Optima battery

[BIG KRIS]

Are the red tops reall worth the money? Weathers breaking the square needs a new battery.
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[hotrodhomi]

yes

[gchemist]

Yes. I've drained my 3 times. Each time it takes a full charge. Even dead, it only need SA quick charge to get it turn over the ZZ4. It will power my LS fans until they turn off and crank right over. I like mine. Fours and going strong.
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[Clyde65]

Big Kris,

This is a great question, I have been contemplating a new battery.

is it because they are deep cell batteries? you said drained yours 3 times what do you mean?

Down here, a reg battery, 4year warranty plus will not last 3 years period, the heat and dry cold that comes along just kills them.

[Hottrucks]

I chinged up for an Optima one year later it was dead wouldn't take a charge had a fight to get it wanenteed......any way now I run walmart batteries nevr had a problem even with the old 36 amp alt runnig an HEI and all my amps and compressor...and it starts my 500 caddy all the time even after it sat all winter...if it ever does crap out theres always a Wally world down the street put your slip in a zip lock bag and tape it to the back of the battery

[76stepsidechevy]

I have 2 red tops that are both probably at least 7 years old now and still going strong. They've both been beat to hell too, sat in project cars outside all winter, killed in cars with bad alternators ect. I hear they aren't made the same anymore though so im not sure i'll be buying another. For the 130 bucks a piece I paid back then it was well worth it.

[Restrorob]

I was looking at the red top for my 97 and started researching them, I read too much bad and won't spend that kind of money on a chance.....

[tucsonjwt]

The yellow tops are supposed to be better, and have a deep cycle capability. I think the warranty is only two years exchange, not different from store brand batteries. I prefer to deal with store brand for no hassle warranty free change out locally. I have two Duralast golds form Autozone which have exchanged twice in 5 years for free. My batteries get very little charge, since the truck is driven infrequently. Consumer Reports did not test Optima batteries for some reason, but they seem to like Diehards. They state that AGM batteries don't last much longer than wet cell batteries, so aren't worth the extra money.

[68longhorn]

I love mine! Had it in a project car that gets started and driven occasionally. Never cranks slow. Car sat 3 months, went out cranked her what felt like forever trying to get it to fire and it never slowed down or sounded weak. Its about 3 years old now.

[BigRed76]

I've got a red top in my Cutlass, the car has sat for months without being driven and that battery cranks that 455 very easily and never shows any sign of hesitation. The only things bad I've heard about them is that people completely discharge them and then they don't know how to recharge them correctly because when a gel cell battery drops below a certain voltage it has to be charged differently. I would recommend the red tops, but you must educate yourself on the type of battery.

[BHBurban]

I just replaced my red top after 11 years. It was still starting the truck fine, and holding a charge fine. my truck sits all winter. I just thought I should replace an 11 year old battery.

[crawdadfox]

Had one in my truck for 5 years now and no issues, also having the side and top post make it easy when have to give someone without a Optima a jump!

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by BHBurban

I just replaced my red top after 11 years. It was still starting the truck fine, and holding a charge fine. my truck sits all winter. I just thought I should replace an 11 year old battery.

I cannot verify how true this is, but my local interstate rep. told me he just recently sold a redtop to a guy who had previously had a redtop in his thunderbird for 21 years and it finally quit holding a charge.

[Dalaigh]

I've got a yellow top in my truck. It started in my 97 seirra, then went into my s10 with a 350, and is now in my 84, it works great. Never gone dead, and always starts my trucks. On -30 degree winter mornings, it has more then enough juice to start the 84, a carbed truck.

[BIG KRIS]

Do they need to be charged slow?
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[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by BIG KRIS

Do they need to be charged slow?
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The auto parts store say they do but not in my experiences. I passed one around amongst 3 cars and the last one I had I had on a '65 Impala that I would turn on a couple of times a year. It would mostly have a healthy crank and the couple of times where I didn't turn it on for several months I just used a Schumacher charger in the quick start option and it would start right up. I'd let the car run for a little while and the battery would hold the charge. I never had to charge it longer than a few minutes.

I've read some people bashing them, but I've only had good experiences. They are not affected by complete drains. They may go dead (after a long time) but they'll charge right back up. The red tops are considered "starting" batteries and are generally recommended over the yellow tops for daily drivers because they have higher cranking amps.

[85Bowtie]

These are great batteries.

Any battery should be charged slow, that's just how you get longevity out of them. You never want to do a fast charge on one if you don't have to.

I have one of these in my Charger. The car sits from early November until mid April. Out of laziness I never think to throw the charger on it throughout the winter and so far it has survived 5 winters.

[Kmart2352]

I have and a blue top and one truck and an yellow in the other and I have never had a problem. Both Are over 5 years old.

[gas-n-rods]

I have an Optima battery in every vehicle I own. I had one in my 38 chevy for 8 years with no troubles and then after one winter it would no longer take a charge. After I replaced it I also got a Battery Tender and keep them on all of my vehicles the battery in my 38 is now 11 years old. The one in my Shorty is 7 years old. And my Toyota is about 10 years old. I have had very good experience with Optima.

[7T2]

I currently have a red top starting battery. The charging procedure is pretty important in my opinion, as I think that is what killed my first red top and my yellow top. I didn't pay attention to the charging instructions, and although I didn't know it at the time I had a slow drain that was killing them in a bout a weeks time. I would get mad when they were dead and throw a 40 amp charge on them. Ultimately this killed both of them. The red top was replaced under warranty and, following the instructions, I have had no problems since then. The yellow top I was not so lucky on, since it has a shorter warranty (thought it was one year, maybe two?) I still have that one, but I have been unable to revive it. Expensive lesson learned. I keep the red top disconnected and on a battery maintainer now, and it always starts right up.

[Sillyoldman]

Originally Posted by 7T2

I currently have a red top starting battery. The charging procedure is pretty important in my opinion, as I think that is what killed my first red top and my yellow top. I didn't pay attention to the charging instructions, and although I didn't know it at the time I had a slow drain that was killing them in a bout a weeks time. I would get mad when they were dead and throw a 40 amp charge on them. Ultimately this killed both of them. The red top was replaced under warranty and, following the instructions, I have had no problems since then. The yellow top I was not so lucky on, since it has a shorter warranty (thought it was one year, maybe two?) I still have that one, but I have been unable to revive it. Expensive lesson learned. I keep the red top disconnected and on a battery maintainer now, and it always starts right up.

Hook your charger up to a good battery, then run jumpers from it to your yellow top. There's a good chance it will come back.

[f.monroe]

I own a red top I bought used 3 or 4 years ago . The guy was upgrading his car to a yellow top . I have used that battery in several vehicles with no problems.
Frank

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by Sillyoldman

Hook your charger up to a good battery, then run jumpers from it to your yellow top. There's a good chance it will come back.

This is how the interstate rep. told me to recharge an optima battery

[jitteryguy]

I use red top's in most of the stuff I work on over here, I have good luck with em in the heat and cold of Sunny Southern Afghanistan start'n desiel gerator's to Toyota's.
I bought a yellow top used bout 5yr's ago for my first V8 S10 then used it in the race care for two yrs, I think it's back in the S10 now.
I got a used red top (turn'd in as junk) that's been in the Dually since I bought it.
I'll buy Optima's again.

[BIG KRIS]

Gonna give one a try.