Optima Battery Experience
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
I went with the Yellow Top because of its greater reserve capacity. The Red Top has more cranking power, but that's never been an issue with me.
When my Delco failed after one year, I went with the Optima and have had no issues at all in the two years I've had it.
When my Delco failed after one year, I went with the Optima and have had no issues at all in the two years I've had it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 396
Likes: 5
From: Liberty Hill TX
You guys waste a lot of money on those yellow/red top batteries. I only use Walmart's best batteries in all my vehicles and have NEVER had a problem. My vette sits for weeks at a time and has NEVER failed to start and I don't use one of those maintainers. Walmarts are everywhere so if you ever have a problem you don't have to look very far for help.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 6
From: Wilmington NC
If you want iron clad, rock solid, no issue ever....the Sears Die Hard Platinum AGM is bullet proof. Its made by Johnson Controls which is parent of Optima; and it appears to be even tougher. Nice case too
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=L14
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=L14
The battery you reference in your link has the posts reversed from what I need for my 07 and my last conversation with Sears Automotive about a year ago is they don't have a battery for my Vette.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
My original Delco is still performing great after 5 1/4 years. I am going to keep it in service until it shows signs of failing. Reason: I have replaced batteries in the past and the new one failed within a month.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
They show it on thier website, but every store is "out of stock".
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 361
From: TX
I had a Red Top Optima fail after about 13 months of use. Took it back, and was told that they were seeing a lot of early deaths of Optima batteries, and that I was better off getting a standard battery, which cost about half what the Optima did.
It appears to me that the Optima is more about marketing hype than performance. If you're going to spend that kind of money on a battery, you'd be better off going with one of the new Lithium Iron batteries out on the market that only weigh about 3lbs and provide higher CCA as well as amp/hour ratings in the same, or even smaller, size.
I'm not sure if Shorai has ones out for cars yet, but I believe they are working on it. http://www.shoraipower.com/
It appears to me that the Optima is more about marketing hype than performance. If you're going to spend that kind of money on a battery, you'd be better off going with one of the new Lithium Iron batteries out on the market that only weigh about 3lbs and provide higher CCA as well as amp/hour ratings in the same, or even smaller, size.
I'm not sure if Shorai has ones out for cars yet, but I believe they are working on it. http://www.shoraipower.com/
Last edited by CSixDude; Jun 21, 2011 at 09:23 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
You guys waste a lot of money on those yellow/red top batteries. I only use Walmart's best batteries in all my vehicles and have NEVER had a problem. My vette sits for weeks at a time and has NEVER failed to start and I don't use one of those maintainers. Walmarts are everywhere so if you ever have a problem you don't have to look very far for help.
Any battery that you cannot let sit for longer than just a few days without having to put it on a Tender or charger is not acceptable... it's not a cell phone or ipod battery that should need frequent charging.
I will Never purchase any Optima battery, have known personally of at least 3 people that had nothing but problems with them. I see a few people on this board that don't have issues with them, but a majority IMO do. Those that don't have problems with them keep them on a tender or float charger.
My delco in my C5 lasted 5 years and was still going strong when I pulled it while doing some other mods. I could let the car sit for 2-3 weeks and it would fire up every time. Same thing with the Delco in my Z06 now, have let the car sit for up to 2 weeks and fires up everytime., that battery is going on 4 years now.
The only time I use a tender is when it goes in Storage for Winter.
Last edited by FrankTank; Jun 21, 2011 at 11:45 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 7
From: Hollywood CA
2012 on order
Sorry that link is for Ford GT.
The Sears battery website doesnt list many cars as "fits" including the Ford GT (which uses a Optima red top 25 series); however, owners have chosen the Die Hard with posts & dimensions similar.
See their platinum series, and check sizes and posts configuration to fit engine bay. L x W x H
Sorry that link is for Ford GT.
The Sears battery website doesnt list many cars as "fits" including the Ford GT (which uses a Optima red top 25 series); however, owners have chosen the Die Hard with posts & dimensions similar.
See their platinum series, and check sizes and posts configuration to fit engine bay. L x W x H
Last edited by Kevin_NYC; Jun 21, 2011 at 10:27 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 6
From: Wilmington NC
2012 on order
Sorry that link is for Ford GT.
The Sears battery website doesnt list many cars as "fits" including the Ford GT (which uses a Optima red top 25 series); however, owners have chosen the Die Hard with posts & dimensions similar.
See their platinum series, and check sizes and posts configuration to fit engine bay. L x W x H
Sorry that link is for Ford GT.
The Sears battery website doesnt list many cars as "fits" including the Ford GT (which uses a Optima red top 25 series); however, owners have chosen the Die Hard with posts & dimensions similar.
See their platinum series, and check sizes and posts configuration to fit engine bay. L x W x H
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
For those that are saying it is a great battery "as long as you keep a charger on it if you are not driving it regularly"
Is that not the point of an Optima?So they hold a charge longer than a regular battery?
I would like to buy the best battery when mine goes and I don't mind spending the money if I am getting something better,but if I always have to keep it on a tender when I am not driving it what am I gaining?
My factory battery is kept on a tender and is still perfect after 4 years.
Is that not the point of an Optima?So they hold a charge longer than a regular battery?
I would like to buy the best battery when mine goes and I don't mind spending the money if I am getting something better,but if I always have to keep it on a tender when I am not driving it what am I gaining?
My factory battery is kept on a tender and is still perfect after 4 years.
There have been some that have had leaking wet cell batteries and since the battery sits over the computer this has caused weird electronic malfunctions as well as damage to the computer and wiring.
That being said the odds of a battery leaking are pretty slim BUT if one out of 100,000 batteries leaked and you had the one that did you probably wouldn't care about the 99,999 that didn't leak.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
Get hit with a big bill to fix wiring and/or the computer and you'll wish you'd gone with an AGM battery. Just ask some of the C5 guys that had it happen to them. I'll spend the extra money for the peace of mind.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
optima....isn't that a Kia?
J/K I love my Red Top in my C5. I did it to prevent acid on my BCM.
Have had good luck so far. 4+ years. sits for 1-2 weeks at a time. Sometimes on a tender, sometimes not. Really use the tender more for alternator protection than battery charging. Don't want the alternator to have to work so hard after the car has sat for a week or two or five.
See no reason for the optima in the C6Z though....
J/K I love my Red Top in my C5. I did it to prevent acid on my BCM.
Have had good luck so far. 4+ years. sits for 1-2 weeks at a time. Sometimes on a tender, sometimes not. Really use the tender more for alternator protection than battery charging. Don't want the alternator to have to work so hard after the car has sat for a week or two or five.
See no reason for the optima in the C6Z though....
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 8
From: Clinton Township Michigan
Leaking batteries are a lot more common than you might think.
Get hit with a big bill to fix wiring and/or the computer and you'll wish you'd gone with an AGM battery. Just ask some of the C5 guys that had it happen to them. I'll spend the extra money for the peace of mind.
Get hit with a big bill to fix wiring and/or the computer and you'll wish you'd gone with an AGM battery. Just ask some of the C5 guys that had it happen to them. I'll spend the extra money for the peace of mind.
Enjoy,
akriggm
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 388
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
My son went thru 2 Red Tops in 2 1/2 yrs ... Went to Sears Platinum
some 1 1/2 yrs ago, zero problems; not ran for months at a time and
does not use a batt. tender. Places a batt. charger on it about once a month... (It's a '62 Old's, a piece of garage art.)
Put one in my 2005 C6 Aug. 2010, working great. 7 yr. replacement warr. Made by Odessey, lot of info in web about them ....
some 1 1/2 yrs ago, zero problems; not ran for months at a time and
does not use a batt. tender. Places a batt. charger on it about once a month... (It's a '62 Old's, a piece of garage art.)
Put one in my 2005 C6 Aug. 2010, working great. 7 yr. replacement warr. Made by Odessey, lot of info in web about them ....
Thread Starter
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
You guys waste a lot of money on those yellow/red top batteries. I only use Walmart's best batteries in all my vehicles and have NEVER had a problem. My vette sits for weeks at a time and has NEVER failed to start and I don't use one of those maintainers. Walmarts are everywhere so if you ever have a problem you don't have to look very far for help.
