Please Read "Batteries discharged while sitting" ?

[1320racer]

Sure batteries will discharge while sitting but like most everything else, you get what you pay for. IMO optima batteries are junk, tried a red top back around 2006 in my Chevelle and it didn't make a month before failing to turn over my engine when I was called to the lanes and it was charged with the correct AGM charger. Went back to the same AC Delco that I've been using since the early 90's with out issue or failure and I've never used a battery tender nor remove the battery(s) from my car in the off season. Same batteries in my Firebird since buying it and I will have no problem starting the engine in late February when I take it out of the trailer to ready it for the season. BTW, same batteries in my tow vehicle too.

[brent flynn]

1320... I have 2 Optima red top batteries...one has been in use since 2005, sits out in the garage every winter( im lazy apparently..hehe) , and still continues to fire up a 455 with 11:1...i charge them at the track, as well as at home, before i load car into the trailer. The other battery was purchased Christmas '05...It sat a couple years, then i got it...Its in my Bird and turns over a 12:1 455, with no problems. You must have gotten a bad one. I dont even have a mega amp alternator on either car. Just the standard Delco deal...i think they are 65 amps. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another one, and most likely will, this year, so i will have a back up. I run one battery in each car. Its a PITA to have to pull one out of a tow vehicle, if needed...hehe

[1320racer]

possibly, but I know other racers that have had the same issues as well I've read the same on numerous forums from other racers in the years, since surmising that QC has gone down since they were bought out.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=2886948

[442OLDS]

Like anything else,I suppose it is possible to get a bad Optima Red battery,but I have had great luck with them over the years.

Even though they seem to last and last,I usually will buy a new one about every 3-4 years.

Optima even pays contingency.(they have for the last few years anyways)

[Alex Denysenko]

Not that i'd ever use them in any of our race cars, but on occssion i 've succumed to a case of cheapness and used wal-mart crap in our tow trucks motor home, and trailers, by far the worst performing batteries right along with sears die hard then you have to fight with some know nothing clown in their service dept after one recent failure too many i swapped everything out for optima red tops no more failures, my daily driver f-150 flareside shop truck was the last straw just got out of physical therapy freezing cold out and the truck won't crank

we use braille light weights in all of the race cars with spectacular results we sell a lot of them too.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Alex Denysenko

Not that i'd ever use them in any of our race cars, but on occssion i 've succumed to a case of cheapness and used wal-mart crap in our tow trucks motor home, and trailers, by far the worst performing batteries right along with sears die hard then you have to fight with some know nothing clown in their service dept after one recent failure too many i swapped everything out for optima red tops no more failures, my daily driver f-150 flareside shop truck was the last straw just got out of physical therapy freezing cold out and the truck won't crank

we use braille light weights in all of the race cars with spectacular results we sell a lot of them too.

X2 on Walmart batteries, Alex. I will never use another one, pretty much hate using anything from there, that's a whole 'nuther discussion. Pretty much a lock that they will let you down at the most inopportune moment.

[John Kissel]

Just my luck, my yellow top that was in the racecar would not want to keep up even with charging every week or so. Put it in my suburban and it works like great. We had to go to advance one sat. last july as my friends were closed and bought a gold 78-2 for her TrailBlazerSS. worked fine until wed. am of this week. When it was like 1 degrees worked great. Tues. night it was cold and very foggy and damp, batt went down to 9 volts and no start. Dampness maybe made a circuit somehow to discharge it to ground, I don't know. Took a loong time to charge it to get it in the garage. Got a replacement. It seems that my chargers work better when pluged into an outlet than a power strip or extension cord. Resistance in cords, again I don't know. I was always told if you put a battery down on concrete it will discharge, so I put them on a board. John Kissel

[cal]

Thanks Guys
I have Optima Red tops in my 83 Camaro and 68 Corvette and they work fine, been in there at least 3 years and still going strong.

I couldn't get the red tops when I needed to change the batteries in the 81 Corvette ,
and got the Exide. Was told same battery just a different label

O well Guess I'll be spending more money

Cal
S/ST HR 1177

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

X2 on Walmart batteries, Alex. I will never use another one, pretty much hate using anything from there, that's a whole 'nuther discussion. Pretty much a lock that they will let you down at the most inopportune moment.

I replaced a WalMart battery this fall in old blue, a 1995 Chevy truck that was over ten-twelve years old...
Truck sat for months between starts some years.

[7423]

Costco "black top" batteries in everything we own for the past 20 years, never had a failure.
Peeled the decals off the sides of the batteries and put them on the side of my SST Vega years ago. Won a points race and sent a picture to the PR Dept of Costco, got a nice thank you letter in return and a $50 cash card..............