Optima Batteries - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bouncytruck · 06-07-2002, 12:34 PM

The battery in my truck died the other day so I need to get a new one. I was wondering if spending $125 on an Optima battery is worth it or not? What are the advantages other than not spilling any acid? Does anyone have one of these in their truck. I don't 4x4 a lot and when I do it is mellow (don't want to distroy my truck)

O'l Buck · 06-07-2002, 01:01 PM

Those are the gel cell batteries, right? I probably wouldn't spend the extra money on one if I wasn't gonna use it to it's potential.....I have a friend who bought one for his Harley and he likes it pretty good.

Mudder · 06-07-2002, 01:14 PM

Have heard mostly good about them, but I think u are paying for the name and looks in most part. JMO.

**68SWB4x4** · 06-07-2002, 01:57 PM

they work great, but im ussaly to broke to buy a 125 buck battery.....

**Yukon Jack** · 06-07-2002, 02:16 PM

Haven't used one but the magazines say they last a few more years than a regular battery. Course they get paid by Optima for advertising so . . .

Depending on the quality of battery you normally use, this one may not be much more. It is what I am going to put in mine as soon as my battery goes belly up. It has difficulty now in the cold so it's probably about time.

bouncytruck · 06-07-2002, 03:03 PM

I thought that I would just jump on one of these batteries when my battery died too, but I didn't expect it to go belly up so soon (it was in the truck when I bought it so I have no idea how old it is). I'm having a hard time justifing the price tag for the Optima. Everything I have heard about them is good, but I don't know if I would really be using it to it's full potencial. It doesn't get that cold here during the winter and I have a daily driver for the bad weather days. I think I just talked myself into saving some $ and getting a regular battery.

**Richard** · 06-08-2002, 12:11 AM

Definitly worth the money IMHO. My brother inlaws 84 month battery just died after one year in his suburban (shorted cell). The first two years were not prorated like the Optima. Talked him into getting a refund and applying it towards an Optima, it will last. One of the great things about the Optima is that they are very vibration resistant and almost imposible to short out because the sprial cells are separated by a membrane. Check out this thread from a while ago http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=optima BTW heat is much harder on batteries than cold, the cold can just limit amperage ouput in shoddy ones. My other inlaw handles sales for a large battery manufacturer. He loves hot summers!

Burlinator · 06-11-2002, 03:56 PM

a buddy of mine has had his for nearly 2 years and not a problem until recently he had a look and the damn thing changed color and started to swell up and the "so called" lifetime gaurantee they told him on the phone that since he moved his battery to the firewall it was no longer in the stock location and they would not replace it but who cares what location its in "ITS NOT A STOCK BATT"

I would say get one from a local place so you can go back and yell at them in person if something goes wrong LOL

bouncytruck · 06-11-2002, 06:08 PM

Burlinator, that is just crazy. They brag about being able to mount them in any postition. What car manufacture has a stock position with the battery upside down? Anyway, I went to SCMUCKS and got a battery the other day. I really couldn't justify the price tag after hearing the comments. Now that I hear your buddy's story, I'm glad I didn't go with the optima.

chaptr2 · 06-13-2002, 05:30 PM

I have one in my step side and I love it. I have never had a problem with the battery only myself. I left my radar detector on for two weeks and it had drained the battery. I jumped it with my blazer and it fired right up. A week later I left the detector on again and it killed the battery again. So I jumped it one more time and then drove it for the day. As of now, I can let my truck sit for over a month and go and fire her right up with out any kind of slow starting. The only time the battery has failed is because of me plus I have had the battery for four years.

They are supposed to recharge faster, well I believe it. Plus I took that little junction block off and put it to the posts that I am not using (so you can't see extra wires) without any problems at all. I will buy another one for my Blazer that way I will never have the acid leak again or get let down.

**john** · 06-16-2002, 05:44 PM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...tima+batteries
I bought one,and very happy with it. you can tell a big difference in the cold cramking amps

Chevy409 · 07-03-2002, 11:09 PM

850 CCA and can mount the d@mned thing anyway you please, definitely worth the money. Cranks like a mother on even the biggest engines on the coldest days. Depends what color you get though. i got the red for highest CCA but the yellow is great if you have a lot of lights and say a winch or something drawing a lot of power. Also, they have blue for marine but unless you scuba dive in your daily driver, probably not the best choice.

06-07-2002, 12:34 PM	#1
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Optima Batteries The battery in my truck died the other day so I need to get a new one. I was wondering if spending $125 on an Optima battery is worth it or not? What are the advantages other than not spilling any acid? Does anyone have one of these in their truck. I don't 4x4 a lot and when I do it is mellow (don't want to distroy my truck) __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

06-07-2002, 01:01 PM	#2
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	Those are the gel cell batteries, right? I probably wouldn't spend the extra money on one if I wasn't gonna use it to it's potential.....I have a friend who bought one for his Harley and he likes it pretty good. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

06-07-2002, 01:14 PM	#3
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,339	They're OK! Have heard mostly good about them, but I think u are paying for the name and looks in most part. JMO.

06-07-2002, 01:57 PM	#4
68SWB4x4 Strongman Garage Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 10,241	they work great, but im ussaly to broke to buy a 125 buck battery..... __________________ Kalle 68 GMC Suburban 1500 4x4 SOLD 69 Pontiac Lemans 99 Silverado 4.8 5 speed ECSB [ Facebook Instagram Subscribe on YOUTUBE

06-07-2002, 02:16 PM	#5
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Haven't used one but the magazines say they last a few more years than a regular battery. Course they get paid by Optima for advertising so . . . Depending on the quality of battery you normally use, this one may not be much more. It is what I am going to put in mine as soon as my battery goes belly up. It has difficulty now in the cold so it's probably about time. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

06-07-2002, 03:03 PM	#6
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	I thought that I would just jump on one of these batteries when my battery died too, but I didn't expect it to go belly up so soon (it was in the truck when I bought it so I have no idea how old it is). I'm having a hard time justifing the price tag for the Optima. Everything I have heard about them is good, but I don't know if I would really be using it to it's full potencial. It doesn't get that cold here during the winter and I have a daily driver for the bad weather days. I think I just talked myself into saving some $ and getting a regular battery. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

06-08-2002, 12:11 AM	#7
Richard Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,691	Definitly worth the money IMHO. My brother inlaws 84 month battery just died after one year in his suburban (shorted cell). The first two years were not prorated like the Optima. Talked him into getting a refund and applying it towards an Optima, it will last. One of the great things about the Optima is that they are very vibration resistant and almost imposible to short out because the sprial cells are separated by a membrane. Check out this thread from a while ago http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=optima BTW heat is much harder on batteries than cold, the cold can just limit amperage ouput in shoddy ones. My other inlaw handles sales for a large battery manufacturer. He loves hot summers! __________________ Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746

06-11-2002, 03:56 PM	#8
Burlinator Just Another Crazy Canuck Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Richmond,British Columbia Canada Posts: 1,228	a buddy of mine has had his for nearly 2 years and not a problem until recently he had a look and the damn thing changed color and started to swell up and the "so called" lifetime gaurantee they told him on the phone that since he moved his battery to the firewall it was no longer in the stock location and they would not replace it but who cares what location its in "ITS NOT A STOCK BATT" I would say get one from a local place so you can go back and yell at them in person if something goes wrong LOL __________________ 1985 454/465/205, 38.5x11-16BOGGERS soon to be installed: 14bDETROIT,Edelbrock Performer cam,intake and valve springs,Comp roller tips,MSD HEI

06-11-2002, 06:08 PM	#9
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Burlinator, that is just crazy. They brag about being able to mount them in any postition. What car manufacture has a stock position with the battery upside down? Anyway, I went to SCMUCKS and got a battery the other day. I really couldn't justify the price tag after hearing the comments. Now that I hear your buddy's story, I'm glad I didn't go with the optima. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

06-13-2002, 05:30 PM	#10
chaptr2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Olalla, WA Posts: 705	I have one in my step side and I love it. I have never had a problem with the battery only myself. I left my radar detector on for two weeks and it had drained the battery. I jumped it with my blazer and it fired right up. A week later I left the detector on again and it killed the battery again. So I jumped it one more time and then drove it for the day. As of now, I can let my truck sit for over a month and go and fire her right up with out any kind of slow starting. The only time the battery has failed is because of me plus I have had the battery for four years. They are supposed to recharge faster, well I believe it. Plus I took that little junction block off and put it to the posts that I am not using (so you can't see extra wires) without any problems at all. I will buy another one for my Blazer that way I will never have the acid leak again or get let down. __________________ This is only my opinion and it is subject to change. 70 GMC Short box stepside Blown 388 Stroker 72 K/5 Blazer 350/SM465/205

06-16-2002, 05:44 PM	#11
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	optima batteries http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...tima+batteries I bought one,and very happy with it. you can tell a big difference in the cold cramking amps __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/ Last edited by john; 06-16-2002 at 05:46 PM.

07-03-2002, 11:09 PM	#12
Chevy409 Giddy up giddy up... Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: US Posts: 483	850 CCA and can mount the d@mned thing anyway you please, definitely worth the money. Cranks like a mother on even the biggest engines on the coldest days. Depends what color you get though. i got the red for highest CCA but the yellow is great if you have a lot of lights and say a winch or something drawing a lot of power. Also, they have blue for marine but unless you scuba dive in your daily driver, probably not the best choice. __________________ 72 with 69 grille and custom 73-87 stepside. BIG BLOCK 409, SM465, NP205, 3/4 axles slung under a 5" lift, 3"bodylift, 112" frame, and 35inch Pro Comp X-terrains... "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" Here's the site...

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