How long did your optima battery last?

[Jim_Chow]

Any of you recently replace a dying/dead Optima? I think the bluetop in my truck is slowly dying. It's not a sudden death like with a normal battery, but over the past few weeks, if the vehicle has not been driven for 2 days or more, the engine turns over very slowly, but still starts on the first attempt, as if it were very cold with a heavy-weight oil. FYI, temp is about 60F running Shell Rotella T synthetic 5w40. I was just wondering if the sprial gel Optima gradually degrades, unlike a normal lead-acid battery, which seems to suddently die. If so, I guess this is good, as you get some lead time to source a new battery?

 

[dclee]

I had a Red Top that actually wasn't used much (it was a second battery). Even so, it died within a year and a half. I still need to contact Optima to get a replacement. That's one reason I like Odyssey.

 

[ryanjl]

I've had a yellow top for about 2.5 years.... seems to still be functioning normally.

 

[Jim_Chow]

My blue top D34 has lasted 3 yrs in AZ, plus 1 yr in CA (battery entered service in '02). In the end, despite the hype, it didn't last any longer than the OEM Japanese-made Yuasa battery in my honda (2 yrs in CA, then died at the end of the 3rd summer in AZ). It seems panasonic and yuasa don't sell automotive SAE terminal batteries here?

 

[Drinkin40s]

I have had dual red tops in my powerstroke that were a year old that went dead in one week while we were on vacation in the summer - only drain was radar/alarm system - my Wrangler Red Top has kept ticking for the last 4 years - no probs - (and that's with winch use too!)

 

[Jim_Chow]

Forgot to add that I had no deep cycle drain...used it as a starting battery, as all lights, audio, etc. were on when the engine was running.

 

[RichardW]

Had a yellow top replaced afer 2 1/2 years just out of warranty after a cell failed. Replaced it with another at a discounted price. I's now about 2 years old. Thought it also might be failing but had it tested and its still OK.

 

[spressomon]

I have sure heard about a significant number of Optima's giving up prematurely...including a close friend's Yellow Top that just quit without warning. Maybe it is because there are so many more in use than Orbitals?

 

[firetruck41]

I think I would go with AGM instead of gel cell, ie. Exide orbital, Odyssey, etc. they are pretty similar in price.

 

[alaskacruiser]

4 years and going strong on my Optima Red...

 

[Jim_Chow]

The AZ heat kills batteries quickly. So I ended up getting 3 yrs on my bluetop in AZ (plus 1 yr in LA). Interesting that it died 2 months after all warranties expired. I ended up getting a red top, mostly because the full warranty is 3 yrs plus 3 additional years prorated, while the yellow/blue tops have a 1 yr full warranty plus 3 yrs prorated. This suggests to me that the red top will likely last longer. I did like the fact that the blue top died a graceful death...vehicle would turn over slower and slower for a couple of weeks, but would still start. So at least I had some warning rather than have it start one day and not the next.

 

[rockclmbr]

4+ years on my RED and YELLOW!

 

[Mtnmn99]

Funny I must be lucky. I have had an optima (before they were popular) on my rig since 90. Still running strong, cranks the rig right over.

 

[dclee]

I agree Optima makes a good battery, and for the MAJORITY of people, they'll get great performance out of them. However, in relative terms, they seem to have higher rates of failure as compared to the competition. Now, admittedly, that may be due to the fact that they also seem to own the largest market share. However, I look at batteries like I look at vehicles. For what you pay, it shouldn't ever have issues. Toyota also has a huge market share in the automobile industry, yet they have relatively fewer quality issues than most other makes.

 

[SWUtah]

My OEM battery in my 80 lasted 8 years and 110K miles. Replaced it with a regular Champion. Unless you are doing some rough off road driving I don't think you buy any longer service from a gel battery.

 

[Imola Red]

Yeah I don't understand having one unless you are running a winch, fridge or major audio stuff.

 

[dclee]

Yeah I don't understand having one unless you are running a winch, fridge or major audio stuff.

I would tend to agree. Of course, on this forum, many of us are (running those things)...