Last week I found out that Optima batteryz are no better than other brandz now. Johnson Controls bought them in 2000 and degraded the batteryz either by redusing the quality or intentionally making them less durable.
Joined: Fri Jul 08 2011, 07:15PM
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 88
My first Optima lasted over 16 years. Just prior to the move to Mexico. I'm still getting 10 plus years out of them. I have 6 or more of them the fleet of occasional use vehicles, but I do see the decline in life along with the increase in cost. I have a few yellow tops that I retired to use in my ham radio desk that are well over 15 years old. I've had to try Oddessy and XS Power AGM in my Fusion due to weird size. They don't last 4 years. Really looking at LiFePo now mainly for RV. $$$
Why buy such powerful batteries? I guess I'm lucky. I always used Die Hard Silver batteries (not sealed) and they always lasted longer than what they said it would last. I check them once a year, adding electrolyte, not water. Making sure alternator was charging correctly and putting a battery minder on it if parked more than a couple weeks. Also good to make sure tie downs are solid and cables and starter are in good condition. The batteries to stay away from are any "floating cell" batteries. More and more batteries are using this method since people want to buy the cheapest battery they can find but one good chuckhole and the cell hits the side of the case and dies. Don't Lithium batteries =uncontrollable fire? Maybe stay away from those until the new safer Lithium batteries come out in 2022.
FWIW; I installed an optima in a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it lasted untill I sold the unit in 2000 with no issues. I purchased an Optima for a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2006 and it barely lasted a year. I replaced it with with the warranty money because I was replacing the Jeep but if I had been keeping the jeep i would not have done so. In Yellowknife, NT you have to have a good power source.