Optima Batteries

[steepandeep]

Im wondering if anyone knows anything about optima batteries. Ive always heard good things but never personally owned one. Im thinking about putting a set of the Optima red tops in my pickup (2001 Ford Powerstroke) and im wondering if they will run it or if i should try something else. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Kevin]

No experience with them in diesels, but they are working fine for me in gas. I bought one at Sears a few years ago, it is still running strong. Went to get another but Sears had stopped carrying them in favor of their own die-hard platinum, which is still running strong. I npticed Sam's Club has optima now.

 

[mtgoat]

You will spend more money for just a few more CCA's. Be prepared, when they die, They are usually dead and they give you no warning like a normal battery gives you such as a "doggy" start. The optima will turn your engine over quicker though. Never ran them in a diesel.

 

[summ8rmk]

i have used optimas in my camper, 4runner, and winch on trailer. my brother uses them for the same things also. i had a blue top from 2001 that went bad this spring 2009, i also had a blue top from 2005 that went bad in 2008. i still have a red top in my 4runner about 2yrs old. the blue tops dying might be my fault, i didn't recharge them right away (more like a couple months later) after giving them a real good drain. the red top in my 4runner won't hold a charge for more than a week if i leave the battery cables connected, i didn't have that problem with my diehard. but i also rolled my 4runner and the diehard was in the 4runner before i rolled it. the biggest plus to optimas is that they do not leak acid and they do not corrode the terminals. on a side note i still have 2 energizer batteries (built in 1999, thats over 10 years ago)that i took out of my powerstroke they had a hard time starting my powerstroke in the winter, i put one in my f250 with a 460 and no problem starting even when its 5 deg f.
I forgot to mention my 4runner is an off-road rig and may sit for a month or more at a time.

 

[robertyoke]

2 years now in my 03 ram 3500 ctd they seem fine.

 

[slyrydr]

i've used them in my 32' boat...they hold a high percentage of their charge for a long time (several months), they recharge in about half the time of a conventional battery....compared to a "deep cycle" storage battery, they will only get about 60-70% of the usage before being drained.....they are expensive and over all not worth it for this type of use....

 

[steepandeep]

thanks everybody for your input

 

[Dogmeat]

I put an Optima Yellow Top in my old truck, ran it in that truck for 3 years, and now it's been in my new truck for 2 years ...

5 year old battery, I've never had to charge it, it's never run down on me, it's started both of my trucks thousands of times, and I've jumped many vehicles with it.

I'd say it was $215 well spent.

 

[Spyder73]

Have had them in the Powerstroke, boat and jeep. unless your running a battery tender if they sit any time at all, or drive the rig every day there not worth the money you will get sick and tired of jumping to start. My truck sits through the week and has winch, aftermarket stereo,amp, camera, and remote start, alarm. The best thing I did was ditch those optimas and buy some cheap 7 year, higher CCA Les Schwab bats. They work flawlessly and I dont have to mees around jumping my truck every Friday. Save the money and problems. I found out the hard way.

 

[Ford428CJ]

When they first came out (1994 or 95) I bought Red Top for $95 from G.I. Joe's. That thing was still going 6 years later when I sold the car. In every rig I have owned, you'll find one under the hood! I ran one in my 79 with the Diesel conversion with a mini starter. Never a problem! Its the best money that you'll ever spend on a battery. JMHO

 

[opel]

Had a customer bring in a 1986 Kenworth getting air in the fuel. We cranked that truck off and on for aleast an hour while pin pointing the air leak. The batteries started getting low after all that cranking. I pulled the cover off to charge them and expecting to see the normal 4 group 31s. NOT. It had 2 red top optimas. VERY impressed. They spun that 855 Cummins for a long time!

 

[Coxy]

I've had a few of them for probably 6 or so years. I got them from a battery recycling plant when i worked there, they just got thrown out if the label was torn, handle was broke, or they were out dated. Had one in my bogger, with big stereo/lights/winch, in my mustang with big stereo/and lots of electrical. My batteries got weak in my 05 PSD, so i put a fresh charge on two red tops, one out of my mustang, and one from my stockpile, load tested them, and tossed them in. Been flawless since fall and cranks the truck over awesome. I will definitly spend the money for them in the future (if i cant get them for free lol).

 

[Gmiller]

Best money i ever spent on my truck, i put two red top optimas in my 6.5 diesel, im running 12 running lights, winch, stero equipment and fog lights. They are PERFECT!!

 

[Ford428CJ]

Just make sure you get the "RIGHT BATTERY GROUP" for your rig. I have seen people get too small and tax the crap out of the battery and then they say what a piece of Sh*t it is.... Not the case because of there stupidity and buying to small for the App. JMHO

 

[Xrider]

2 red tops in my Dodge, 7 or 8 years old still crank over like new. Absolutely no corrosion(sp?) on terminals either.