Replacing battery tomorrow. AGM? Optima?
My crap Costco interstate won't crank the car after two days on the C-tec on recondition setting. Looking to use it as a core and just get something good. I have the 51R size "Honda" battery in there due to the intercooler size. Is there a consensus on the value of an optima or perhaps going with an AMG battery assuming I can find one around town? Thoughts? Concerns? Thanks guys. |
Originally Posted by Donovan
(Post 12300620)
My crap Costco interstate won't crank the car after two days on the C-tec on recondition setting. Looking to use it as a core and just get something good. I have the 51R size "Honda" battery in there due to the intercooler size. Is there a consensus on the value of an optima or perhaps going with an AMG battery assuming I can find one around town? Thoughts? Concerns? Thanks guys. |
^ +1
Deka is local to me, from the limited research I've done they make battery for most of the brand out there, a lot of the battery you get in store/online are just re-badged Deka with a mark up. You can get them directly from Deka for cheaper, just need to find the corresponding model number. I have the AGM Miata battery in the rear bin, about 4 years old and it's working well for me. Pairing it with an IRP 140A alternator, my battery always read 12.3V when the car is off. If you don't let these battery drain they last a long time, and storing them in room temperature in the winter helps too (well for us with brutal winter :)). |
IMHO Optima is a lot of marketing, nothing amazing about their batteries.
I would get a good quality regular battery. Just make sure it's the right size and everything and you're good to go. Dale |
Ive had terrible luck with the honda sized yellow top optimas. I was going through about 1 per year on my daily driver S2000. I would look elsewhere. |
Originally Posted by AE_Racer
(Post 12300700)
Ive had terrible luck with the honda sized yellow top optimas. I was going through about 1 per year on my daily driver S2000. I would look elsewhere. |
Originally Posted by ZE Power MX6
(Post 12300683)
^ +1
Deka is local to me, from the limited research I've done they make battery for most of the brand out there, a lot of the battery you get in store/online are just re-badged Deka with a mark up. You can get them directly from Deka for cheaper, just need to find the corresponding model number. I have the AGM Miata battery in the rear bin, about 4 years old and it's working well for me. Pairing it with an IRP 140A alternator, my battery always read 12.3V when the car is off. If you don't let these battery drain they last a long time, and storing them in room temperature in the winter helps too (well for us with brutal winter :)). |
Braile B3121 has a crap ton of CCA and a decent amount of reserve capacity. It turns my 20b over with ease. Highly recommended!
https://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/braille/product_batteries/b3121 |
Originally Posted by Donovan
(Post 12300736)
Did you have to change the alternator for an AGM to a higher voltage or did you just change it to have a better (newer) unit?
|
A Costco Interstate battery has a 36 month free replacement guarantee. Just take it back and get a new one (free). Interstate is a good brand.
|
Originally Posted by t-von
(Post 12300753)
Braile B3121 has a crap ton of CCA and a decent amount of reserve capacity. It turns my 20b over with ease. Highly recommended!
https://www.braillebattery.com/index...atteries/b3121 |
I have the Odyssey PC1200. Like it a lot. Smaller than stock size. Will it fit? I have some room to spare with my current SMIC and my previous GReddy SMIC. Way better cranking amps, etc, as compared to the smaller PC680.
Mike |
How about lithium ion batteries like shorai and antigravity? Given the under 5lb weight, usually higher CCA, only lower Ah, why aren’t they common choice on non-daily drivers? Does it affect alternator? I have searched this topic on the forum but still would like to hear from you guys. |
Originally Posted by RW Atelier
(Post 12300833)
How about lithium ion batteries like shorai and antigravity? Given the under 5lb weight, usually higher CCA, only lower Ah, why aren’t they common choice on non-daily drivers? Does it affect alternator? I have searched this topic on the forum but still would like to hear from you guys. |
The difference is because they can charge that since most sports car enthusiasts, like us, spend at a different level of spending. The average motorcycle enthusiast can't afford a $2,000 battery. It's the same as the cost of roof on a small house in a average neighborhood is three times cheaper than the same roof, on the same size house, in a very upscale neighborhood. Same shingle, same crew, same job, different street address, much more profit!!! Greed because they can!!!
Mike |
My 1 yet old optima yellow top 51r just took a crap on me,
Replace it with a car queast gold battery for $80 bucka, 3 year warranty |
I have a regular 51R interstate in now and it works fine. I've had mixed luck with AGMs.
|
I've run Odyssey PC925 in my FD storage bin since I got the car in 2000. IMO it's a much better size for a street car than the PC680 that a lot of guys run but still much smaller and lighter than the stock battery.
Battery has 3 year full replacement warranty, without fail they crap out on me at 3.1 years and I have to spend another $180. Batteries Plus stocks this battery, and a couple weeks ago when I replaced mine they had a 10% off coupon if you purchase online and pick up in the store. Made it cheaper than amazon or anywhere else I found online. |
Ditto Tom93R1 above.
PC925 in the rear bin here. Last one lasted about 10 years while my FD was my daily. Note that I have an underdrive pulley and the "diode mod" to properly charge an AGM battery (I spoke about this in another thread, pls search). The '925 is plenty if you don't need a ton of reserve capacity for tailgate parties or leave your lights on a lot. |
Originally Posted by Speed of light
(Post 12304880)
Ditto Tom93R1 above.
PC925 in the rear bin here. Last one lasted about 10 years while my FD was my daily. Note that I have an underdrive pulley and the "diode mod" to properly charge an AGM battery (I spoke about this in another thread, pls search). The '925 is plenty if you don't need a ton of reserve capacity for tailgate parties or leave your lights on a lot. |
2 Attachment(s)
i made a little spreadsheet of the factory info, it helps to know the stock spec before you do something else..
Miata batteries are 320cca originally and 370cca now the Mx5 (2006+) is a 51R, 340 and 500cca |
Speed of light,
I read the post about the diode mod and understand the concept and I want to modify my system since I just got a new AGM battery. I am uncertain, even after looking the wiring manual, which wire to cut and splice in the diode. Is the White/Green wire coming for the EGI fuse to the alternator or the Black/White wire coming for the meter fuse? Thanks Mike |
Optima yellow has been fine for me. Had it less than a year and use a battery tender on it. Only drive the car once every 6+ weeks, hasn’t failed yet. |
My Costco Interstate (also a 51R) just died. It says 2011 on the sticker. I think that's pretty good, especially considering that Duralast and other auto store brands easily cost 2x as much. When did car batteries cost $150-200? It wasn't that long ago they were $50 :(
|
Originally Posted by RW Atelier
(Post 12300833)
How about lithium ion batteries like shorai and antigravity? Given the under 5lb weight, usually higher CCA, only lower Ah, why aren’t they common choice on non-daily drivers? Does it affect alternator? I have searched this topic on the forum but still would like to hear from you guys. They work very well and the mid sized ones can be beaten on and still turn over a high compression 3 rotor with ease, however, I've found they seem to like heat even less than a standard AGM. Put one in a tube frame GT race vehicle and it decided to internally 'splode/deform whereas the AGM that was there was a OK for many a season. I will say, however, that the placement we decided is pretty stupid from a battery longevity standpoint (too close to the cabin divider for the exhaust) but perfect from the perspective of optimal weight distro. :/ |
Probably not the direction you are looking for but the currently increase in battery prices ($150+ for auto store economy level batteries) pushed me to try out a Walmart special for $50. So far it's been working fine for the last few months.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ValuePowe...up-35/47308799 |
I had a 51r optima yellow top fail under a year old. I ended up just getting an Autozone AGM that has been holding strong.
|
i took a left turn, and bought a U1LUH size, its $49 and 350cca so its the same as stock.. they had it in the wrong bin, so i thought it was $29!
the 51R is the better choice, but its $130! |
The Interstate 51R turned out to be $70-something at Costco after returning my old core.
|
The Optima Red Top battery in my daily driver expired after 9 years of solid service, so your mileage may vary.
|
I vote AGM, since it won't screw up your engine bay by leaking acid. I replaced the lead-acid with another AGM once I realized it leaked. I'm super bitter about it, I had run AGM batteries before this but but went with a cheap stock-sized one to save $50 or whatever it was. I spent many hours cleaning acid, and it will still need to be repainted some day.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1503e678a6.jpg |
Nasty. I'll look into AGM for my next batteries... mechanic replaced mine with an AC Delco.
|
I’m running a 51r powerxs battery after 3 different optima batteries in less than as many years I won’t ever buy another one. Unless you drive the car weekly at leastI don’t recommend. But this power xs has held 13v after a month of sitting, about a year old now and pretty impressed
|
Agm
|
Originally Posted by DaleClark
(Post 12300694)
IMHO Optima is a lot of marketing, nothing amazing about their batteries.
I would get a good quality regular battery. Just make sure it's the right size and everything and you're good to go. Dale yep. Had an optima red for my v8. After it’s time was up I went with Walmart brand. Just as good or better. They have good batteries. |
AGM. I had 2 recent failures of Optima. Really....... it's 2022 and we still have to deal with that? It could be they just didn't like the Infiniti, but I bought an agm and 0 issues. I was getting nervous thinking I had a bigger issie. I had one in this FD and swapped it for an agm not too long ago.
Decades ago I ran one in my FC and it was the best battery I ever had... go figure |
I'm on my second Optima Red-top. the first one lasted 13+ years and the current one has been in 4.5 years. No problems, no leaks. In my climate, 6 or 7 years is a very good run for a conventional battery in any car, and I was getting about 4 or 5 before my first Optima.
|
No personal experience with the Optima’s. Maybe if I was still autocrossing…maybe.
But fwiw I’ve been buying standard lead-acid batteries for my cars for the last 50 years and never had issues with leaking. Not even in the FD when I did autocross. Properly sized, properly mounted/secured and properly maintained… along with a good charging system, a standard battery will be fine for the majority. And I like that they fit like OEM, in the OEM tray with the OEM box and cover. Paying almost 100% more for a fancy battery that lasts maybe 50% to 75% longer and probably doesn’t fit like OEM hasn’t been convincing imo. :dunno: |
Originally Posted by Retserof
(Post 12519291)
I'm on my second Optima Red-top. the first one lasted 13+ years and the current one has been in 4.5 years. No problems, no leaks. In my climate, 6 or 7 years is a very good run for a conventional battery in any car, and I was getting about 4 or 5 before my first Optima.
This has been my experience as well. Hell, I only changed the old red top out because it was 11 years old. Optima was originally made in the USA, however now they were outsourced to Mexico about six years ago. The only issue I’ve ever experienced with an Optima battery is they don’t give you much warning sign before they go bad. They will test fine, and a week later they will short and not work. Just the downside to the spiral core windings. Another thing to note about optima batteries is there’s two different styles. The starter battery which has a dark case and the dual purpose battery which has a light colored case. Truthfully it doesn’t really matter what battery you decide to go with if it’s sized appropriately. But whatever you do, if it’s mounted inside the cabin, you need to make sure it doesn’t expel vapors when charging. ~ GW |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:59 PM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands