OK, I've read a lot on the battries and really don't know which one to buy..Reports, Cosco has a good deep cell equal to a Optima???? I also understand the one company makes most of the battries or their cells..ie, for WalMart, Sears, Cosco are made by the same company just different jackets.. Where would you all buy one.. Thanks Duane
Wal Mart, locations EVERYWHERE! Ease of warranty service if you break down somewhere strange, odds are you're close to a Wal Mart.
Diehard has always been cool with me. As long as you drive or at least start up your engine & let it run for some time your battery should be good for many years. That is if you don't have an excessive key off amp draw.
Autozone always starts - number one by consumer reports. I did not start my car for three months, on court day my truck broke down, the car started up in 30 degree weather and took me to court. Only problem, finding a big enough parking spot. The red top is good enough for me.
Depends how you figure what "best" means. To me it means lowest price....$47 at walmart. They've always lasted 5 years for me.
X2 .I 've had the same one in my 56 Chevy for 8 years and it still starts and I don't drive it that much.
Yeah, I hate Optima batteries. I have had one for twelve years & five years ago I melted the side posts off of it.
I was just about to ask this same question. I need a decent Gel Cell battery since Optima is now Hecho en Mexico. I also will not shop at walmart, so are there any decent gel cells made in the States?
I sell wholesale auto parts for Mighty Autoparts. We sell Exide batteries. There are only 3 manufacturers of batteries and Exide is one of them. They are everywhere. Interstate is all over but they don't make their own batteries, they buy from who ever has best contract. Walmart is starting to NOT honor their warranties. I had a friend take his back to Walmart and they told him they are not going to warranty batteries soon. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.
Ok so i am going to admit I work at advance auto parts... The autocraft gold is a good battery, cells are made by Johnson controls who also makes the auto zone batteries, the higher end everstart (wal-mart) and optimas. I did a LOT of research on the batteries currently in the market. Buy an interstate or ac delco.
Look at agm batteries..no hydrogen gas is emmited while being used, they can take vibration abuse. http://www.dekabatteries.com/
I personally like the Optima Red Top. But mine was made here in U.S., plus the fact I have had it since 2003, Yes you see it 2003. Had it in my 2001 GMC that I bought in April 2003. Got rid of stock battery right away. Had 6 volt in my 38 when I got it in Oct 2007. The wiring was scary, rewired completely, converted to 12. Bought a Sears Platinum because I heard Optima may be selling out. Sears battery was to big, so I swapped the Optima out of truck to the 38. If I replace the Optima it will be with an Odyssey. I like the mounting system on them and the Braile. I don't like the way the Optima looks in my classic but it is very dependable.
I have a die hard platinum, it's just like an optima as you can mount in any position. Has always cranked for me, but it was pricey... $160 or so IIRC. I have it in my Jeep and I beat the heck out of that thing and since I installed the platinum I have had no battery problems. Odyssey and Die hard platinum are both made by EnerSys. I have had an Odyssey in my prior T roadster and it worked great. http://www.enersys.com/
I'd like a good gel cell recommendation for a 6V, as well. A part or model number would be helpful... I've been going batty searching.
I understand that marine batteries are bigger because the plates are farther apart and the plates are farther apart to prevent crude from shorting them out when vibration and slamming action break the crude loose. So, would vibration isolation extend battery life? Would a wound glass mat stand up better to vibration? I'm thinking of going with a dry cell in my Boss Hoss's because I'm tired of acid puke damage from vent hoses.
The Optima batteries are over priced and overrated,I have always used DieHard and never had a problem,tried the Interstate batteries in a 22 lite truck fleet and they are pure shit.Just glad it wasn"t my money the shop didn"t throw away on them.
Like any application you have to by a battery to fit your use, Optima's an amazing battery im going to run one of these XS power http://www.summitracing.com/parts/XSP-S1200/?rtype=10 super light weight aswell one forgets how heavy a simple battery is weight saved is always a good thing in the performance world aswell.
i love my optima! and i love optima haters! the optima in my caprice has been in there since 2001, i killed it once when the alternator died and i mean killed it! dead! jumped it and it charged right up. the car sits for months! three or four months at a time. and every time i get in it, it starts right up! never any big problems! i think with these batteries its either really good or really bad!
Since Interstate reps or produces Optima, does that mean Interstate are Hecho en Mixico as well? I always thought Interstate were some of the best out there.
Back in 2001 Optima were good batteries, they were made in the US then. My Dad has a made in USA Optima in his roadster that isn't even on the road yet all you need to do is charge it up and it works great. Unfortunately, they have since moved production to Mexico and the quality is no longer there although the price won't reflect that.
Batteries with more cold cranking amps, have more plates. Which means they get hotter, than batteries with the lesser cranking power. Heats a killer, so warranty & just enough CCA would be the ticket
Another vote for the Autozone Duralast. I thought the name was cheesy and for the relative low cost, I didn't expect much, but it never is low on charge and it lasts longer than 5 years. Just check the fluid level before winter and keep the contacts clean.
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