Optima Red Top battery overrated

[84cutlass383]

I have a yellow top in my 84 for 3yrs now with a sound system, still going strong

 

[mebe007]

man my redtop in my truck has been going strong since 2006.

 

[Volumeshooter]

I have only had 1 Optima and it lasted about 2 years in my old blazer with a sound system. Everything else I have bought has been a Duralast, I had one in my daily driver 2001 Sierra for almost 10 years and about 100,000 miles, just replaced it earlier this summer with another Duralast. Thats obviously not the norm but I have had other duralast and never had one last less than 5 years. Right now I have a 2 year old Duralast gold top in my GP and have not had a problem yet, even when it sits for a while it cranks right up.

 

[LSCustoms]

I got one last year for 199$ here it is a year and a month later, the damn battery is R.I.P. LoL, just paid 33$ to replace this joker

did you have it stored a certain way or something, ive had optimas for years, not one problem yet. i use them or Odyssey depending on what size i need and what its being used for.

 

[gp02a0083]

i have an red top interstate battery that is the same 6 cell style that the optima is. I bought this off of a local guy back in 03, its been in the car ever since and i haven't had a problem with it. However i am noticing that the volt meter lags now for 5 sec when the car starts, then it returns to its normal voltage reading. its probably on its way out ,but for being in the car for over 7 years or so id say there worth it.

 

[MonteCarloSS]

I have had a Optima Red Top since 2005 numerous discharges and recharges and still is working to this day! Before this battery I had a Interstate battery biggest piece of junk. Try a odyssey battery have one in my boat another good battery!

 

[Dave V]

got a red top in the elko and in my truck i got dual oddessys and when my red top goes im going oddessy they last a long time. never had an issue with a red top but i have had problems with yellow tops....

 

[bill]

The problem with Optimas that most people miss is that they cannot be recharged like regular batteries when they have low voltage (below 12.5). Many Optimas get defected for this reason. Also, these batteries sit on store shelves for months or even a year or more because of their price. So, if they arent boosted to 12.7 volts before install, they will go dead. Lots of battery issues involve other parts that are battery related, but often the battery gets the blame. Bad wiring, terminals, grounds, alternators, starters...etc. I use a battery tender on my redtop because its easier than unhooking the posts after I drive the car, which might be a week or more between drives, and it keeps the battery fully charged all the time. I highly recommend those on any car that sits for more than a week or two. .02