few of them red and yellow, have one in my 87 hotrod truck that mostly just sits with out a tender if its dead i just charge it on a slow charge put it back in, over 8 years and probably 15+ charge cycles, had one in a 07 burban redtop only got about 3 years of daily use out of 75,000 miles it but the suv did have a high power audio system in it (amps, tv's & etc.) so it was abused
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
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The Optima in my Z06 has been there since 2006. I also use a BatteryMinder 2012 AGM charger to keep it fresh. With the special charger it should last a long time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 949
Likes: 34
From: La Junta Colorado
There going down hill.
I have argued in favor of them many times.
But my 2011 just went in as a core on new interstate.
I have some a lot older they that one. I think that was the newest one I had.
I heard they got bought out a few years ago and that the new one suck.
Local part store agrees. He tries very hard not to sell them any more.
I have argued in favor of them many times.
But my 2011 just went in as a core on new interstate.
I have some a lot older they that one. I think that was the newest one I had.
I heard they got bought out a few years ago and that the new one suck.
Local part store agrees. He tries very hard not to sell them any more.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 431
Likes: 13
From: Sherman Oaks CA
No doubt many people have had problems with their Optimas, more recently than in prior years. I dunno, maybe they changed to an offshore supplier? I have used a C-tek and Optima makes their own, whichever you prefer, just use a smart charger and your battery should last years.
Also, there are reports of chinese copies out there, so buy from a reputable source with a warranty
