Optima Battery Worth it??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Walnut CA
Optima Battery Worth it??
I'm tired of batteries going dead after 2 weeks of not starting my C6.
So is the "gell" Optima battery with over 900 amps of cranking power worth it? It is $179.
Thanks for any input.
Scott
So is the "gell" Optima battery with over 900 amps of cranking power worth it? It is $179.
Thanks for any input.
Scott
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: WA
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
If you have a electrical drain issue, new batteries will not resolve your problem. A healthy battery should be good to sit for at least 3-4 weeks without starting issues. I would check for a battery drain problem. Have you added any electrical related mods? Is Onstar activated and not going into sleep mode when the engine is off? Is a Mild to Wild switch hooked up using the 0 battery drain method? Does your the battery have a bad cell?
Last edited by Mike's LS3; Dec 14, 2010 at 03:26 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I wouldn't pay that kind of money, and high cca rating's are actually opposite of what you're wanting for long period low drain application's. A marine type deep cycle battery does this best, but not that great in sub zero weather. Auto Zone's $100 90-DLG is a direct drop in replacement for most later C6's and has a 3 year free replacement. Keep an eye for additional discount coupon's. Still a cranking battery, but my car has sat for several week's, no problem. Look's like it'll be sitting awhile longer now, so has a Ctek 3300 hooked to it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
If you're going to keep discharging your battery, then the only Optima to even consider is the Yellow Top. It's designed to handle deep discharges without losing capacity.
However, as others have pointed out, a Battery Tender is a much cheaper solution once you figure out what's causing the abnormal current draw in the first place.
However, as others have pointed out, a Battery Tender is a much cheaper solution once you figure out what's causing the abnormal current draw in the first place.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,610
Likes: 12
For the track I use a light weight (6.6 oz) Braille Carbon Fiber racing battery.
For my daily driving, I bought the Optima red top. Yup, it was about $179. Had it a little less than two years. Never a problem starting right up and sometimes I don't drive for a week. Is it worth paying almost double that of other batteries? Probably not, but I wanted a gel and it was the only choice at the time I went looking.
For my daily driving, I bought the Optima red top. Yup, it was about $179. Had it a little less than two years. Never a problem starting right up and sometimes I don't drive for a week. Is it worth paying almost double that of other batteries? Probably not, but I wanted a gel and it was the only choice at the time I went looking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Every time you let a battery go dead you take a significant part of its life. Your problem is not the battery but the way you (and possibly the dealer) have treated it. A battery in good condition should easily last 2 weeks but a beat up one can be dead in days. Get a new battery (my preference is Interstate) and a battery tender (my preference is Battery Tender Jr.) and you should expect 5-7 years before you have another issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
My original 2005 Delco battery died at 22 months. I replaced it with an Optima RED top with 720 CCA's. It's been 47 months now with it and have had no problems. I agree with the others that it sounds like you have a problem and no battery will stand up up under those conditions. It's time to find out what's wrong and replace the battery. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 4
From: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
The thing with the Optimas is the fact they can be discharged and cause no damage to the battery. Thats really all the benefit there. They die just like the other batteries.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
Go with a DIE HARD or something.185 bucks for a battery is just nuts...and I own a YELLOW TOP!Got caught out there on a Sunday and had no choice but to spend all that money.I wouldn't do it again and mine is on a trickle charger too,just like any other battery in the Vette.
and throw a $30 battery tender on it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08
My original 2005 Delco battery died at 22 months. I replaced it with an Optima RED top with 720 CCA's. It's been 47 months now with it and have had no problems. I agree with the others that it sounds like you have a problem and no battery will stand up up under those conditions. It's time to find out what's wrong and replace the battery.
good luck
