Batteries - Optimas, Odyssey, or Regular Battery

[Jff24Gordn]

I have 2 Optimas reds in my 96 and one yellow in my 93. Ive had them for a couple yars and like them. No problems. Also, if you are the type of person who will buy stuff from people who support us, Optima sponsered at least one DHRA race that I know of. Thats where the yellow top came from.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I have had an Odyssey on my '98 Buell since early 1999. Abused the heck out of it, including being in Montana for 2 of these years that ment it sat in a cold garage for 6 months each year. 5 years... no problem, stock Harley Davidson battery lasted about a year in California.

 

[Loren]

Cooker,



I have lots of Optimas, about 4 blue-tops and about 4 yellow-tops.



My oldest ones are a pair of yellow-tops that I installed in my 1995 truck in 1997. They are showing their age, but still working. I would trust them in a truck that was started a couple of times each week, but the 1995 doesn't get driven that often. As long as they are charged occasionally, I think that they would start either of my trucks in our mild, southern Indiana winter. (Low temperatures usually no lower than 0-10F. ) I am currently using them as the house batteries in our Airstream travel trailer.



I will be very interested to see how long they last.



I install the newest batteries in my 2000 truck, the second newest in the 1995 truck. After that, I either use them in the trailer, or split up the pair and use them individually in other vehicles.



I do take care of my batteries, charging with a sophisticated Vector charger when I think they need it, and reconditioning them with a BatteryMINDer occasionally. I don't know if all this does any good or not. I haven't experimented with any batteries that have not gotten this treatment.



Loren

 

[radar doctor]

When I Got My 99, A Fellow Tdr Guy Sold Me A Couple Of Red Tops He Had . . He Had Just Bought A 03... i Used Them And Traded For A 03 A Year Later . . The Farmer That Bought My 99 Still Is Running The Red Tops Today... one Thing, I Was Shopping Several Years Ago For Batterys For My Boat. I Went Into A Store Here In Kansas And Ask If They Carried Optima. . They Said They Could Get Them The Guy I Talked Too Said He Had A Red Top In One Of His Tractors For Over 10 Yrs And It's Still In There. I Now Have Two In My Boat And When The 03 Batterys Are Gone ,,red Tops Are Going In The 03... e Doc.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I can't comment on the Odyssey batts but I haven't had any problems with Optimas. Winching, lots of aux lights, extra heaters, and -40f weather doesn't seem to affect them. Even the old ones are still giving good service.

 

[j-miller]

I have a set of Optima red tops in my '95 truck and still going strong,and a set of yellow tops in my '01 truck and they also do real good,especially during the spring thru fall months,I don't like to drive it much in the winter and it does start hard if it doesn't see much action during cold winters... ... ... ... ... ... ... . John

 

[Patriot Diesel]

I do believe after much research that I will be going with the Interstate "WORKAHOLIC" 31-MHD... see link below...



http://www.ibsa.com/estore/view_pro...mscssid=0MQ94LFA8MQ39K68R06EAQERS3521RE1&js=1

 

[BigPapa]

I have used DEKA batteries for years.

I'm using 2 of the Deka "Intimidators". I like 'em.



Be careful when comparing CCA and reserve numbers. They can be calculated several different ways that come up with different numbers. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.



Scott

 

[ESorensen]

batteries

Was driving all over town to find enough mobil 1 gear oil to fill new f/r mag hytecs when voltage started to drop significantly on start up. Decided quickly to go to Sams club. Warrantee is similar to costco. Put in 31's instead of 27's. Tight fit but works well. The batteries that I took out were the originals. Thought about putting in optimas, but nothing large enough in town and would have to wait for them to be shipped.

 

[RCook]

I have Optima starting batteries in both boat and truck, both sets about 5 years old. The boat's house (deep cycle) batteries are Deka group 31 AGM's.



Truck sits outside all winter w/ no problems starting, even when I forget to plug in. Even after truck sat in parking lot near the boat launch for 3. 5 months this summer, the old red-tops turned the Cummins over w/o breaking a sweat.

 

[Patriot Diesel]

too much CCA's?

Is there such a thing as too much CCA's?



DEKA makes a Group 31 Commercial Grade "wet" battery that has 1125 CCA's at zero degrees and 185 minutes reserve capacity...

 

[CRuth]

I have a red and a yellow in my jeep and blue in the camper. Good luck with all the optimas. No corrosion is nice and if I ever roll my jeep (pretty good chance with what I do) I won't have to worry about acid running all over the place and maybe even on me.

 

[JasonBrown]

My dad has the Deka 1150CCA in his 1932 Ford street rod which has a fairly hot high compression, high maintenance Chevy 350 in it. This battery can sit for months and crank the old truck all day!

 

[jeepit]

Have optimas in my CJ7 and it was rolled twice. Only thing that leaked was the power steering fluid.

 

[BRUTUS]

Odd-I-see

I just ordered a couple of PC 1250mjs Odyssey batteries and found out that they are 1 inch longer and about 1. 5 inches taller than the originals. Also on one web site they are listed as weighing 89lbs each? ( Metal jacketed version)

Got the best deal from Summit Racing, as they included free shipping via UPS.

For those of you that have them, how did you deal with the added size and weight? Did you have to modify your battery holders? Any issues with the added weight?

Thanx,Bucket

 

[JRihani]

Brutus,



See my gallery for pics of the Optima D31A yellow-tops installed in my truck. They are HEAVY and I didn't make any mods to the battery trays for the weight. The stock battery trays are pretty well supported.



I did have to use my dremel on the driver's side tray for one of the tiny little gussets at the bottom of the tray. I just had to cut one out for the battery to sit flat.



I also had to lengthen the battery bolts but if I remember the Odyssey's weren't quite as tall as the yellow-tops.



You made a great choice in batteries but I didn't go that way because of the length. I took a battery tray to the local Interstate dealer to test fit the D31A's before I took the plunge. Willyslover runs ONE PC2150 Odyssey and he had to do several modifications. Check it out:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...543&page=2&pp=15&highlight=single+and+battery



Have fun!



John

 

[BRUTUS]

Battery install

Thanks John for the battery pix and the other threads. Your shiny truck, your nice house and neighborhood, and the mini-cooper face-off to your rig made my day. The clean install of your Optimas looks great.

I followed the thread you referred me to and saw other people's fixes, so it seems that one has to be kinda inventive and shoehorn them in as best one can.

I might even get a case of beer and some friends for a brainstorming cession and get some other outside help. Those Odysseys are heavy muddas and, knowing my buddies, I'll have to be careful that they don't wind up on top of my cab or some equally handy place...

Les

 

[willyslover]

Brutus

the Odyssey 2150 need the front of the tray cut down [front meaning the radiator side]. . use a cut off saw or air saw or hack saw and follow the back wall down to the floor of the factory tray. . the factory tray has a bottom support so no biggie on weight. . also the 2150's are a stud/lug type of connection v/s a post. . use the heavy duty terminal ends and they will last a lifetime [any good auto/farm supply can get them Napa will have them] and also use 2/0 welding cable or better yet 4/0 and you never have to replace again either.

I used allthread for the additional length hold down bolts

 

[BRUTUS]

Good stuff

willyslower



That's the kind of specific info I was hoping for, thanks.

Support for the added weight was a concern for me. Allthough I have no idea how they compare to the OE units.

Les

 

[JRihani]

Les,



Thanks for the kind comments, I'm sure your install will turn out looking great!



What Willyslover didn't tell you is that Odyssey throws in a set of twins with a 2150... yeah right! I'd love to have those twins!



Hope it goes well.



John