I got my first one from Costco about 15 years @go, about $180.
After it died I paid $290 from a Canada wide auto store about 4YA, today they are $340.
All prices CDN dollars plus 13% sales tax.
The world has gone nuts!

Optimas anymore are made by another company.  The original company was purchased some years back.  I wouldn't pay $1 for that name anymore.  My advice would be to just go with a good AGM battery.  I ponied up to put two in my F250 (Diesel, so need MAJOR amps to crank it) a year ago and have been super happy with them.  If they go 5 years in that truck I'll consider then a major upgrade over the Interstate Megatron IIs I was using.  I paid $240 each for them (Duralsat Platinum 750cca).  The Interstate batteries have unfortunately also become junk.  I used to get 5 years from a set (considered really good for a Diesel, the Ford ones lasted 2 years).  The last set I got just over a year from and they kept balking about warrantying them, and didn't want to replace the pair if one tested good (sorry, my father-in-law who did batteries on subs says you ALWAYS replace them in sets so I'll go with his knowledge over the guy at the battery store).  Finally I bit the bullet and went to the AGMs.  The big issue I hear with lead/acid batteries now is that they all use recycled lead and that's why they don't last like they used to. 

If all of those historically go-to batteries are junk, what are the good ones? I use factory batteries on my DD cars even if they cost more.  The Hot Rod gets the battery recommended by the parts store - it is very good.

lowercasesteve wrote:

If all of those historically go-to batteries are junk, what are the good ones? I use factory batteries on my DD cars even if they cost more.  The Hot Rod gets the battery recommended by the parts store - it is very good.

I think allowing lead acid batteries to drain below 80% is what does them in.

KeithP wrote:

Why buy new when you can rebuild it yourself. Here's a tutorial: https://youtu.be/kNGg0P7B5fI

Biden keeps going we may have too.
 

Anyone here have an Odyssey?

6sally6 wrote:

BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

KeithP wrote:

Why buy new when you can rebuild it yourself. Here's a tutorial: https://youtu.be/kNGg0P7B5fI

 

Gotta love how that guy 'squats'!!......Wish I could do that

Rufus is a 'man-after-my-own-heart' !
In the words of the famous James Gregory....." It's a battery...a BATTERY....a DA**  BATTERY!"
If Walmart ain't got it....I don't need it!
Get a Everstart battery and paint the top yeller (Alabama talk for yellow!!)
6sally6
 

Yeah, well that's all well and good if that wally world batt tree fits. Like MS, I did the 24" rad mod and needed the Optima batt tree so it would fit in its own little corner of the engine compartment.

josh-kebob wrote:

6sally6 wrote:

BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

 

Gotta love how that guy 'squats'!!......Wish I could do that

Rufus is a 'man-after-my-own-heart' !
In the words of the famous James Gregory....." It's a battery...a BATTERY....a DA** BATTERY!"
If Walmart ain't got it....I don't need it!
Get a Everstart battery and paint the top yeller (Alabama talk for yellow!!)
6sally6
 

Yeah, well that's all well and good if that wally world batt tree fits. Like MS, I did the 24" rad mod and needed the Optima batt tree so it would fit in its own little corner of the engine compartment.

yeah I have a new 24 inch radiator sitting waiting to go in....last red top was still on my car bought it in 2005
 

josh-kebob wrote:

Yeah, well that's all well and good if that wally world batt tree fits. Like MS, I did the 24" rad mod and needed the Optima batt tree so it would fit in its own little corner of the engine compartment.

There are many sizes of lead acid batteries available.  I'm sure there is one that would fit.  Reasonably priced batteries are available at several places in addition to Walmart.  Here they are available in HomeDepot, Tractor Supply, and RuralKing.  But if you want to put an AGM under the hood, go for it.  Having an AGM in a closed space like the trunk definitely makes sense.
 

josh-kebob wrote:

Rufus68 wrote:

josh-kebob wrote:

Yeah, well that's all well and good if that wally world batt tree fits. Like MS, I did the 24" rad mod and needed the Optima batt tree so it would fit in its own little corner of the engine compartment.

There are many sizes of lead acid batteries available.  I'm sure there is one that would fit.  Reasonably priced batteries are available at several places in addition to Walmart.  Here they are available in HomeDepot, Tractor Supply, and RuralKing.  But if you want to put an AGM under the hood, go for it.  Having an AGM in a closed space like the trunk definitely makes sense.
 

Again, I followed MS advice and experience with this radiator mod and went with the Optima because it fits. Of course, someone else with time to kill could visit the aforementioned stores and find an alternative battery solution and post the results for the benefit of all....

I was pretty impressed with mine lasting 16 years brfore the wreck and .since the wreck I took it off and it sat a year or so and I hooked it up to a optima charger and it charged and conditioned may even still be fine ... I will try it when I get my engine and radiator in and see how the battery goes as well as how it runs with the 3.00.1 rear gear and then decide ....I had a pretty stout 91 GT with a 2.73.1 gear factory and I never really thought it was too bad.

Last edited by BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA (10/28/2022 7:24 PM)

BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

6sally6 wrote:

BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

 

In the words of the famous James Gregory....." It's a battery...a BATTERY....a DA** BATTERY!"
6sally6
 

I met James Gregory .....drove him to a store in my police car to get a pack of ciggerettes while he was doing a show in my little town I was a police in.

COOL!!.........Is he as funny in person as when he's on stage?!
(He's a good-old-boy from just outside of  'At-lan-err' )
6s6
 

Bringing back this thread to share this interesting battery test video.  The test is by "ProjectFarm" on YouTube.  If you haven't looked at his channel before, he has many interesting test videos that can eat up your video watching time.

Spoiler alert:  The Walmart battery ate the RedTop's lunch.