Its been 3 years on my Optima Yellow Top and is starting to not hold a charge. I want to try something different. What are you guys running? I was thinking of Duralast AGM Plantinum.

 

I'm six years into an Optima red top and it's still doing fine.

 

My Red Top is finally not holding a charge after 8 years. I'm going to buy another one this month.

I have also had good luck with the Interstate Mega-Tron.

 

12v

 

I might give red top a try.

 

I gave up on the red top optima, about 6 years ago. They used to be AWESOME, the newer ones that I purchased to replace the red top one that I purchased +15 years ago, would die shortly before/after their warranty.

I have been running an interstate since I gave up on the optima brand. Less than half the price of an optima, similar specs.

 

Interstate Megatron II

 

I bought a blem interstate, its a brand new battery, just either there is something wrong with the case, or it sat on the shelf too long

Granted you don't get a warranty, but is half the cost of a new battery, i've bought 3 so far and have had them for 3 years so far and they are driven everyday. Granted theres no warranty, but if i've gotten 3 years out've so far, i'm not worried about it

 

i get them black interblack blems for 30 bucks, i can get some "world wide" for 40. they both are 800+cca. i usually wind up selling them in a car after 2 or 3 years of use.
i also have a green top interstate with a warrenty that dies faster then the blems!

 

Where do you find these blem units? Never heard of such a thing with batteries.

 

im a mechanic by trade.. so my boss(es) usually have a need for lots of cheap batteries for used cars interstate has a 20 for 20 deal. you have to have 20 cores, and $400. 20 each battery. my boss makes 10 off me( hooks me up) and charges 40-50 depending on how much he likes you.

 

They are both subsidiaries of Johnson Controls.

 

find out where you closest interstate is (not dealer) and ask them if they have any BLEMs for your vehicle. They usually do, I usually get them for about $60

 

Guess its a material problems then?

In my experience, there is a huge difference in reliability between one brand and the other.

 

costco. I think they carry interstates now?

 

You could have just had a bad one. It happens.

 

"And now for something completely different..."

I have a 21 lbs Braille B3121 AGM battery mounted in the storage compartment behind the passenger seat. I keep a battery charger specifically designed for AGM batteries on it though winter storage period. As long as I drive it at least once a week though the driving season, it has no problem holding a charge.

 

I'm running a cheap old super start that's meant for a 96 Ford Explorer . Has 850ca and 650cca . Course this is relocated behind the seat in bin area . Hasn't let me down yet . And seems to help spin the starter a bit faster compared to my old redtop I had with more amps that I replaced twice . Had this one a couple years now .

 

Deka Intimidator 9A48, rated for 70AH and equipped with Marine Battery Terminals found in the Lowes bargain bin for $1. I've put it through horrendous drain/charge abuse using a common as dirt Walmart 2/10/50 amp charger and it just keeps coming back for more, even after 5 years.

If the battery in my Expedition starts to give out, it's getting an Intimidator to match. There's something about an American-made AGM battery with an American-made 130 amp OE alternator that just works so damn well...

 

That's where I purchased my second one

You would think, but after the third one (second and third one not lasting nearly as long as the first one purchased mid 90s), I moved on.

 

Optima Yellowtop in my TII

 

i remember hearing something about the optimas needing a either a really slow charge or fast one, and if you don't do it, the battery becomes a paperweight. its common enough that the failure rate was really high, and i heard the story because costco stopped selling them.

i've personally never seen one last more than a couple of years, and given the price premium, they don't pencil out.

 

I doubt Costco gives a crap about the quality, they simply found a better deal from another manufacturer and went with it.
In the past 15 years I've bought two batteries, both Optimas.
Clearly, that is not a very large data set from which to draw conclusions but my next battery will probably be the same.

 

After 8 or so years my Deka Intimidator bit the dust this summer. As it was late in the season I just want to the local wreckers and picked up the first $20 battery that tested good. But next season the car will get another Intimidator.

 

I do know that as a matter of fact that Summit Racing was reporting a 20-25% defect rate with the Optima battery line just a few years ago. I have steered clear of the Optima batteries and personal prefer the AGM technology for light vehicle batteries. For deep cycle storage and where weight is not critical, its hard to beat the old wet cell lead plate design - just keep them topped off with distilled water. The EPA basically shut down the last smelter of virgin lead here in the US recently, so we shall see how the recycled lead stands up longevity wise in wet cell batteries.