Optima red Or yellow?

[mazder]

Looking @ replacing my leaking battery, the ? is should I get the Red top or Yellow top Optima Battery? The Yellow is rated as a starting and deep cycle where as the Red is just starting. also if any one has the hook up on a good price, please let me know $159.00 seems pretty high. I think I paid 115 @ Costco a few years back when I had a pre runner.

 

[cody c]

I didnt have very good luck with optima's, nowadays I would go with any battery that has a long warranty. Though it may be different for you in a warmer climate with a daily driver.

Costco has the better price up this way, in comparison to other automotive locations, maybe the same down there.

 

[Salue]

I would suggest Sears Diehard Platinum. I'm running 2 of the PM-2's for my dual battery system and haven't had any regrets. Do a search on here about them.

Cheers,
Salue

 

[arndog123]

I used to be an Optima fan, not anymore. My next battery will be what Salue mentioned. I've heard nothing but good about those batteries.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I would suggest Sears Diehard Platinum. I'm running 2 of the PM-2's for my dual battery system and haven't had any regrets. Do a search on here about them.

Cheers,
Salue

If you dont like the price of the Optima you are going to hate the price of the Sears Diehard Platinum.

I have run Optimas for a lot of years and never experienced the problems some speak about. I think I missed the bad run that Optima had. I'm currently using Blue Optima, Red Optima from Costco and the Diehard Platinum from Sears and happy with them all. The Costcos in our area do not sell the yellow top Optimas any more only Red and Blue.

 

[NLXTACY]

Just paid $239 for my PM2 and happy as a clam I did.

 

[Ebag333]

Sears PM-1 or PM-2. The PM-2 is $199, the PM-1 (which is what Nlxtacy got, not the PM-2) is $239. Either one is an upgrade from the Optima, and will hold up much better.

The PM-1 is the biggest battery I've found that you can fit into your Cruiser, hands down.

I <3 my PM-1. When the battery dies in the truck (can already see it dieing, only a couple years old) will be replacing with the PM-2.

 

[Bossman]

I have had nothing but good luck with the yellow tops that I have (currently 3 of them and the oldest is at leats ten years old and still doing fine.). Not the same story with my FIL's red tops. Both have been replaced at least once and they are only a few years old.

I'm curious, are these DieHards regular lead acid or spiral jell cell?

 

[Sno bored]

I have a blue top in my 80.

 

[Ebag333]

I'm curious, are these DieHards regular lead acid or spiral jell cell?

The PM-1 and PM-2 are AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). They are not gel.

Since they are sealed, they reduce off gassing by about 95% (IIRC). Means little to no corrosion on the battery terminals, and no maintenance. Also means no battery acid splashing around when you're wheeling.

Optima's are also AGM, IIRC.

VRLA battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Advantages
All AGM batteries boast some significant performance enhancement over traditional flooded lead acid cells:

• AGM construction allows purer lead in the plates as each plate no longer needs to support its own weight based on the sandwich construction with AGM matting. Traditional cells must support their own weight in the bath of acid.
• AGM Batteries are un-spillable, keeping lead and acid out of the environment.
• AGM Batteries have high specific power or Power Density, holding more roughly 1.5x the AH capacity as flooded batteries based on purer lead.
• AGM Batteries have very low internal resistance allowing them to be charged and discharged quite rapidly without creating heat based on construction and pure lead.
• AGM Batteries are maintenance free, never requiring a watering over the life of the battery.
• AGM Batteries will not corrode their surroundings as the acid is encapsulated in the matting.
• AGM Batteries will not freeze and crack, operating well below 0° F or C.
• AGM Batteries can be UL, DOT, CE, Coast Guard, and Mil-Spec approved to isolate HAZ-MAT.
• AGM Batteries are exceptionally vibration resistant based on the sandwich construction.

Disadvantages

• AGM Batteries boast up to a 10 year lifespan, but must be sized to discharged less deeply than the traditional flooded batteries.
• AGM Battery depth of discharge for optimal performance 50% Flooded Battery depth of discharge for optimal performance 80%
• AGM Batteries do not tolerate overcharging. Overcharging burns electrolyte, which is unable to be replaced, leading to premature failure.

AGM batteries (and specifically the Odyssey batteries) are used for military purposes. Odyssey documented several tests that were done, but one stood out....

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/files.htm

(A) MIL S-901C shock, high impact test

This is a test specified by the US Navy to determine suitability of equipment for installation on warships. A 26Ah battery (equivalent to the PC925 but without the metal jacket) was installed in an UPS system aboard a Navy MHC51-class coastal mine hunter.

The test is designed to simulate the shock generated by a 16" naval gun and a depth charge going off simultaneously. Testing is performed by hitting the UPS, while in operation, with a 2,500 lb. hammer from varying distances. After several such impacts the battery system was load tested.

The 26Ah battery passed the test without metal jackets. Equipping the ODYSSEY batteries with metal jackets will only increase their ability to withstand tough shock and impact situations that may be encountered in automotive applications.

Any battery that can withstand a hammer with half the weight of my truck is dang impressive!

Granted, not the same battery as the PM-1 or PM-2, but both those batteries are obviously constructed with equally high requirements.

 

[Chef J]

I had a red top die on me after only 24+ months a few years back. I asked the same question of a guy and he said "they are still good batteries, 10 years ago they were about the best you could get but alot has changed in 10 years and there are better options available now". He was at an aftermarket electronics shop (stereo place) and suggested some ridiculously priced battery that had like 1400 CCA. I suppose it would be ok if you had a ton of lights, stereo, winch, fridge etc. and only wanted one battery. I would guess it would run down like anything else if left with a constant draw. I went with a CarQuest branded rated at 800 CCA and 940 A @ deg 32F, no problems here and we had some really cold days last winter.

 

[mazder]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850035000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3
Might go this route.

 

[Ebag333]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850035000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3
Might go this route.

Why not the PM-2 for $10 more? Significantly larger (capacity wise) battery.

 

[Otamiway]

I picked up the Diehard Platinum as my primary battery when I did my dual battery conversion. I will replace the toyota battery soon with another one. No issues to date with it at almost a year.

 

[97LandCruser]

i like the Odessey batteries for the price of some optimas.
i use the 925 not as many cranking amps but smaller and my first one lasted for 8 years even after 10 or more drains from leaving lights on.
just dont take it to autozone to get tested. if i would have went somewhere else it would probably still be working. but i got a newer one b/c of that.

 

[carbineone]

I have a Diehard Platinum and love it. I had a redtop that crapped out on me in 14 months.

 

[jvazquez53]

I used to be an Optima fan, not anymore. My next battery will be what Salue mentioned. I've heard nothing but good about those batteries.

X2 on the Optimas (bad luck with them, only lasted 18-24 months) Now I run a Kirkland from Costco, 3 year free replacement warranty. Whit these ones, I have used for more than 3 years without problems.

 

[TomH]

Why not the PM-2 for $10 more? Significantly larger (capacity wise) battery.

It's true the PM (marine) has a bit more capacity than the P (auto). The P however has a significantly better warranty. 3 years replacement for the PM's and 4 year replacement / 100 month pro-rated for the P's. The warranty was the reason I chose a P2.

 

[Ebag333]

It's true that the P2 has a better warranty, but chances are the PM will actually last longer.

The PM are designed as marine batteries, as you can see from the specs the PM2 is heavier (by 3 lbs) while being a lot smaller (585 cubic inches to 752 cubic inches), and also has more power. From everything I've read, that indicates that the PM-2 uses thicker and heavier plates. Thicker and heavier plates tend to give a larger capacity and are better able to hold up to a deep discharge than thinner plates. Thicker plates cuts back on how much the battery can push out for cranking, which is why auto/starting batteries generally have high CA/CCA and low capacity. They also hold up better to vibration/bouncing/etc, which is expected in a marine environment but not in an auto. Marine batteries are also general subject to much deeper discharges (and are designed for such), while auto batteries might never drop below 95%.

So as far as the warranty goes, the PM1/2 is for a very abusive environment, while the P2 is for a very mild environment.

For wheeling, we're more like a marine environment than a typical auto environment. We bounce around, and the battery takes a lot more abuse. Many of us run accessories off the battery when in camp, which drains it more.

I think both batteries look like good choices, and both will last. The P2 is also an AGM battery, which generally means thicker plates to begin with.

 

[informationjunky]

I've had good luck with optima's. Blem red top in my old 60 was 5-6 years old when I sold the truck. One in my wifes LX470, One in my 450.