battery
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,004
Likes: 2,705
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
In the past, I've heard of problems with Optima, enough that I didn't use one. But I can't recall the exact issues, so I'll just say do some research of your own.
For some reason, many people have emotional reactions (good or bad) to discussions about brands of batteries, motor oil, etc.
For some reason, many people have emotional reactions (good or bad) to discussions about brands of batteries, motor oil, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The OEM battery in my '19 (build date 5/19) died last week. It's my daily, so I never use a maintainer. Checked the forum for rec's which were all over the place. GM dealers, at least the ones in AZ, no longer carry Delco or any batteries. I checked several GM dealers for different size batteries and different model cars. Their online parts catalogs also state "discontinued" too. So I went to Autozone to get a Delco in a different brand case. The good part, was that it has a built-in handle to make installation easier.
Moderator
Joined: May 2010
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From: Northern Illinois
2023 Corvette of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '25
Knock on wood, but OEM in my 2017 Z.. still tests like new .. but time will tell... when they go they just go
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 346
From: SC
I just changed the original battery on my 2017 (build date Sept 2016) last September. So, 7 years. The Exide battery in my previous Vette (02 C5) lasted 7 years. Both garage kept on a battery tender, so 7 years for me...
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
Mine is a 19 and I am reading through this and other threads looking for battery recommendations. Before I retired I was a Lexus dealer tech so had access to a high end battery tester. I would test my own batteries once in a while and replace when indicated. Now I replace every 5 years. To me the hassle of a car that won't start is just not worth trying to get another year or two out of a battery to save $40.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
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Mine is a 19 and I am reading through this and other threads looking for battery recommendations. Before I retired I was a Lexus dealer tech so had access to a high end battery tester. I would test my own batteries once in a while and replace when indicated. Now I replace every 5 years. To me the hassle of a car that won't start is just not worth trying to get another year or two out of a battery to save $40.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 576
Likes: 48
From: Woburn MA
5 1/2 years for me
My OEM battery has 5 1/2 yrs on, been trouble free, however...
I plan to change it once I decide which brand to go with.
I noticed that the Autozone Duralast Gold and the Die Hard 48H6 are identical in spec and design, both have 730 CCA.
I'm guessing they are from the same manufacturer
The AC Delco 48GHR has 40 more CCA and higher cranking amps, it's housing is identical to the Duralast and Diehard
I'll probably go with that since the warrenty is longer (42mos), the price is only $20 more
I plan to change it once I decide which brand to go with.
I noticed that the Autozone Duralast Gold and the Die Hard 48H6 are identical in spec and design, both have 730 CCA.
I'm guessing they are from the same manufacturer
The AC Delco 48GHR has 40 more CCA and higher cranking amps, it's housing is identical to the Duralast and Diehard
I'll probably go with that since the warrenty is longer (42mos), the price is only $20 more
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,004
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
We sometimes drive to places where a dead battery would be very inconvenient or even dangerous, so I preemptively change at 4 years of the C7.
If your life is such that a dead Corvette would be only a minor inconvenience, going longer can be reasonable. But hot weather is tough on battery life.
If your life is such that a dead Corvette would be only a minor inconvenience, going longer can be reasonable. But hot weather is tough on battery life.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
The thing I have noticed over the decades is modern cars start really quickly. Oldsters like me remember when car engines had to crank 5 seconds or more before they fired up. That gave one an audible indication if your battery was getting weak, you could hear the slow cranking speed. Not so true today, so often the first indication of a weak battery is when it doesn't crank at all. I don't like wasting $ but $200 now vs $200 a year or two from now isn't going to change my life.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,429
Likes: 3,278
From: Hartford WI
I've got that kind of life from my MB batteries when they are in the trunk and are used pretty often as a DD. As far as I can see, the tender is there to make sure it doesn't go dead which is a bad thing for the battery. However, if used often and prevented from going dead because you left the lights on or there is a parasitic draw, I don't think the tender does that much or at least, I haven't seen any scientific data other than anecdotal evidence or the seller saying so.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,568
Likes: 594
From: Jefferson City Missouri
My 19 GS has been on the maintainer since new. The battery was installed in July of 2018 when it rolled off the assembly line. Almost 6 years ago and no tell-tale signs of failure. I will probably replace it this spring just for peace of mind.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 918
Likes: 266
From: Ft. Worth Tx.
My battery will be 9 years old the first of April. For the first 5 yrs I drove it almost everyday, till COVID. Since then I drive it at least once a week when the weather is good. It will sit sometimes for a month. The battery has gone completely dead two times. First time during COVID I didn’t think about it. Second time the plug came loose on Corvette charger. Both times I had to remove and put a real charger on it over night. But it’s still working fine. My experience is that the new batteries go dead all at once. In the past they would go down and you could charge them a couple of times before they just quit. Was kind of a warning. The new ones give no warning.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,139
Likes: 1,912
From: Missouri City, TX
55+ years of car ownership. Decades ago, batteries gave you some warning prior to reaching a state of not being able to crank the engine over. Now for the past 20 or more, batteries are far more prone to sudden death. So replacing on a time schedule seems prudent, longer if you feel lucky!!