Hot Rods Optima batteries - Good, Bad?

Before springing for a new 6 volt battery, I've been considering an Optima. Super spendy but considering having to buy a conventional battery at about half the price and half the expected like span, I would like to get some feedback on the Optima. ( NAPA wants 122.00 for a conventional battery with a 6 month warranty)

 

IMO …U forgot Ugly….. they are butt ugly under any hood…

 

A boxey black battery with the correct rating's usually looks and performs the best... When maintained properly.

 

I find the best battery prices and warranties are at the farm supply, chains stores.

 

I don't care what...the "experts" say...
I have three cars, and each have an Optima battery.
And yeah, one is a six volt. The six volt tops them all as far as holding its power while "sitting".

Mike

 

My first Optima lasted almost 10 years and I have almost 3 on this one with no issues.... You can't see it because it is behind the rear seat.... I like them....

 

I have a 6 volt Optima in one of my cars. The battery is at least 6 years old. The car sits a lot without being started, and it always starts right up. Optima is well worth the money.

 

Optima is the way to go. I've never owned one, but have encountered a few. They hold a charge forever, and normal 6 volt batteries generally only last 2 years. So if you're keeping the car for a while, might be wise to spend the bucks. If not, then don't.

 

I had an early one, they were great, then, if you search here they hit a bad run in the Aughts. No idea about the new ones. Not going back. So many better choices now

 

We use Odyssey Battery’s in 2 race cars. They are powerful and compact. They also do not need to installed terminals up and so far not needed a battery box.

 

I also have given up on Optima batteries. Many years ago they would last 12 years, but then they wouldn't last 4 years. I've been using Odyssey batteries for the last 18 years with no issues. The one in my '32 Roadster was installed in '06, still going strong.

 

Mines been providing faithful service since 2002 or so, and sat unused a couple of years on the shelf prior to that. And its been abused. It must be one of the earliest ones?

Later batteries, as mentioned above, haven't been as reliable. I'm not sure what the service life of currently produced ones might be.

 

Optima 6 volt in the Plymouth. Works good. pit on a tender if you go a few Months.
Also with any 6 volt. Get good cables.

 

Not a fan of Optima. Only used 12v versions but the technology and chemistry are the same. Used 2 on projects and both had issues, one completly failied before it turned a key as it was sat on a project car for 2 years, even though it was maintained. The second eventualy recovered after lots of coaxing with a boost charger.

 

<----....I had an Optima in the '40 years ago that was 16 yrs. old! I kept it on a maintainer when not in use. I couldn't believe that it still held a charge so just to be safe I replaced it with an Interstate after all of those yrs. Who knows, it could have made it to 20! This was early to mid-90's to late 2,ooo's.I did hear that they went through a bad period later. Some said they moved manufacture to Mexico and quality went downhill. Can't speak to current quality.

 

I had a 6 volt Optima in my '40 (before changing to a 12 volt system) for at least 6 years, it was a used prior to that.
Never had an issue, I've kept it for the next 6 volt car I may or may not get.
Yeah, I do agree they are ugly though.

 

I'm on my third 6 volt Optima in my '51. The first two lasted well over 10 years each and this one is on it's 6th year and still going strong. (I've owned the car since 1987.) I've got it in one of those stock-looking cases and it doesn't look out of place at all. Someone mentioned that they had a "bad period" a while ago. I don't know if any of you remember this, but a vice president from the company was posting on this very forum during that period and explained how they had some problems when they moved their operation to Mexico and what they were doing to correct them. They proved to be good to their word, because the Optima I purchased about 5 years later was just fine. As a matter of fact, it was the second one that I purchased and I still have it as a spare and it still holds a charge. I only replaced it as I was getting nervous about a 13 year old battery and someone had them on sale.

That being said, I have never had a 12 volt version, so I have no actual opinion on them, although I fail to see why it would be any different than the 6 volt variety. I would not even consider a standard 6 volt battery.

 

True.
Recognize that proper maintenance requires constant useage.
When batteries had fill caps maintenance was more involved.
Sealed or not ( lead-acid ) the box does not like dormancy, and will get crappy in short order.

 

Have used them for years, never a problem..............

 

I only use optima batteries and snap on tools, and I have a small penis and never drive my car anywhere. Because my wife won't let me. I'm with Phil, go to tractor supply or rural king and get a battery. If you guys wanna bitch and whine about an HEI distributor under a hood not being traditional, but you'll put a optima battery under there, you're a flaming street rod person and you know it. There is nothing traditional looking about an optima battery. Hell, now they owe me money for saying that name so many times

 

I like your signature line.

 

The battery you love to hate. They perform ok, seem to hold up well now that their production issues were addressed, but I'm in the too ugly line as well if it shows. At 1/2 the width considerations for mounting are required. Since we're into another Optima thread (any AGM battery really), don't worry about needing a special charger if you run one down. Put your regular charger on a regular lead/acid battery, then connect the AGM to that battery. I guess the theory is that it acts as a buffer of sorts, or balances current to keep from frying the thin coil wires in em. I can tell you it works. I "woke up" an old problem Opti that way. It lasted another 6 months or so in a car that did sit a lot. He eventually got a new one. Still, if you kill one from excess cranking or whatever, charge a regular and jump to the AGM.

 

I’ve had Optimas in 3 different race cars (1 was an off road car), 1 tow vehicle and a couple other cars. 1 of the race cars did not have a charging system (SCCA sprint races) – never had a battery problem. No they were not a sponsor, but I wish they were.

That said, there was a time at least a decade ago when the ownership of the company changed and the quality suffered. From what I understand that has been corrected.

If they do become very discharged it does take a little coaxing but thy usually will come back to life.

 

I had a conventional 6 volt battery last 10 years in my Willys CJ3A. Only reason I took it out was I converted the Jeep to 12 volts.

 

I have an optima in my boat. Came with the boat, over ten years ago. I've never touched it since I bought the boat and it works fine still.

I do have one currently in my shoebox, but I just kinda ended up with it, long story. But it works fine. I don't know if it'll last, I haven't heard stories of new optima batteries having issues till I read this thread.

The post above that says they're ugly made me laugh tho. I may not be the picture of masculinity, but I don't buy my batteries by how pretty they are! Lmfao....

And the trad argument is silly when it comes to batteries. Unless you're running gas from the fifties too....

 

Does anybody make a black battery cover to conceal an Optima battery? They may be a great battery but really look out of place on a old hot rod.

 

Cheapo Walmart.
But they probably only have the expensive golf cart stuff in 6v

 

I'm sure they do make em

 

I've had one in my ot muscle car since 08 or 09 and it's still plugging along. I put one in the trunk of my roadster in a box I built in 2017 and it hasn't had any issues. Over the winter I mounted one in the fender of my '40 and painted it black, it's a big improvement in cranking the caddy motor from the generic value parts store battery I had in it before that. If you can live with the looks or hid it I think it's still a better product than a conventional battery. I also use battery tenders on everything.

 

Lemme see, 39 Ford Standard, battery sits in a cutout in the firewall/cowl area in a prominant spot. Do I want a good ol expect-to-see black battery there in the midst of everything else that maintains a proper vintage vibe, or something akin to a red top box of elephant dildos?



I rather peel off the sticker and call it good. But that's just me so...