Optima...Red or Yellow?

[Russ Merritt]

I heard Russ Merritt likes the Optimas, maybe he'll chime in with some tips... :biggrin:

Optima battery's SUCK!!! I hate them &*^ckin things.....

I gotta admit though, Melissa's car does start up everytime.....

What you don't see is Grumpy takin the battery back for a new one every Monday morning on his way to breakfast......

 

[Louie L.]

Chris ,
Save your money.They are junk. My friend is in the power generator business. They used OPtimas in both colors depending on test cycles and usage. They No longer use them.

If you are staying with 12 v , buy something else local.

 

[1985GN]

REDTOP here for almost 2 years and never had a single problem and i have even let it get drained on accident a couple times. charge it right up and no problems...also have a redtop in my buddies turbo mustang and never a problem with that in a little over a year

 

[Silver Fox]

Buicks are to DRIVE not sitting in a garage taking up valuable space where I could store more parts :biggrin:
Russ is now a true believer in these battery's :wink:

Grumpy - the Air Force keeps me on the road about half the year. My retirement (after 25 years) was just approved, so I will probably be staying home a bit more and be able to drive the car more often. I do agree the cars are meant to drive. Now all I have to do is find another job!

 

[Royal-T-Ltd]

well to me the problem with the Optima battery's is people don't use their cars

I AGREE 200% - Garage queens dont use red unless you have some sort of battery tender or remember to charge or drive your car:wink:

 

[TurboDave]

I AGREE 200% - Garage queens dont use red unless you have some sort of battery tender or remember to charge or drive your car:wink:

Hmm, I guess that brands my GN's and my Z28 as garage queens? Let's see, the 86 has over 170,000, the 87 has over 130,000, and the Z28 has over 110,000.
Call them garage queens if you like, but at least I'm at a stage in my life where I've been able to build a house that will garage them all, and I'm not piling up any more miles beyond the huge numbers they already have.

Besides with two daily drivers, I don't get much of a chance to take the the "old" cars out much anymore.

None of this changes the facts that the vast majority of optima buyers end up very disappointed, especially after shelling out way more than they should have to for a battery.

 

[Royal-T-Ltd]

Hmm, I guess that brands my GN's and my Z28 as garage queens? Let's see, the 86 has over 170,000, the 87 has over 130,000, and the Z28 has over 110,000.
Call them garage queens if you like, but at least I'm at a stage in my life where I've been able to build a house that will garage them all, and I'm not piling any more miles up than the huge numbers they already have.

Besides with two daily drivers, I don't get much of a chance to the the "old" cars out much anymore.

None of this changes the facts that the vast majority of optima buyers end up very disappointed, especially after shelling out way more than they should have to for a battery.

Well i guess everybody has there own experiences.... i've had one in my T for over 7 years and one on my wifes jeep for about 4.... with NO problems.... i guess i am a lucky guy.... but i do drive my car as much as possible - weather permitting - it usually winds up sitting from the first snow to the first hard rain though i use to get pissed of at those DAMN Delco batteries.... NOW those are pieces of crap... went through 3 of those before switching to the optima

 

[mybuick]

well to me the problem with the Optima battery's is people don't use their cars

and you cant use a 20 amp charger to charge them. need to get a battery tender for the low amps. i have the battery tender plus which is 1.75 amps and never have a problem with my gn for 6 years. and 3 years in my winter beater 89 s10 blazer. chicago winters get about 35 below here. like to know how they work in alaska where it is 60 below in winter.

 

[artrenee10]

Boo......Red Tops..Went through two of em, in a year's worth of time. Charged for almost a week, then still wouldn't hold a charge.

Went with a 50buck Advance Auto Special.....no probs......

 

[toofastforyou]

I went to see the Optima website and never was able to understand the difference between the red and yellow batteries...What are each's advantages and drawbacks if any?

Claude.

 

[UNGN]

I keep my optimas on trickle charge to avoid having to go get new ones. I didn't buy either. One I bought with a car, the other I won at a race.

Whatever you do, NEVER put an Optima on fast charge. I found this out by nearly burning down my garage.

My neon sets outside year round drives in the dark 1/2 the year and I just replaced the $65 autozone 5 year battery at 7 years. It doesn't get below freezing too much in Texas.

 

["Turbo-T"]

My $.02 I had a red that lasted 4 years before dropping dead on me one week. Battery wasn't used that often either.

Where I work uses reds and they go dead all the time. But if you drop it and break it, usually you're ok from getting acid on you.

As far as reds vs. yellows, from what I understand the reds are a typical starting batt and the yellows are deep cycle.....at work we only had one yellow, and that was on a unit that was not able to charge itself. I guess the yellows are supposed to last longer under load.

P.S. was told by a guy I used to work with once the reds get below 10 volts they are usually done for.

 

[salvageV6]

My yellow top is 11 years old now, my red top lasted 3 years, other cars yellow top is working fine now 3 years, Sears the most I ever got was 4 years out of a Die Hard Gold.

Stock battery about 3 years 3 winters.

I charge mine when needed with a 10A charger never a problem.

 

[8AV8]

Chris ,
Save your money.They are junk. My friend is in the power generator business. They used OPtimas in both colors depending on test cycles and usage. They No longer use them.

If you are staying with 12 v , buy something else local.

The battery is going in the trunk and I'd rather not put a box back there. I would like to just have a bracket. Is there a better choice of battery with that in mind? Am I right ... not every battery is legal without a box? I should get a rule book.

I don't mind keeping a trickle charger on it.

 

[GNRick]

The factory battery in my 02 Sebring is still going strong. I guess you have to access it through the wheel well somehow. I figured it stays out of the heat in the engine bay and that must add to its life. Now, as for Interstate batteries.....they go dead in a couple weeks of sitting. Consumer Reports likes the Walmart battery the best.

 

[Sam Colalillo]

The battery is going in the trunk and I'd rather not put a box back there. I would like to just have a bracket. Is there a better choice of battery with that in mind? Am I right ... not every battery is legal without a box? I should get a rule book.

Chris,
All you need is a trunk fire wall, then you do not need a box. You will need a trunk fire wall when you upgrade to a fuel cell in the trunk any way

 

[ibmgto]

I had 2 redtops die and will never buy another.

Get a DieHard Platinum battery, they are an AGM battery (absorbed glass mat) which is similar to the optima technology so they are fully sealed. They are supposed to be the same as an Odyssey battery and the car stereo guys seem to love them (at least from the reading I have done). They are not cheap but they come with a 4 year free replacement warranty and a 100 month prorated limited warranty - whatever that means.

 

[Bent6]

The battery is going in the trunk and I'd rather not put a box back there. I would like to just have a bracket. Is there a better choice of battery with that in mind? Am I right ... not every battery is legal without a box? I should get a rule book.

I don't mind keeping a trickle charger on it.

I used the spare tire well and fabricated a hinged lid/false floor to make it a "box". Red tops still suck however.........

 

[8AV8]

I used the spare tire well and fabricated a hinged lid/false floor to make it a "box". Red tops still suck however.........

What spare tire well?

 

[8AV8]

Chris,
All you need is a trunk fire wall, then you do not need a box. You will need a trunk fire wall when you upgrade to a fuel cell in the trunk any way

Why Sam, where in the world could a fellow find such a thing? I sure wish one of my friends was making these...:biggrin: Where ever could I begin looking for such a high quality piece...

Cell is in the mail..:biggrin: