2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Optima Red Top Battery Life

[Loren]

Quick question??



Went to purchase Red-Tops and found no cross reference for OEM batteries due to size (dimensions) of batteries. How do these batteries fit in the battery box (2001) and do you have to make any modifications to get them strapped down?

Mike,



The Optimas are not as long as the OEM batteries, but what matters is that they are not as tall. When I originally installed mine I just screwed the hold-down bolts in farther. This was a mistake.



I didn't have a problem, but I found out that if you screw the bolts in too far there is a possibility that one of them will pierce a wiring harness that runs beneath one of the battery trays. This will cause lots of problems when the wires start shorting out.



I cut a small block of wood to the appropriate size and placed it on top of the battery, then laid the battery hold-down on the wooden block. This kept the bolts from going too deep.



Later, after I decided that I would probably never go back to anything other than Optima batteries, I cut the bolts off and removed the block of wood.



I don't use red-tops. I use the deep-cycle Optimas. These are any of the yellow-tops (deep cycle) or some of the blue-tops (marine). The deep-cycle blue tops have a "D" in their model number.



My oldest Optimas were bought in January 1999. They have seen constant use in my Dodge diesels and now in the Airstream trailer. They show no signs of failing yet. (I hope I haven't jinxed myself. )



Loren

 

[USMCBay]

There were a couple of times it was parked outside a during a basketball game (below 0 degrees)...

Thats funny... if it gets near 32° around Houston they start shutting down Schools, Gov't buildings, and some business' . And its fatality city if ice ever hits - honestly.



I will check these Optima's out for my '97 for now and maybe my '03 later.



I know Harley Davidson is raking in the revenue around Fall just off of Battery's alone. About $130 out the door and its like there made to fail in cold weather. The shrinkage supposedly breaks them apart inside. So I learned from the (s)dealer to slow charge them continuously in colder weather.



Hey - a person a day dies making Harleys batteries so I shouldn't expect a GREAT price right? :-laf

 

[JR2]

I have a set of optima red tops that where junked by the military and I got them from the battery re cycler, the have been in my truck for 4 years and are still working fine. The only time I have had any problems is when I run my ESPAR engine heater for two cycles, that darn near drains them when its cold.

Now that I have said this they will probably die.

 

[Dieselnut59]

My Jeep came factory with an Optima Red Top. I have had them in my '96 since the oem ones died, around 6 years ago. I also have them in my '98 work truck and they have been in it for around 4 years. I like the Optima batteries because they are totally leak proof, which prevents corrosion and destruction of the cable lugs, hold down, tray and area around the battery.

As others have mentioned, I will not use a "rebuilt" alternator (or starter). I have never had to replace either on ANY of my vehicles, but will use oem when needed.

Another reason for the successful long life of my batteries and alternators is I have the grid heaters disabled on all Cummins powered vehicles my company and I own. The grid heaters draw a lot of power and are not needed in "milder" climates. My trucks start easily even in the 20'sF.

I am very happy with Optima batteries and they are one of the few remaining that are also MADE IN USA.

 

[Matt42]

I am very happy with Optima batteries and they are one of the few remaining that are also MADE IN USA.

I wish that was still true. My wife bought the new pair of red tops while I was at work. They had stickers on them that said "Made in Mexico,"

 

[David_VT]

I ran a red top in my 91 suburban for 8 years. Installed in Phoenix and it finally died from the cold and lack of use in Northern Vermont.

When my 99 Ram needed batteries (the espar and the cold did the OEM batteries in) I was going to go to the Red Tops.

However walking through WallyWorld I noticed their big yellow batteries were something like half the price of one Red Top. My wallet talked me into the cheap batteries and I regret to report that I have not had a problem with them.

The 99 is no longer my primary vehicle so the batteries are having to tolerate months of cold and neglect between uses. So far so good, at least 3 winters on the walmart batteries...



--

wow, just noticed my 9/11 avatar just came back to life... But the post count is off by at least a thousand... .

 

[DNewell]

The reason I bought my first set of Red Top Optima's was because of all the posts like above with good reports. From the time I put them in it took the voltmeter longer to get back up to around 14v where it usually runs. Sometimes up to 2 minutes. The engine also seemed to turn over more slowly. It didn't just pop right off like I was used to. I know I am in the minority here but I will never try Optima again.

Um, my experience with Optima Red Tops is for crap. I bought a red-top for a gasser Jetta and it worked great. I kept the battery when I sold the car and put this one and another brand spanking new red-top in my truck. I have a fairly decent stereo system in the truck with two amps that could probably draw 50 or more amps when going full blast. This summer, the truck started turning over more slowly than normal, and I didn't think it was a problem. On the first cold snap, the truck would barely turn over at all after the grid heaters cycled off. I cleaned the terminals and used dielectric grease to make a better connection. Nothing. I would put a charger on and top off the batteries, and in the morning, still low... Well, I took of the terminal on the older red-top and the under the hood light went dim. I put the terminal back on the old battery, still dim. I took the terminal off the new battery, bright. Means the new battery is shot. Went to Autozone where I bought them, and after a fight with the store manager, they warranteed it out. I sold the warranteed battery to a buddy for $100 and was happy. I still have the older one, but will probably never use it. I switched to two XHD extreme power batteries from Les Schwab. No problems any more and it cranks over like there's no tomorrow.

 

[MMeier]

Um, my experience with Optima Red Tops is for crap. I bought a red-top for a gasser Jetta and it worked great. I kept the battery when I sold the car and put this one and another brand spanking new red-top in my truck. I have a fairly decent stereo system in the truck with two amps that could probably draw 50 or more amps when going full blast. This summer, the truck started turning over more slowly than normal, and I didn't think it was a problem. On the first cold snap, the truck would barely turn over at all after the grid heaters cycled off. I cleaned the terminals and used dielectric grease to make a better connection. Nothing. I would put a charger on and top off the batteries, and in the morning, still low... Well, I took of the terminal on the older red-top and the under the hood light went dim. I put the terminal back on the old battery, still dim. I took the terminal off the new battery, bright. Means the new battery is shot. Went to Autozone where I bought them, and after a fight with the store manager, they warranteed it out. I sold the warranteed battery to a buddy for $100 and was happy. I still have the older one, but will probably never use it. I switched to two XHD extreme power batteries from Les Schwab. No problems any more and it cranks over like there's no tomorrow.

Why did you mix the "old" battery with a new one? Did you have it checked before putting it in the Ram?

 

[Loren]

DNewell,



You made two mistakes. The first was that you paired a new battery with an old one. This will cause the new battery to work harder and will result in the rapid failure of the new battery, just as you experienced.



The second mistake was that you used starting batteries when you should have used deep-cycle batteries. Optima recommends their deep-cycle batteries for the Dodge diesels. This does not take into account the additional draw of your 50 amp stereo.



An Optima deep-cycle battery has a capacity of about 65 amp-hours. If you draw 50 amps from two of these batteries for two hours, both your batteries will be almost dead. The grid heaters draw over 100 amps. (Maybe double that, I haven't measured it. ) These are huge loads.



I think that a matched pair of deep-cycle Optimas would last longer than almost any other batteries. Your mileage may vary however. These forums are mostly about people's opinions. Mine is that I like my Optimas.



Loren

 

[Missouri Mule]

Ramtuf1, when I got my first set of Red Tops at Interstate they gave me two plastic battery trays that the Optimas fit into. The tray keeps them from moving around and raised them up enough that the battery hold down bolts did not pierce the wiring harness.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Still have the originals. 66k and 7 years. I agree with Gary and know that I am living on borrowed time with them. Spooky will have new batteries before next season.

 

[Ramtuf1]

Thanks for the response to my question on the size and fit in the battery box on the 2001. I ended up installing two Interstate series 27's which is what was stock for the present time. Next time I'll be more interested in the Optima deep cycle.