Optima Batteries (again)

[Bubba7492]

Just checked my price tape in regards to sell price on the 230-6368 Cat battery, comes up at 98. 83 over the counter. I am pretty sure that Deka / East Penn Mfg make the Cat battery as well as the Alliance brand that we sell from Freightliner. They have been an excellent battery with few warranty issues, and almost all of those few issues are caused by drivers draining the batteries due to inverters, fridges, etc. being left on for extended periods of time. The Alliance version in Group 65 should sell for 90. 00 or so depending on the dealer selling it and the part number for that is EPM A665MF if any of you want to try a Freightliner or Western Star dealer. That battery is rated at 750 CCA at 0 degrees by the way. Either the Cat or Alliance battery should be an excellent choice in my opinion. Also bear in mind that these two batteries are designed for equipment and as a result have plates that are going to stay in place under stress and vibration.

I have checked my catalogs here and online and the Group 65 is shown as the correct battery for our trucks.

Just my unsolicited opinion... ... :-laf:-laf

I'll stick with the Cat's just because of the 880 CCA's being the best.

 

[mwilson]

No argument there, roughly $10. 00 more gets 130 more CCA's per battery. I will check when I get back to work tomorrow and see if Alliance offers the high output Group 65 as well in case someone is closer to a Freightliner Dealer than they are to a Cat Dealer. Deka makes good stuff... ... .

 

[WoodChuck]

I'll stick with the Cat's just because of the 880 CCA's being the best.

The Sears Platinums are 930 CCA.

 

[mwilson]

At $189. 00 bucks each they had better start the truck and clear the windshield for me. Wow... .



They look to be a good battery and Die-Hard has a good reputation as well. So out of this it looks like the Cat batteries are a good deal if your budget is as tight as mine and if you were already paying big bucks for the Optima then a change to the Sears Platinum would be money better spent.



I am a Cat Teps Dealer, have stocked the Group 31 Cat battery before and have never even seen the literature regarding the Cat 880 CCA batteries for automotive applications until I looked them up online last night. I will most likely add a few from the automotive line to my stock for my fleet customers and employees to buy.



By the way, Merry Christmas to all of you. It is a pleasure to learn from and be involved with the TDR.



Mike

 

[DHess]

Just went over 7 years on the originals in my '03. When it does come time to replace them it will be with Interstate MegaTron Plus - 850 CCA and $125 - $150. Been a fan of Interstate for a lot of years.

 

[JDerrick]

Thank you for all of the relplies everyone. It looks like the very next time that I can get to a real sears store I will be installing the Sears Platinum batteries in the truck. and hopefully that will solve the cold weather issues

 

[R.Taylor]

Why's Oddyssey better than Optima:

ODYSSEY Batteries

I run a pair of the 65-PC1750T... ..... 930 CCA's and they turn that Cummins mill over like it's a gasser with the spark plugs pulled out.

 

[Bubba7492]

The Sears Platinums are 930 CCA.

Just about 200 dollars more for 100 more amps..... I'll stick with Cat.