Group 31 battery choices

[ofelas]

Hi,

My yellow top Optima is 9 years old & I want to get a spare battery for when it quits.

No Diehard Platinum where I'm at.

My choices - all group 31 -

1/ another Optima yellow top 900cca - $299
2/ Deka 8A31DT/M (i think its AGM) 800cca - $200
3/ NAPA 31-110 commercial - lead acid - 1060cca - $170 (no 7235/7237 where I'm at)
4/ Carquest farm/commercial - sealed lead acid - 950cca - $160

Open to suggestions from the above 4.

 

[mwilson]

Do you have any Freightliner / Western Star dealers nearby???

Alliance batteries are made by Deka, I can't tell if you need regular or stud post from the numbers above...

Part numbers for the Group 31 Alliance lead acid batteries as follows along with the prices that we charge..

EPM AE1131XMF 1000 CCA Theaded Post.....$118.63

EPM AE1131XPMF 1000 CCA Regular Post....$118.63

These are outstanding batteries.

Mike.

 

[ofelas]

Thanks Mike.

Here's what my Freightliner dealer has - Interstate made sealed acid battery - BAT31PHD - 1120cca - http://vrr.dyndns.biz/DatabasePDF/OEMpriceVRR.pdf for $149 no core

 

[mwilson]

We had Interstate batteries years ago, and all I will say is the warranty / failure rate dropped dramatically when we switched to the Alliance / Deka product.

I have to buy them in pallet lots to get freight paid and it is well worth it.

Mike.

 

[ofelas]

Understood.

So - from the 4 choices I posted - any picks ?

 

[mwilson]

Just called my local Carquest, those batteries are made by East Penn / Deka. I would go with that and be happy.

 

[ofelas]

Correct, made by East Penn, but they're not AGM units like the Deka.

 

[mwilson]

Right, but you asked what I would buy out of those four. I would buy the lead acid Carquest both for price and reputation. I am not a fan of anyone's AGM so far...

Just old school, keep your terminals clean and prevent overcharging. Lead acid batteries in my '06 Mega heading into their ninth year. I just replaced the battery in the Caddy that I bought, it was the OEM battery from 2006. Car will not allow any overcharge by nature and the battery is kept under the back seat so no crud on connections.

With lead acid life like that I don't feel the need or expense for an AGM unit.

Spend the $100.00 plus in savings on something fun....Oo.

Mike.

 

[JLEONARD]

I am an Optima fan. Ran a Red Top for many years in my CTD. Never let me down.
But I am not sure I'd pay an additional $100 just to have one.
From your choices I'd do the CARQUEST. Around here they have a great warrantee program if you ever need it.

 

[CBari]

Just don't do the Energizer Batteries from Sams I have had two complete failures in less than a year the second one they wouldn't warranty.

 

[ofelas]

Good points all; reason being that I've read that Optima batteries made in the past 5 years or so aren't all that long lasting.

Here's another Group 31 choice - the Odyssey 2150 - but it seems to have the terminals in the wrong place.

The Group 65 Odyssey 1750 has more CCA and RCM than the Group 31 Optima - and the terminals in the right place - any experience with Odyssey batteries?

http://www.odysseybattery.ca/specs.php

 

[seafish]

Good points all; reason being that I've read that Optima batteries made in the past 5 years or so aren't all that long lasting.

Here's another Group 31 choice - the Odyssey 2150 - but it seems to have the terminals in the wrong place.

The Group 65 Odyssey 1750 has more CCA and RCM than the Group 31 Optima - and the terminals in the right place - any experience with Odyssey batteries?

http://www.odysseybattery.ca/specs.php

Oddyssey batteries are made by Enersys. They are an EXCELLENT battery, one of the best you can get four our trucks, and of course they are VERY expensive. The Diehard PLATINUM line of batteries are simply rebranded Oddyssey batteries…they have the EXACT same specs and internals and warranty, ONLY a different case.

The Platinum P2 is the Oddyssey Group 65 battery. It retails at Sears for $249, but goes on sale online for as little as $179 a few times a year. If you are able to combine sears coupon offers, you can get it for as low as $159. The online sales usually happen right around BIG holidays (labor day, July 4th, etc ) and often last LESS then 24 hours. The easiest way to take advantage of the price is to buy online and choose free pick up at a retial store near you.

Here is a link to the Diehard Plarinum P2 at… full retail it should still be less then the Oddyssey Group 65--

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-automotive-battery-group-size-65-price/p-02851065000P

 

[jdross440]

I use Deka 1231 pmf in my 92. I have been using them for 20 years. About $100 each. I usually get 5-7 years out of them. They look like they are sealed but the label comes off and have screw in caps. I watch electrolyte level in summer and add distilled water when needed.

 

[seafish]

I use Deka 1231 pmf in my 92. I have been using them for 20 years. About $100 each. I usually get 5-7 years out of them. They look like they are sealed but the label comes off and have screw in caps. I watch electrolyte level in summer and add distilled water when needed.

It's true, Deka makes dam good batteries too…I use them in several pieces of my equipment and they last forever (knock wood)!!

 

[jdross440]

The Deka is the only one I can easily obtain around here. We have a battery warehouse that sells Deka. Interstate has them listed but they are $200 and I haven't had good luck with interstate batteries in my Jetta TDI. They have replaced them under warranty 3 times in 6 years.

 

[seafish]

The Deka is the only one I can easily obtain around here. We have a battery warehouse that sells Deka. Interstate has them listed but they are $200 and I haven't had good luck with interstate batteries in my Jetta TDI. They have replaced them under warranty 3 times in 6 years.

Then go with a Deka battery. They make the intimidator, which is an AGM, and likely on par with the Diehard P2. ALso, if you have Oreillys out there, pretty sure their top of the line extreme start batteries are rebranded Dekas, at least they were as of 4 years ago.

 

[jdross440]

I do use the Deka in my truck. The only reason I still have the Interstate in the Jetta is that it was in it when we bought the car and it has been replaced under warranty each time it went bad.

 

[ofelas]

Thanks all.

There are no Diehard Platinums where I'm currently at in Canada.

I ended up with a brand new Odyssey 2150s at an embarrassingly low price from the local agricultural equipment dealer.

Oddyssey batteries are made by Enersys. They are an EXCELLENT battery, one of the best you can get four our trucks, and of course they are VERY expensive. The Diehard PLATINUM line of batteries are simply rebranded Oddyssey batteries…they have the EXACT same specs and internals and warranty, ONLY a different case.

The Platinum P2 is the Oddyssey Group 65 battery. It retails at Sears for $249, but goes on sale online for as little as $179 a few times a year. If you are able to combine sears coupon offers, you can get it for as low as $159. The online sales usually happen right around BIG holidays (labor day, July 4th, etc ) and often last LESS then 24 hours. The easiest way to take advantage of the price is to buy online and choose free pick up at a retial store near you.

Here is a link to the Diehard Plarinum P2 at… full retail it should still be less then the Oddyssey Group 65--

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-automotive-battery-group-size-65-price/p-02851065000P