Battery Recommendation
- Thread starter GeoRoss
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I've had seriously bad luck with the yellow top ultima batteries in my civic, but good luck with them in my 40..... In ny civic I have been having good luck with Interstate batteries from the interstate store.. There's on in mesa near the corner of Longmore and broadway
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What's wrong with a Yellow Optima?
(God I hope Kevin doesn't see that I said this...)
I use it as starting battery in my K5, which means it sits dormant for long periods of time.
The Blue Optima (Marine) has the same specs as the Yellow as far as I could see, together with a lower price and terminal posts that are somewhat smaller.
(God I hope Kevin doesn't see that I said this...)
I use it as starting battery in my K5, which means it sits dormant for long periods of time.
The Blue Optima (Marine) has the same specs as the Yellow as far as I could see, together with a lower price and terminal posts that are somewhat smaller.
I've been using Optimas for years. I never get more than 2 summers out of wet cell batteries.
Well in my civic I've had 3 fail within a year of installing them, all three were replaced by the people i bought them from, but worrying about having another dead battery @ work( I get out of work late and I am usally by myself when it happens) so i got myself an old fashion lead acid battery from the interstate store 2 years ago and it's been smooth sailing ever since..
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- Joined
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I hear that their posts break off.
IF you're considering Optima batteries, check out Summit Racing.
Free shipping, and a great no-questions-asked warranty for the Red Tops.
I run Optimas in the Cruisers with no problems, would recommend a blue top marine battery simply because marine batteries are essentially regular batteries built better. They have no problems being used for regular duty, but can withstand voltage drops without permanent damage, which standard batteries cannot. I would also consider for price reasons the Costco blue marine battery. It's a regular wet cell battery, but again being a marine battery it should be constructed much better (from what I understand the difference is the lead thickness and porosity). Costco has great prices and the best return policy on the planet. They also sell the Optimas.
-Spike
-Spike
I got a blue marine excide deep cycle in the 40
runs since early 2005
I am only on my third gel battery in the little 1990
car ;p
needless to say, I will keep buying gel batteries
runs since early 2005
I am only on my third gel battery in the little 1990
car ;pneedless to say, I will keep buying gel batteries
Cantinero
Yo soy un pirata!
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Red top optima here... No problems yet. Considering my rig has been up on blocks since November, and I start it once a week and run it till it warms up.
Although I thought I was going to be driving it today, but a broken $.60 retainer clip brought HJ60 and I to our knees last night when we were putting the birfs back together. BTW, thanks for your suggestions Kevin, I finally got the fill plugs out late Saturday evening.
Soon...very soon!
Although I thought I was going to be driving it today, but a broken $.60 retainer clip brought HJ60 and I to our knees last night when we were putting the birfs back together. BTW, thanks for your suggestions Kevin, I finally got the fill plugs out late Saturday evening.
Soon...very soon!
I just got stranded by my 4 year old CarQuest battery today. It gave me a week's notice, but couldn't last til I was out of work today.
I now have a 0 year old CarQuest battery.
If you're gonna get a wet battery, make sure the cells are accessible. I've brought nearly-dead batteries back to life by topping off the electrolyte with distilled H2O. Also, there's this stuff called ThermOil that helps keep the electrolyte in the battery.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of clean connections. Not just when you first install the battery, but as routine maintenance. Keep a battery brush in your rig. or in your kit. Whenever you change your oil, check the terminals and the water level in the battery. At the first sign of corrosion, (unless it's an actual leak and not venting), remove them and soak them in hot water with 1 TBSP of baking soda until no more bubbles form. And use a dielectric grease on the posts when you put the terminals back on. And make sure they're DAMNED tight. And make sure the hold down keeps the battery mounted solidly to the vehicle. Vibration is bad vor batteries.
And if your vehicle sits for long periods, get a battery minder of some sort.
I know Kevin's gonna disagree with me, but I don't care. It seems to work for me. And if I can get 2.5 years out of a battery, instead of just 2, I'm pretty damned happy.
I now have a 0 year old CarQuest battery.
If you're gonna get a wet battery, make sure the cells are accessible. I've brought nearly-dead batteries back to life by topping off the electrolyte with distilled H2O. Also, there's this stuff called ThermOil that helps keep the electrolyte in the battery.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of clean connections. Not just when you first install the battery, but as routine maintenance. Keep a battery brush in your rig. or in your kit. Whenever you change your oil, check the terminals and the water level in the battery. At the first sign of corrosion, (unless it's an actual leak and not venting), remove them and soak them in hot water with 1 TBSP of baking soda until no more bubbles form. And use a dielectric grease on the posts when you put the terminals back on. And make sure they're DAMNED tight. And make sure the hold down keeps the battery mounted solidly to the vehicle. Vibration is bad vor batteries.
And if your vehicle sits for long periods, get a battery minder of some sort.
I know Kevin's gonna disagree with me, but I don't care. It seems to work for me. And if I can get 2.5 years out of a battery, instead of just 2, I'm pretty damned happy.
As long as we are on the subject of batteries, I have heard that vasoline works well to inhibit corrosion on the battery posts.
HJ60 mentioned dielectric grease but I have had a hard time finding that stuff in the past so I guess vasoline may be a substitute.
I have no personal experience with it but may be someone here does...
R.
HJ60 mentioned dielectric grease but I have had a hard time finding that stuff in the past so I guess vasoline may be a substitute.
I have no personal experience with it but may be someone here does...
R.
With the 3 years free replacement warranty, I actually prefer battery that lasts less than 3 years. I like FREE battery
yeah, I once got 6 years of battery out of a one-time purchase around $90 at Sears
but they don't keep records in the computer system long enough anymore
Vasoline works ok.
CarQuest sells dielectric grease. That's where I get mine.
Radio Shack prolly does, too.
And I believe the dealerships have it. We have some Ford and Chevy brand specialty greases at work.
And one thing I forgot to mention above, keep the case of your battery clean. All that mud (and metal filings and dust and oil and grease and whatever else you manage to get your battery coated with) completes the circuit between the posts. It's milli-amps, but over time that can kill a battery, too.