In light of that recent thread where most people have torn optima a new one, I thought I'd make a new thread so i didn't hijack the other.

What's the problem with Optima batteries? Not just that they fail, but why are they not good?

I haven't had a spot of trouble from mine, and I've had it for going on 5 years.

What makes the Oddessy batteries so much better? I've never heard of them until recently.

 

I had an Optima clone from Les Schwab Tire Center in the old rig.
That battery was close to 6 years old and still running strong.

I now have a Yellow Top as my 2nd battery, but I have had it for less than a month, so I have not real evaluation of it.

But when my main battery goes out in the future, I will be putting an Optima in.
Either another Yellow Top or the Red Top.

 

Never had a problem with an Optima, red, yellow or blue. I prefer the yellow and blue as you can totally drain them and then recharge them and they run good as new.

 

Never had a problem with the Optima Red Top in both of my Toyota trucks.

 

Perhaps there's just some nay-sayers out there.

 

ive only had mine for about a month also so cant really give an accurate evaluation but Am looking forward to many years of service *knocks on wood*. I got it because my 1700 watt amp with a 3 farad capacitor still dimmed my headlights at night with a cheap battery but I've yet to seen them dim with the optima.

 

I've been using Optimas for about 20 years, now, and have had very little trouble with any of them. The red tops do not like to get drained, and may have issues coming back from a total drain, but I've seen that on almost any regular battery.

The only real caveat I have about Optimas is that when you get into the 6th year or later, start listening for hard starts. The moment you run into one, make plans to get a new one ASAP, because when they decide to die, they go FAST!

 

I had a red top in the landcruiser. I had wiring issues, so I was pretty bummed when it bonked.

I debate putting one in my runner because the electrical system is unmolested and appears to be in ok shape. The issue is heat though, here in Phoenix 1 year to 18 months is about all I get out of a regular batterey. I wonder if the heat would take the same toll on the Optima?

 

My old Optima (ca. 1997) was great, lasted about 8-9 years. Only problem with the Red Top is DO NOT DRAIN IT, do that once or twice and it may not come back, it is not a deep cycle battery. That is what eventually did my Red Top in, it self-discharged in my VW and I did not catch it in time. Would take a charge, but one crank of the starter and it would be dead. I have heard mixed reviews of the current Optimas, at least Red Tops.

The Odyssey battery is most similar to the Blue Top Optima, both starting and deep cycle features. And it is totally sealed and since it is rectangular, it is more compact for the same capacity (or more capacity for the same size) than the Optima. I have drained mine dead more times than I can remember and they just come right back with a bit of charging. With dual batteries, I can have a dead main battery, then just flip a switch and start off the aux. battery and not even blink an eye. Only thing I notice is that I can really hear my alternator "singing" for about 15 minutes after starting like that as the dead battery is recharged.