Optima Batteries worth the cost?

[Octane]

I bought a Napa 550cca battery in 2013 for my 77 chevy k10 and still going strong.I just put about 1000 to 2000 miles per year on it though

 

[Frankenchevy]

Kinda timely for this thread I guess...
Brand new interstate in one of my newer vehicles, no accessories left on, just haven’t started it in a few months. Deader than a door nail. Hmm. Wanted to move it tonight. Absolutely zero juice. Keyless entry wouldn’t respond at all. Not even a dim dash light...nada.

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[Blackbeard44]

my 2001silverado will drain a battery in 40 days from sitting if I use the key fob to lock the doors.
when I lock the doors from inside the cab it will last 60+ days and fire right up, I think the key fob activates some kind of security system and it kills the battery

 

[Frankenchevy]

my 2001silverado will drain a battery in 40 days from sitting if I use the key fob to lock the doors.
when I lock the doors from inside the cab it will last 60+ days and fire right up, I think the key fob activates some kind of security system and it kills the battery

Makes sense. This sat unlocked as all my stuff does except my work truck because I leave a pistol in it overnight...though no one around, I just do.

 

[Swearbody]

Fuckem! Let it run if you don't have to talk to them and if it doesn't overheat. But, that's me lol

I just cant do it. As it sits I have pre tire side pipes and its pointing right at people sitting in their car. It doesn't overheat or act up any, its just kinda obnoxious with the cam and all. Im doing resonators and redirecting the turnout to more of a turndown and back tomorrow. I mean its frikken obnoxious to ME so i cant imagine having to sit next to it and between the walls of the bank drive through. As soon as I left the bank I went and bought turndowns...ive had the resonators and was just deciding which tips i wanted.
After that ill just let it chop.

 

[AuroraGirl]

My grandfathers 72 has the everstart that was in my 76 when we purchased it, its dated 2011, still starts the 72 fine, which is 6 months to a year between starts (both cables disconnected when sitting), the 76 has an oreilly auto battery in it, no problems since late 2016 when installed. Bought a durastart from the farm store for my dart, no problems with it either ($54 battery).

I got a interstate from 2011 that i got with my 77 LTD. It was sittig discharged for unknown length of time and I fully charged it and used it countless times between 3 vehicles over 4 years. square, f150, my old LTD. Currently resides in my F150 and it sat for weeks and just started in -5 or so temps a ta slow but still does it!
One thing It DOES have against it, Is I know the capacity is almost nothing. It can start and crank the truck probably enough for 2 maybe 3 ignitions before it wont turn. im thinking of keeping it as a 12 volt source battery for tinkering stuff since its a good quality case and not bulged. I did add distilled water when i got it and I "reconditioned" it with my charger. dont know if it did anything.

 

[AuroraGirl]

my 2001silverado will drain a battery in 40 days from sitting if I use the key fob to lock the doors.
when I lock the doors from inside the cab it will last 60+ days and fire right up, I think the key fob activates some kind of security system and it kills the battery

the key fob lock engages and sets the antitheft system. if you lock the doors manually or do a special combo it wont arm. you can usually change those settings, my park avenue does them thtrough menu or tech 2.

 

[Swearbody]

Kinda timely for this thread I guess...
Brand new interstate in one of my newer vehicles, no accessories left on, just haven’t started it in a few months. Deader than a door nail. Hmm. Wanted to move it tonight. Absolutely zero juice. Keyless entry wouldn’t respond at all. Not even a dim dash light...nada.

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When I bought my truck in April the guy had put a new Deka battery in it that day. By October it was dead AF

 

[Frankenchevy]

When I bought my truck in April the guy had put a new Deka battery in it that day. By October it was dead AF

Thankfully I bought this from Costco, so back it goes...

 

[Swearbody]

So it looks like Sams Club has a Deka/East Penn Made in USA battery for $103, which is a LOT cheaper than everywhere else, if that's not junk...Walmart is only $88 (both 3 year batteries) but I can't find out the manufacturer of it. From more and more poking around it seems like Deka is better than Johnson Controls at this point? Also seems like Optima has quality issues, and wouldn't be a great fit for the 1987 charging system anyway...which is good for the wallet...

Just was telling Frankenchevy I had a new Deka that was installed the day I got my 84 in April. Was dead by October. Maybe it was a fluke and im sure if i had the receipt they'd a warrantied it( po bought it the day i bough the truck and didnt think to give me the receipt) But sure enough it was toast

 

[legopnuematic]

I got a interstate from 2011 that i got with my 77 LTD. It was sittig discharged for unknown length of time and I fully charged it and used it countless times between 3 vehicles over 4 years. square, f150, my old LTD. Currently resides in my F150 and it sat for weeks and just started in -5 or so temps a ta slow but still does it!
One thing It DOES have against it, Is I know the capacity is almost nothing. It can start and crank the truck probably enough for 2 maybe 3 ignitions before it wont turn. im thinking of keeping it as a 12 volt source battery for tinkering stuff since its a good quality case and not bulged. I did add distilled water when i got it and I "reconditioned" it with my charger. dont know if it did anything.

I have heard that taking an old battery and putting the boots to it on a good charger can be enough to get the crud on the plates to dissolve and bring some more life into an old battery. Never had really tried it since my charger is fussy about actually giving those 200 amps they claim.

On a 71 F250 I was tinkering on 3 years ago it had a Napa "legend" in it, granted it was probably close to 15 years old but it was not much of a legend any more at that point lol.

The Mack dealers around here used to have truck batteries for $65 new, don't know who made them, but they were 800 or 1000 cca and would last about 3 or 4 years in a dm with a 237 mack not a bad value imo.

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[Michael Benardo]

those gel batteries are junk in my book, when you compare the amp hours on them to a regular battery there is no comparision.

higher cranking amp batteries do not last as long, they have thinner plates in them to allow more plates to be stacked and tend to warp easier and begin loosing power quickly.

I always buy the battery that is heaviest, i pick up what tje have to offer at the parts house I buy whatever I think is the heaviest and rated at whatever cranking amperage that the vehicle calls for.

That's is exactly right - they have more total Cold Cranking Amps, but like you said, it doesn't last very long. Deep Cycle batteries are made the old way, and are much better in my book.

 

[Michael Benardo]

So the 'Burb needs batteries, (6.2 diesel, so dual battery setup) and I want to get the biggest/heaviest duty ones I can. Also long-lasting would be a big plus. It looks like I can get an optima red top, same size, CCA, for about $60 more than the "platinum" series. So my question is it worth the extra for the Optimas? Do they really last 8-10 years? Or will the Platinum do the job and last long enough? Not that I'm made of money, but got to put the stimulus $$$ to good use before it goes to something wasteful like groceries, lol...

Your best bet are Deep Cycle batteries. The new type batteries may have more total Cold Cranking Amps, but they don't last long, whereas Deep Cycle batteries can crank an engine for quite an extended length of time.

 

[Blue Ox]

I have heard that taking an old battery and putting the boots to it on a good charger can be enough to get the crud on the plates to dissolve and bring some more life into an old battery. Never had really tried it since my charger is fussy about actually giving those 200 amps they claim.

I may have the terminology wrong, but I believe it's "equalizing."

Basically, controlled overcharging of the battery reverses the sulfur reaction and restores the battery, somewhat. Modern electronically controlled chargers probably have programmed settings, but the old school way is a charger big enough to overcharge the battery while you watch the temperature to prevent plate buckling.

I have a lot of experience in ruining batteries. Either overcharging them or discharging them to the point where they sulfate. If you want to learn about battery failure modes and their potential remedies, it comes with a high tuition.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Kinda timely for this thread I guess...
Brand new interstate in one of my newer vehicles, no accessories left on, just haven’t started it in a few months. Deader than a door nail. Hmm. Wanted to move it tonight. Absolutely zero juice. Keyless entry wouldn’t respond at all. Not even a dim dash light...nada.

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2020 took another young one too soon

I've got the Duralast Gold in all of mine (03 Silverado SS, 02 Duramax, 07 Suburban, 87 R-10) and they have always held up well. I always used the Red Top in my 04 Suburban, but the price went up and the quality went down.

I am bringing 10 batteries, mostly large ones, in the trunk of my park avenue(boy is she SQUATTING) and i am going to be getting a new battery tomorrow morning ive been trying to decide if i want to get cheapest that will fit or best deal based on 100$ off. NAPA can get me east penn, Oreillies can get me johnson, and Autozone can get me johnson. Advanced auto, however, can get me interstatewhich is made by johnson but people have good luck and good ratings with them and high reliability. Auto value has FVP batteries but they dont have a gift card program like advanced, autozone, or oreillies. NAPA may have one? as of now, going to go see if advanced auto has interstate in the size i need.

I used to work at a store that supplies east penn. they are decent. I almost never use johnson batteries, i dont use walmart or the parts stores often to get them. AC delco meanrds batteries are supposedly Johnson but they have really nice cases.. handles always break though.
what batteries did we see most? store brand for warranty. AFTER THAT? duralast and die hard cheapos. exide. napa cheapos. red motorcraft blue AC Delco. interstates frequent only because they are sold many places, but often excessive agee like 8 years. as far as plastics quality, cracked cases was an issue with johnson cheapos real bad