Battery comparison

stockyota said:
opt way better last alot longer busted one on the trail and still drove it 2hr home
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how many times did you crank the truck during that 2 hour trip? once the motor is running and the alt is turning, the battery is almost irrelevant to the system. now if you drove 2 hours home on a busted optima with no alt, that would be an impressive testament to an optima's superiority as a battery.

Duane
 
Josh C said:
The optima red top vs the pro comp brand. Pros/cons....... likes/dislikes.
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I haven't really looked at the red tops...

but I did the same comparison when I was buying a blue top several years ago, and ended up with a ProComp blue top...

almost identical specs (PC was better on one item, Optima better on one)...same warranty...and I got a much better deal on the ProComp...

Greg
 
If money is a small object.....the odyssey deep cell is the way to go....sorry that wasnt one of your two options...but just my two cent
 
optima red top has a 3 year warranty that is valid at ANY advance auto, autozone, etc... easy choice...
 
CLRracer said:
how many times did you crank the truck during that 2 hour trip? once the motor is running and the alt is turning, the battery is almost irrelevant to the system. now if you drove 2 hours home on a busted optima with no alt, that would be an impressive testament to an optima's superiority as a battery.
Duane
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I drove my yota from winston to bragg with a fried alternator. It took a shit in Gboro about as soon as I got on 421, and then drove it three more days until I could get another volt regulator and alt. Battery: Yellow top optima!
I'd cross my fingers each time I went to start it. Thats approx 8 starts, and about 3.5 hrs combined drive time. Luckily it was all in the daytime, so no lights, and I shut off the stereo.
 
Chris_M said:
I drove my yota from winston to bragg with a fried alternator. It took a shit in Gboro about as soon as I got on 421, and then drove it three more days until I could get another volt regulator and alt. Battery: Yellow top optima!
I'd cross my fingers each time I went to start it. Thats approx 8 starts, and about 3.5 hrs combined drive time. Luckily it was all in the daytime, so no lights, and I shut off the stereo.
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see, thats the kinda stuff i like to hear in a battery testamonial.

Duane
 
Ive had my Optima Red top since fall 2000 (i guess 7 years now). I have winched it into submission repeatedly, drained it completely by leaving the interior light on or the headlights on multiple times, left the top off and had turn signal relays and sketchy wiring problems due to moisture behind the dash, jumped 90% of my friends and family's cars off with it, and welded a trackbar back together with it at Uwharrie about 4 months ago. Today I was pulling stumps and trees up a hill on my parents land and was running my 8274 at or near stall for about 4 hours (pulling the voltmeter in the jeep below 9 volts), about 5 minutes of pull, 5 minutes of rest, over and over. At one point the voltmeter wouldn't come up from 9 volts, I thought I had done it in. Drove the jeep over to a hill and cut it off (in case I needed to bump start), cut it back on and 14+ volts, cranked on the first hit.
I have been nothing but pleased with the performance of my Red top. I do have the older version I suppose. I believe mine was something ridiculous like 1200 CCA, but i would have to look on the battery to be sure. Hope that helps.
 
Just a FYI for anyone battery shopping right now. 4 Wheel Parts has a red top Optima for $131.99 Part# 8022-091.

<><Fish
 
There are also two sizes of red tops they sell at the parts stores. The bigger one has the side posts closer together, the smaller one has them out on the ends. There is a significant CCA difference between the two.
 
Thanks for the info Jim!

With my Exide "Orbital" completely crapped (parasitic drain over MANY months), I lit out for Sam's at dawn on Sat. "Mr. Tire Changer" says it's within the free replacement period, but they don't carry them anymore because they had... get this... 85% returned! :rolleyes:

Since they no longer carried them, I could trade + $70 for a 1000CCA Optima Red Top or get refunded... I took the $$ and ran.

I usually get parts from O'reilly's as they're to closer to the house by 150' (O'r, AA, & AZ side by side or NAPA 1/4mile further) *AND* the folks there aren't the average counter droids... many have been in the parts biz for 20+ years or mechanics themselves. Most of them know me by name and will work to get me a good price, and since they'll "price match" with the other 3 places, I checked them first. AA had the best price on Red Tops @ $148, but that was for an 800-ish CCA (side posts way out like Jim said). O'reilly's was a 900+CCA with the posts inboarded... as usual, they worked on the price to the point it cost me $25 more for the Red Top.

It feels good knowing the POS Exide is gone and a shiny new Optima is in it's place! I dropped it in the tray, connected the leads, and she fired for the first time since late August... so, I backed her out into the sunlight, sprayed a few cans of Gunk on the lowerside of the block, the tranny, & TC, and proceeded to pressure wash the old girl for a good 2 hours straight!

Next up... Tranny & TC coming out (potential cracks in the flexplate center & new seals in the adapter) along with 12 months (OK, maybe 3 years) worth of backlogged repairs & mods!
 
Not to hijack, but anyone use a yellowtop optima? It says it's for starting AND deep cycle. Kind of an oxymoron if you ask me.
 
Chris_M said:
I drove my yota from winston to bragg with a fried alternator. It took a shit in Gboro about as soon as I got on 421, and then drove it three more days until I could get another volt regulator and alt. Battery: Yellow top optima! I'd cross my fingers each time I went to start it. Thats approx 8 starts, and about 3.5 hrs combined drive time. Luckily it was all in the daytime, so no lights, and I shut off the stereo.
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I also have a yellow top in my jeep. but a red top in my old buick. I don't know what makes one battery deepcycle vs. starting, but the yellow top has plenty of juice to spin over the engine, and keeps it's charge for awhile during and extended drain. Also it has come back from a complete drain a couple times. How long will it do that?????????
 
I got my red top for 60 bucks BRAND new... well kinda it was on the shelf for over a year or something so they sold it to me as and Enco w/ a year or two year warrenty (sp?)
 
SO who has the best deals? I need 3 34-78 red tops.
Last time I got them they were at 109 to 119 each now I see them at 150-160. I know cost has gone up but thats a little much for a little over a year....
Jon
 
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