HAVE OPTIMA BATTERIES IMPROVED, OR DO THEY STILL SUFFER FROM QC PROBLEMS?

I bought an Optima battery in January 2011 for a long term project car I'm working on. It crapped out in June.

Replaced under warranty but still.

 

I was going over my journal for my MG TC (as much fun as a Dino, but in a different way) and happened to note that I bought the Optima Yellow Top battery still in the MG ten years ago. I even fitted my Optima with a plastic "tar top" cover, with fake yellow filler caps, to suit my 1948 car. How Optima could have gotten from that to a battery with a lifespan of three months is incredible. Those responsible should be shot.

My experience whe last two Optima batteries I bought more recently echoed what is already well known. Both failed almost immediately. What junk.

The appeal of an Optima to me was the fact that it didn't leak and seemed less prone to corrosion. What gel or similar battery brands are good for the Dino?

Andres

PS: Having noted its life span, I fear my MG's battery will now give up the ghost!

 

It’s now 2018. I’m again considering giving. Do issues still exist?

 

I find optimas hit or miss. I have plenty that only last what a lead acid does and 1 that died in less than 6 mons, then I got this yellow top unicorn that is over 7 years old still working great! I use optimas when the battery compartment sits over critical electronics like in vettes where the ECU wiring and ECU are under the battery. Other cars I use interstates from Costco! 48mon 100% return and cheap as dirt. I got 2 running my Ram diesel and it sees under 20 degrees F on routine ski trips and cranks over that Ram diesel motor perfectly.

 

I’ve had only issues with the Optimas I’ve had in my cars. They die prematurely and you can’t trickle charge them with a normal trickle charger. My Super 7 has an Odyssey battery. It requires a special “Odyssey” charger. It’s a special situation that has limited choices. My VW Vanagon’s Die Hard lead acid battery is over 15 years old and still going strong! It always stays on a trickle charge until I want to use it. My Dino’s Interstate lead acid is over 8 years old (was in the car when I bought it), always on a trickle charge and never fails! No more Optimas for me!

Freeman

 

Thanks, FatBillyBob, Freeman. That’s good advice.

 

I've been hit or miss on optima batteries too. I won't be rolling the dice on another one. I use Odyssey on my collector cars.