POLL....Optima Battery, Yes or No ?

[427HISS]

I do not know how to start a poll, but if a moderator or member does, please help me out and do so.

I'm seeing a great mixed of views of people who have great success, moderate views and they suck.
A friend tried using one in his dirt race car and had nothing good to say. He thought the Optima would handle the bumps, pot holes, rough track etc, but between that and it would not recharge after it drained down once. He went back to a regular battery, with NO issues.

I was ready to buy a red top and a very cool,...custom aluminum hold down that is made for the Optima, but I will wait now.

So, post your YES or NO opinion and explain why.

[Bolted to Floor]

No, due to price.

[Rory428]

No, when I bought my enclosed car trailer, it already had a blue top Optima battery init, for running the winch, electric tongue jack, and 12 volt lights. I thought that my winch operated kinda weakly, and trying to charge the Optima with my "normal" battery charging accomplished little. Went on the Optima website, and discovered that standard charging practices do not work with Optima batteries. You either need to buy one of their $$$ Optima brand battery chargers or have an extra normal 12 volt battery to connect to the Optima, and then connect my battery charger to the wet cell battery. Since my trailer battery is rather hard to access, it was a pain to hook it all up like that, but even after doing so, the winch seemed a bit weak. Took out the Optima, installed a regular deep cycle battery, and no more problems. The winch works much better now than it ever did with the Optima, for about 1/3rd the price. I have also had very good service from DieHard batteries, 15 years out of the DieHard in my 74 F350, my 99 F350s DieHard is only 4 years old, but it cranks over the V10 with ease, even after sitting in the truck outside all winter without needing a charge.

[Katz427]

 No.  And for the reason that they need to be recharged according to their ( Optima) instructions. I have never seen them last unless charged with a proper charger. A high amp output alternator usually harms them, and they never seem to recover to a full charge. IMO

[427HISS]

With their great "name factor",  but having such bad reviews, how are they so popular ?
I'm now watching a race spondored by them. (sure you know what racing) and many other racing too.
I've used Die Hard and Interstate batteries for 35 years, with no or little issues.

[427Fastback]

I have had three red tops and had zero problems.Newest ones are 5 years old.....

[rcodecj]

You either love them or you hate them. I have them from 2 to 7 to 11 years old. I have never used a different charger on them. I have accidentally brought them down to nothing and still did not use the parallel method or any different charging method, or fancy charger or Optima charger. I don't own a fancy battery charger.  My "big" charger is a transformer and bridge rectifier I made myself and has no brains or electronic circuitry. They can be discharged to a lower voltage than regular batteries and still be ok. Maybe that causes some people problems? I have overcharged them accidentally too and it did not kill it. That's my experience and others have theirs. I'm okay with that.   

[Katz427]

I agree you either like the Optima or don't. I do have a 6 volt in the 1940 flathead. It is going on 5 years now, without problems.
That said I also have an Oddeyssey  AGM that is going on 5 years, no problems.
The reliability group at work tried the Optima on a group of Kubota diesel powered units. The results were mixed, mostly negative. Optima had made a recommendation about the alternator. It may be the Optima manufacturing process for the big variations in success or lack of. IMO

[machoneman]

Love 'em or hate them, for sure. Never had one and won't. I went, no kidding, 16 years on a parts store regular battery (Autozone) in my '70 Stang, driven admittedly only in warm weather here in suburban Chi-Town and it sits all Winter w/o even a tricke charger. Even with the many cars I've owned (over 25 and still counting!) I've rarely had issues with bad wet cell units, lucky I guess.

IMHO, it's a choice thing. But after hearing too many stories on once discharged, many Optima types doe not come back from the dead even with the special charger. I've also heard, although I don't know if it's true, that jumping a dead Optima after one is left stranded on the road, is not possible. Must yank it, field install a wet cell, and then restart. Anyone else hear this tale?

[My427stang]

I run Optimas because as an old bodyman I don't like the acid or venting, too much rust repair fixed over the years.

I have never had a failure on one less than 8 years.  I did recently buy a "Genius" charger from Amazon after I went to fire the Mustang after sitting all winter and cranked slow and needed a jump (489 inches, 10.7:1, factory rebuilt starter installed in 1995) and it seems better than it ever was

I have heard good things about the other style AGMs, but what I do is look for coupon codes for Advance Auto, generally can find a 30% off, then order online, pickup in store.  Price drops significantly

[JamesonRacing]

I have four 34R redtop Optima batteries in my cars.  Race car, street car, tow pickup, convertible.  Haven't had a bit of trouble with any of them.

[rcodecj]

Love 'em or hate them, for sure. Never had one and won't. I went, no kidding, 16 years on a parts store regular battery (Autozone) in my '70 Stang, driven admittedly only in warm weather here in suburban Chi-Town and it sits all Winter w/o even a tricke charger. Even with the many cars I've owned (over 25 and still counting!) I've rarely had issues with bad wet cell units, lucky I guess.

IMHO, it's a choice thing. But after hearing too many stories on once discharged, many Optima types doe not come back from the dead even with the special charger. I've also heard, although I don't know if it's true, that jumping a dead Optima after one is left stranded on the road, is not possible. Must yank it, field install a wet cell, and then restart. Anyone else hear this tale?

I had a yellow top 7 o 8 years old and I stopped at a  store. When I came out I went to start it and I heard a pop and it wouldn't start. I measured the voltage, been a while but I think it was ok when sitting but went way down when lights were on or when starting. I called a friend and we jumped the battery. It started right up and I drove home. I think that's the only one I've had fail. Most of the time they go with the car or truck I sell.

Having lived in extreme cold and extreme heat my experience is that the heat is much worse on batteries than cold for longevity.

[Katz427]

Thinking back , I do remember that Optima , did say that the best way to recharge was at low amps, slow , as the rep put it. Also you could put a fair size charger on the battery if needed to get the unit started in a short period of time. However they advised that it was not a good idea, but in emergency. But no doubt some people have success with the Red top.

[RJP]

No on the Optima...Too fussy and expensive for me. Since I have multipal vehicles price is an important and deciding  factor. I've been buying generic 750 CCA industrial, no frills, plain black case batteries from Traction [said to be owned by NAPA] These batteries were about $100.00 with exchange which is $25-35. cheaper than most of what  I've found at the chain stores. The oldest 'Traction' battery in service is about 4 years old with zero problems.

[427HISS]

A member likes the Odyssey's, I don't know anything about them. Can someone speak details ?