Optima Battery

[mkaenel]

Okay...I came back from Mexico and the truck was completely dead. \

I have relpaced everything electrical on my EB except the battery. It looks like it might be time to.

Can someone explain to me the difference between the Red,Yellow and Blue topped Optima batteries.

I am plannig on addind a small amp to the stereo system in the future. Also, who has the best prices on them.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[PBR]

i buy my optimas at costco, they have a great return policy (3 year warranty no questions asked and they just hand you a new one).

here is my take on the colors but i am not an expert:
red - best for everyday use, don't run it low because it won't take a charge well
yellow - deep cycle, can be run low, has lower cold cranking amps (i think).
blue - marine, that's all i know on it.

like i said i don't know the specifics just the general uses.

 

[DebosDave'72]

I think the above post covers it all. If you were going to run two batteries, you might want a yellow top because it can sustain more full drain and recharge cycles. But, typically the red are better for starting and running the vehicle. So, if you only have one, I would think the red would be better suited because of the Cold Cranking amps... Their website is very helpful too!

Dave

 

[brewdude]

Go with the Red top it can take a hit from a 30-06 and still start your Bronco. Not that I have tried it but I saw a video of it happening years ago.

 

[sbolejack]

Think I Got a Bad Yellow Top

Just purchased and installed a yellow top and to put the old Wal-Mart Neverstart back in because the Optima would turn it over. Checked it and shows to be putting out 12.6 V, but has the local dealer stumped.

 

[Hunter]

The red tops are great! I went through a battery a year, until 6 years ago , at SOB, I saw a guy with a red top that had a hole so big in it you could stick your hand in, and it still started - everytime. I've still got that original red top in my eb, and another for starting my jet boat, (and 2 blue tops to run the electric kicker on it). Obviously, I'm completely sold on them...

 

[scsm76]

There are three red tops 720 cca (top and side mount)(smaller body), a 800 CCA (top mount), and a 800 cca (top and side mount)
There are three Yellow Tops a 750 CCA (top mount), a 750 (top and side mount), and a 1125 cca (top mount)(larger body)
There is one Blue Top 750 CCA (dual top terminals for Marine Use)

I ran dual 800 CCA red tops for sven years before the first failed the second is still runiing a fork lift. Great batteries.
I have since had to go with a single battery to make room for more garbage under the hood and have a blue top 750 CCA. Which I am not all that impressed with but it was all that was available at the time.

If I were to do it again I would by the large 1125 CCA yellow top or two 800 CCA red tops if they fit. Two red tops are just slightly more than the single large yellow top.

If you currently have a single battery and it works fine the 800 CCA red top is the best bang for the buck.

 

[crab]

I've run the Red and Blue tops. Blue is a great battery, but the only reason I purchased it is that it matched my blue accents under the hood. I now run the Red top which is all you need. I have one in my bronco now that is going on seven years! They are the cheapest of the three running around $95 at Costco. My last Blue top ran me $175.

 

[sfaforester]

If you'll notice something from the above posts, most of these guys have the old optimas. I don't think they are as good now as they used to be. If you have a recent optima (one of the new ones) post up. I'd like to hear how those are.

 

[scsm76]

My new one is a Blue top (~$135 at costco) I have had it about two months not as impressed with it but I thought that was due to it be only 750 CCA as opposed to the old 800CCA red top.
I also have a year old red top in my snow plow and it hasn't had any issues yet.

 

[broncobill67]

I`ve had all three fail!!!!!!!! My wife is starting to look at me when I replace an OPTIMA with another OPTIMA red yellow and blue.............

 

[Solar Aviator]

Been running a red top for 2 years with no problems. Went through an Exide a year for a couple with NO waranty cooperation (keep your recipt) punch outs don't count. Don't know want the secret is. I guess just don't buy any battery that was manufactured on the Friday night shift.

 

[JaxLax]

dual yellows
on numbers #8 and #10 in 4 years. if it weren't for the warranty i'd stop getting them (it's almost always free or at most $10)

 

[73stallion]

i've had my red top for over a year now with no troubles. for some reason i don't trust yellow tops. twice i tried to leave for my saturday morning car show and the engine almost didn't want to crank over. never had that problem with my red top.

 

[brixter]

I have had dual yellow tops in for about 3 or 4 months now and so far so good . I have not had any starting problems .

 

[DogDiesel]

Red top

I installed a red-top to start my 4BT Cummins. I can start it many-many times and shut it down without a significant charge cycle, and it has yet to show weakness.
I had a perfectly good 900CCA Diehard in it, that would get weak in same scenario. I put it in my daughters Mercedes, which prompted my Optima buy.

Time will tell whether I say great things about Optima, this is my first.

Wayne

 

[AZMike]

If you'll notice something from the above posts, most of these guys have the old optimas. I don't think they are as good now as they used to be. If you have a recent optima (one of the new ones) post up. I'd like to hear how those are.

I've had issues with the Costco redtops. I had one in me Bronco flake out after 2 years and one in the Vette went after 3. Now that I'm out of the heat of Phoenix (and range of a Costco), I'm buying the Optima knock-offs from Sam's club. I figure if I get 3 years out of it, I'll be ahead price wise.

RRRAAAYYY2 on this site doesn't have a whole lot of good things to say about the newer Optimas, and I'm inclined to agree based on my experience with them.

 

[KJHill]

I had a red top in last year when I replaced my alt. I was not very impressed as it went dead alot. I've upgraded to the yellow top & it seems to hold up pretty good. I have a mystery drain in my system that takes it's toll on the battery. Not to metion that i drive it less than once a month... %)

 

[Triggerman]

I have a 1 year old Red top and a 2 year old Red top. Both have done great and one of them sits for months at a time and fires the 351W right up. Both were purchased from Autozone.

 

[Skipdevil]

Have you considered an Exide Orbital battery from Kragen Auto Parts. Cheaper that an Optima, same technology and mine has had no issues...even when I do not drive my Bronco for 3+ months.

Not a name brand but it works well.