2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Optima This & Optima That Im Getting ..........

[DieselMinded]

INTERSTATE MEGA TRON



I have had many cold nights in the middle of a strip pit pond miles away from anyone ... ... ... ... Pitch dark And using a small spot light to see my turtle jugs ..... monerving my way around drift wood and standing trees that protrude from the murky water ... In no more than a patched john boat with a troll motor and NO OARS ..... the motor being driven by an old tore up MEGA TRON that you cant even hardly tell what it says on it ... I found it in an old barn of my uncles under some slate ... . That Battery made me a believer IMO its the best ever made now its not a fancy GEL battery and its not SEALED but it got the job done night after night.



Years Later... ... .....



I was hard up And got a TOPAZ from a farmers field it sat there for 3 years and had 4 flats I charged the battery and put 4 new rubbers on and drove it for 2 years with out opening the hood I swear I never even checked my oil And THe Battery that sat for 3 yrs and fired the car up with only a QUICK CHARGE ... YOU GUESSED IT MEGATRON ... And I left my lights on more than once and it always fired right up.



I do have a gel battery in my wifes RAV-4 and its a pain If the door is cracked and the interior light is on over night ... . ITS DEAD BIG TIME



Every One on TDR seems to be one sided toward the OPTIMA no other options dont even seem to get discussed ... JOE GIBBS Made Interstate the greatest



And When I get around to it Im going to order 2 MEGATRONS for my truck ... I know one is bullet Proof I imagine 2 will be supreme.



DM

 

[Cigar John]

I'm glad you had good luck with Interstate ,I sure didn't . I had to replace them every year in my Freightliner,if I left my C. B. on over night it was dead [3 type 31's ]. With Optima yellow tops I've left both the C. B. and Engle fridge/freeze on over a 3 day weekend and it started like I'd just turned it off, John

 

[DieselMinded]

Was they MEGATRONS or just interstates I think MEGATRON is the premier version Not making an excuse for them tho they should of still been good batteries maybe you got a bad batch or something??I have yet to do research on the subject Im not even sure what size Ill need CA and CCA any suggestions ??



DM

 

[Cigar John]

They were Megatron group 31 I think rated at 1150 cca but I could be wrong. The 2002 service manual calls for a group 27 with 750 cca and 150 minutes reserve capacity.

 

[LMcCary]

Every Interstate that my students have tested with a carbon pile load tester at 1/2 the cca's, came up short. One year old batteries did not have a chance in passing this test. Could have been a fluke or bad batch of batteries. No way of knowing.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Every Interstate that my students have tested with a carbon pile load tester at 1/2 the cca's, came up short. One year old batteries did not have a chance in passing this test. Could have been a fluke or bad batch of batteries. No way of knowing. "





HMMmmm - you, or any others tried that SAME test with the Optimas?

 

[LMcCary]

Only one Red Top, it easily passed. Optima has only one draw back, other than the price, it can not take a fast charge. In most cases a fast charger is not good on any battery. Check the Optima battery site for futher info.

 

[AndrewGray]

I had a regular interstate battery in my car and one post was loose when the dealer put it in and they wouldnt warrenty it. I had the megatrons in 3 semis and all were no good. Didnt last at all. I put exide batteries in from the CaseIH dealer and they are still goin strong after 3yrs. I have used the optima yellow and red tops and have good luck. I strongly agree you never fast charge a battery the heat kills them!!

 

[barbwire]

"Never checked the oil" :--) I hope I never get a used vehicle that you had

 

[MLeppen]

Have the Megatrons in my truck, one only lasted 3 years leaked from top then died leaving one constantly discharging from it. Hassled by Interstate at first but being the pain I am she then changed her tune, after I left the junk with her overnight they pro rated it and for a $83 battery I paid $57 for another. Will I buy another Interstate? no.



I will definatly get a gel cell type next time, now I have rusty cable terminals thanks to a wet cell battery.

 

[DieselMinded]

I guess this is why no one mentions an alternative to the optima :>



I hated that car I wanted it to DIE it just wouldn't go away . I drove it for 2 yrs and never did anything but put gas in it ... junk gas at that I cant complain that mercury got the job done.



Does anyone have anything good to say about interstates ??



DM

 

[R-N-R]

Does anyone have anything good to say about interstates ??

Excellent race team??

:-laf :-laf

 

[RWhites]

I just keep buying the Sears Die Hards. The premium priced one's. Knock on wood... I have yet to be disappointed. Rich

 

[DieselMinded]

STUPID!!!!!!!!



#ad






Im sorry guy'S



Guess Who makes optimas... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...



Interstate



See what A little research does







http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/products/product_optmain.asp



--------------------



pRODUCT lIST



http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/products/features.asp?js=1



maybe the megatrons arent what they used to be ?????



DM#ad

 

[amnewsom]

Did your research tell you that Optima was purchased by Interstate? Does that mean the orginal design changed, I should say, did anything change the optima after they were purchased by Interstate?



I have always turned to Optima for my replace/new battery needs, I have destroyed one and that was bc my winch had hard ground from a mis-ran wire that sent a direct short across the terminals. What happened? I took it back and they gave me a new one.



Try that with interstate. That is all.

 

[DMoon]

INTERSTATE MEGA TRON



I have had many cold nights in the middle of a strip pit pond miles away from anyone ... ... ... ... Pitch dark And using a small spot light to see my turtle jugs ..... monerving my way around drift wood and standing trees that protrude from the murky water ... In no more than a patched john boat with a troll motor and NO OARS ..... the motor being driven by an old tore up MEGA TRON that you cant even hardly tell what it says on it ... I found it in an old barn of my uncles under some slate ... . That Battery made me a believer IMO its the best ever made now its not a fancy GEL battery and its not SEALED but it got the job done night after night.



Years Later... ... .....



I was hard up And got a TOPAZ from a farmers field it sat there for 3 years and had 4 flats I charged the battery and put 4 new rubbers on and drove it for 2 years with out opening the hood I swear I never even checked my oil And THe Battery that sat for 3 yrs and fired the car up with only a QUICK CHARGE ... YOU GUESSED IT MEGATRON ... And I left my lights on more than once and it always fired right up.



I do have a gel battery in my wifes RAV-4 and its a pain If the door is cracked and the interior light is on over night ... . ITS DEAD BIG TIME



Every One on TDR seems to be one sided toward the OPTIMA no other options dont even seem to get discussed ... JOE GIBBS Made Interstate the greatest



And When I get around to it Im going to order 2 MEGATRONS for my truck ... I know one is bullet Proof I imagine 2 will be supreme.



DM

I think the idea behind a Gel battery or the Optima is that they don't leak acid. The leaking acid has caused rust and in some cases loss of the cruise control in our trucks.

 

[csevers]

Who makes the stock batterys for Dodge?? I have seen lots of trucks including mine that the battery acid leakage has made a big mess of the pant under the batt trays.



I just bought a Sear die hard Gold it has a 3 year replacement and 7 year prorated deal and has 850 cca's This battery JUST replaced a factory battery in my 99 that is not bad for a oem battery.



Craig

 

[DieselMinded]

I wrote Interstate with a interesting question ... still awaiting reply



DM

 

[diesel DOG]

I just keep buying the Sears Die Hards. The premium priced one's. Knock on wood... I have yet to be disappointed. Rich

I buy Sears for my 4 rough terrain diesel Lull forklifts and some trucks. When you buy the GOLD series they are not pro-rated. You get full value for 3 years. They never last in the forkifts three years so I just take the two batteries for each machine back to them and they hand me new ones. No receipt no questions. I no now put some 1. 5 amp solar panels on the machines to keep them up if they are now used. Love Sears. Interstate i used 6-7 years ago and they were the worst.

 

[RWhites]

My Dad would buy a new three year Sears battery each year. Remember the green tops? He would put the new one in the boat, the one in the boat would go into Mom's car (the station wagon) and the old one would go into his commuter car (Nash,65 Mustang). I never remember a dead battery as a kid.

Rich