Optima Battery Question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 143
From: Missouri
Optima Battery Question
Anyone know what the life expectancy is on a Optima Battery?
As an example, Delco Batteries have a 5yr, 6yr, or7yr life expectancy posted right on their batteries. A friend broke down the other night because of a battery and I don't want to do the same thing.
As an example, Delco Batteries have a 5yr, 6yr, or7yr life expectancy posted right on their batteries. A friend broke down the other night because of a battery and I don't want to do the same thing.
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
My optima battery sucks. My first one lasted a year, but I don't drive the car much. I put a second one in, and I will be staying away from Optima from now on. Sears has a great battery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,636
Likes: 1,185
From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
There is no telling what a battery will last, the factory Delco lasted 23 months, the warranty replacement Delco lasted 26 months and my Optima is going strong after 42 months. I was advised the Opima won't leak battery acid, which both of the Delcos did.
I use the car part time because I have a company car and average 1K per month in the Vette.
I use the car part time because I have a company car and average 1K per month in the Vette.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
My original Delco died at 21 months. I replaced it with an Optima RED top. I replaced it at 5 1/2 years because I didn't want to wait until it died. It was still going strong. I replaced it with another Optima RED top. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
My Red Top in the 4 Runner has over 100,000 miles and 8 years. It has a 60 amp power draw from a RF amplifier to deal with too. it is my DD.
Just purchased a Yellow Top for the Vette and hope to get the same results. the OEM battery is still good after 5 1/2 years with 28,000 miles. Car is driven maybe every 7 days and is not tendered.
Just purchased a Yellow Top for the Vette and hope to get the same results. the OEM battery is still good after 5 1/2 years with 28,000 miles. Car is driven maybe every 7 days and is not tendered.
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
Battery life is far more dependent on how you treat the battery than the battery design. You can abuse a battery by running it down and recharging it repeatedly and it might last a year. Or you can keep it fully charged on a tender and it can last 10 years or more. The number of years printed on the battery is partially battery design but also largely marketing. People will pay more for a battery listed as 7 years than for a 3 year battery even though they may be identical batteries. Both will fail in 4 years with average abuse and the company pays for the warranty claim on the 7 year battery with the excess profit they make selling those at a higher price to people who treat their batteries well and make no claim.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Now THAT ^^^^ above makes some sense. Especially if you look at the price of batteries, how long some designs have been around (meaning, the initial R&D, tooling, etc. has been paid for long ago), etc. In a way, it's almost Business 101. 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 15
From: Paris TN
The Optima is still going strong in my old pickup after 5 years. But, don't ever let an Optima run down and think you're going to jump start it anytime soon. I left the ignition key on all day at a car show (dumb, I know) and it took at least an hour charging from another vehicle to get it to turn over.
