Best battery....
- Thread starter Coctailer
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03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
I only use Optima red top batteries. They do not have acid that will leak out eventually on other type batteries and they can take the bouncing of off road without having plates short out. I have never had a problem with any of the ones I have owned. I will never use a lead/acid battery again. Odysey is also a good choice but very expensive.
BucknutBob
New member
I've always considered Optima as a can't-miss, but I've heard that they may not be as reliable as they used to be--new ownership cutting corners or something.
KidVermicious
New member
My red-top has been going strong for almost 4 years now, but I've seen lots of reports of Optimas failing prematurely since they stopped making them in the States. Try the Die Hard Platinum, it's supposed to be a rebadged Odyssey and an AGM just like the Optima.
TFJ-4runner
New member
I also agree on Die Hard over Optimum after my experience
Here is a giant thread on optimas from Expo Optima Battery Problems - Expedition Portal
Seems like optimas are still a decent battery, but are not the #1 for enthusiasts anymore. The only question I have is, are they still worth the premium price tag.
For the record, I have a yellow top and red top in my cruiser that are just over a year old. They both work adequately for my needs, but I keep a close eye on them.
Seems like optimas are still a decent battery, but are not the #1 for enthusiasts anymore. The only question I have is, are they still worth the premium price tag.
For the record, I have a yellow top and red top in my cruiser that are just over a year old. They both work adequately for my needs, but I keep a close eye on them.
Coctailer
New member
Ya,
I'm going to skip the Optima, and look for the absolute BEST.
I don't want "pretty good" or "I got no complaints" type stuff. I don't mind paying a premium for this item.
gr8fandini
Junior Member
Odyssey is by far the best battery I've ever owned. Have them in my watercraft. Want to talk about taking a beating!!!!! I've had one of them for 10 years and had to do nothing to it. Can't even come close to that with ANY other brand I've ever had! Panosonic also makes a 1st class lead acid if you can find one anywhere. The couple I've had lasted almost twice as long as any other lead acid brand I've owned in my 50 years of colorful life. It's true that the Die Hard platinum is an exact rebadging of the odyssey, I even called odyssey and they confirmed it. Has an 84 month warrenty with I think a 4 year full replacement. A lot of cranking amps too! Make sure your cables are in good shape. I actually added, not replaced, added an extra positive and negative cable on mine to take full advantage of the extra juice.
Last year I replaced my Optima with a new battery from Duracell, yes.... Duracell auto battery. Anyways, this battery has been great and was priced reasonable at Sam's Club: Duracell® Automotive Battery - Group Size 24F - Sam's Club
Millerad1651
New member
I just bought the same battery...so far so good. Plus it comes with a 3yr waranty and 8 yr pro rated warranty.
nevada
Senior Member
Interstate for a lead acid.
doesnt Exide make the Odyssey? Exide lead acid are garbage, perhaps theyre gel batteries are better.
i run dual blue top optimas, and before that, i had dual red tops. they lasted 5 years, with lots of heavy winching, and dual electric cooling fans.
doesnt Exide make the Odyssey? Exide lead acid are garbage, perhaps theyre gel batteries are better.
i run dual blue top optimas, and before that, i had dual red tops. they lasted 5 years, with lots of heavy winching, and dual electric cooling fans.
Interstate is made by Johnson Controls, the same company that bought Optima, and moved production to Mexico, along with the apparent drop in quality since production moved.
Enersys, not Exide, makes the Odyssey batteries. As well as the re-badged Diehard Platinum, which has the same construction as the Odyssey branded batteries.
Optima Bill
New member
Hi Coctailer,
I am not here to sell you on our batteries. However, a google search of any battery or any product for that matter will turn up complaints. Remember, anyone can type anything these days and somehow if it shows up on google it is fact. In the thread that ironhippy attached, if you read through the thread you will find he had 4 batteries fail. Really? More than likely, he had alternator or wiring issues and not a battery problem. The discharged batteries were symptoms not the underlying problem. So goes with most threads I find on the internet. More than one “Dead Optima” was fixed once the owner understood proper charging methods for the AGM style battery. Then you always have someone talk about overseas manufacturing and poor quality control. The fact is we do have a state of the art manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico. It has the latest in technology and our QC is better than it has ever been. We find that a lot of the returned batteries we get are simply deeply-discharged and once properly recharged are fine.
A couple other general things I would like to point out about batteries in general. Some manufacturers do not use 100% virgin lead (they opt for the cheaper recycled route). We have tried that too in product development, but found the recycled lead just did not meet our standards.
Depending on your application, such as stereo plans or winching requirements, you may need a deep cycling battery. Our YellowTops are dual purpose deep-cycling batteries and will work fine. Remember though that not all deep-cycle batteries are dual purpose and may have a reduced CA rating.
It looks like you are doing your homework before your purchase and I think that is great. Just be sure you have the facts and not just internet opinions before you perchase.
Thanks,
Bill Howell
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
I am not here to sell you on our batteries. However, a google search of any battery or any product for that matter will turn up complaints. Remember, anyone can type anything these days and somehow if it shows up on google it is fact. In the thread that ironhippy attached, if you read through the thread you will find he had 4 batteries fail. Really? More than likely, he had alternator or wiring issues and not a battery problem. The discharged batteries were symptoms not the underlying problem. So goes with most threads I find on the internet. More than one “Dead Optima” was fixed once the owner understood proper charging methods for the AGM style battery. Then you always have someone talk about overseas manufacturing and poor quality control. The fact is we do have a state of the art manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico. It has the latest in technology and our QC is better than it has ever been. We find that a lot of the returned batteries we get are simply deeply-discharged and once properly recharged are fine.
A couple other general things I would like to point out about batteries in general. Some manufacturers do not use 100% virgin lead (they opt for the cheaper recycled route). We have tried that too in product development, but found the recycled lead just did not meet our standards.
Depending on your application, such as stereo plans or winching requirements, you may need a deep cycling battery. Our YellowTops are dual purpose deep-cycling batteries and will work fine. Remember though that not all deep-cycle batteries are dual purpose and may have a reduced CA rating.
It looks like you are doing your homework before your purchase and I think that is great. Just be sure you have the facts and not just internet opinions before you perchase.
Thanks,
Bill Howell
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
Silver4RunnerIS300
Member
Just want to put out that I've had my own issues with Optima batteries not lasting.
Once the warranty is expired and red top is done for I will be purchasing another brand for my IS300.
The T4R will get another battery when it needs one.
Once the warranty is expired and red top is done for I will be purchasing another brand for my IS300.
The T4R will get another battery when it needs one.
Optima is junk
Like many, I thought the red Optima was a great battery. They sure charged a premium as if it were! However, after ordering mine on Jan 31, 2012, it is now dead! The original battery lasted from 2004 till 2012! I cant believe this one only made it 3 years. Looking for a proven alternative now. Would kill for the orig.
Like many, I thought the red Optima was a great battery. They sure charged a premium as if it were! However, after ordering mine on Jan 31, 2012, it is now dead! The original battery lasted from 2004 till 2012! I cant believe this one only made it 3 years. Looking for a proven alternative now. Would kill for the orig.
As another proud owner of a dead Optima battery, I would like for you to put out some statistics on defect rates and average life span. Otherwise, your post is also just "another internet opinion". My original lasted 8 years. This one a little over 3. I would hardly call that worth the price I paid.
