Optima 6V battery quality?

Adam/Mill Valley CA

Adam/Mill Valley CA

Senior Member
Any thoughts on quality of current Optima 6V batteries, apparently now made in Mexico? My local Batteries Plus says they've stopped carrying them due to quality concerns. Anybody have experience with one purchased over the past 1-2 years?

Thanks,

Adam
 
I have run into the same battery quality problems here too. I have always used AC Delco batteries because of their quality but as of late I have them fail around the 30-36 month life span. I was told by a GM dealer that they are lucky to get 3 yrs out of their new car batteries. Also I have had same problem with RV batteries. Used to get 6-7 yrs battery life and now 3 yrs. For some reason battery quality has gone south on us big time. I would guess environmental regs has something to do with this??
 
I replaced the one in my 40 this past October. The old one had been in there 8 years and would still start the car but it was getting slow. The new one works great so far.
 
Napa carries 6-volt batteries. Mine has worked fine for three years. Napaonline.com. Looks like the closest to Mill Valley is in San Rafael.
 
I doubt environmental regs have anything to do with using cheaper parts that don't last as long to build something like a battery. Cost of chrome plating- sure, responsible disposal of the waste costs more and the environmental regs are in play there.
 
I installed one 6 months ago in my 39 Merc, really like how it spins over. Time will tell regarding it's longevity.
 
I have also had very good luck with NAPA batteries. During the cold winter months I put a charger on them the first of each month. I check the water level in the spring and late fall. My oldest 6v battery is in my 1928 Model A pickup and is eight years old, still holds a charge. NAPA Group 1 battery, about $95.
 
Put an optima 6v in my Merc this fall. Cranks over substantially better than the wet cell that was in there, but then I guess that's why you get a new battery, isn't it? Long term durability is still too early to tell, but so far I'm very pleased. I think I ordered mine from Speedway or maybe Amazon. Wherever it was, it was quite a bit cheaper than I could get it locally.
 
Thanks for the responses. I really can't complain too much about the flooded batteries I've been using, this last one from Napa lasted about 5 years-just thought I would inquire about the Optima since they seem so popular

Adam
 
Optima batteries are still very good. Have them in five cars. The oldest optima is now eighteen years old and still starts my 1988 Toyota Hi-Lux ute OK. Have a six volt one in my 34 Ford for three years and it cranks really well. All that I have had lasted longer than 10 years. Some of the stories about faulty optima batteries are just hogwash and were sour grapes because manufacturing moved to Mexico and took some USA jobs away. Many emergency services use them in their Fire engines, Ambulances, etc because of their sustained power and no maintenance required. Like anything man has ever built, you can get a faulty one occasionlly. Regards, Kevin.
 
Optima batteries are way different than the traditional flooded lead acid batteries. You can not compare the two on any level. Flooded batteries can be cheap, Optima's are not. Flooded have a lifetime until the sulphate builds up, usually from allowing them to run down from storage, Optima's do not exhibit these characteristics. Optim's have a lot of cranking ability even at a low state of charge, much faster than flooded cells. Optima's do not look like traditional batteries and do not fit any of the battery trays in our old Fords. You have to deal with that yourself.
I have Optima's in my 32 and 40 and they are in old Ford script battery cases that I reworked. The 32 was really hard. Great batteries, last a long time and they will really spin a good starter under all kinds of conditions. (good starters is a whole 'nother discussion) Terrific for starting batteries in my opinion.
 
Dr. Adam: I have Optimas in all 14 of my antiques; the oldest is from 2005 (the 47 in the Avatar). I have had zero issues and was fortunate to catch most of them on special through Amazon.com (Prime) which gives me free shipping. Hope this is helpful.
 
Since the original question is regarding experiences with Optima batteries, I'll have to say that most all of mine have been positive experiences with those purchased in the last 10 years. In 2007 I purchased my first Optima 6V Red Top to replace a very expensive 2LF Ford Script 6V repro conventional lead acid battery I had purchased from Antique Auto Batteries that only lasted about 2 years. I bought another Optima 6V in 2010 and a third one in 2013. Then in 2015 I bought two 12V Optima's for our modern vehicles. The 6V versions spin these old Flathead engines as if they were 12V. I really like the no maintenance and no corrosion features of these Optima's.
The one problem I did have with a 6V Red Top was a deep discharge on my first one when I forgot to turn my lights off. I tried to bring the charge back up with maintenance trickle charger, and when that wouldn't work I thought the battery was ruined. After finding out about the correct procedure for doing this charge, I brought it back to life with a full charge. I think they are great batteries and never plan to buy another conventional lead acid battery.
 
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Google the word "Optima" and see many comments. The standard acid cell 12v battery in our family car lasted 13 years, but then again it was drive some almost every day.
 
Adam/Mill Valley CA said:
Lots of positive comments, I think I'll try the Optima. Summit seems to have the best price. Thanks again to all for the input

Adam
Click to expand...

Check prices at Amazon. I found they had the lowest price + free shipping. Keep in mind you will probably need to do something a little different on their mounting. I made a mounting box that bolts in place in the stock battery box of my '35 fordor, that requires no modifications to the original mounting. I can convert back to the stock battery mounting in ~ 10 minutes if/when I wanted to do that. If you do a search on this board for "Optima" it should bring up several old threads with pics on how many of us have mounted these batteries.
 
The deal with Optima batteries is the same as a lot of things today; a lot of people like to advance conspiracy theories; one guy posts it on the internet, and it gains a life of it's own. From my experience, they are one of the best things you can do to make your early Ford V8 driving experience the best it can be. My first one lasted 13 years, and the second one (made in Mexico), is on it's third year, as strong as ever.
 
I also bought at Amazon for $112. I heard Optima were prone to damage of the cell couplers at the top and Optima enlarged the space above the cells for a better cell to cell connection. Hence the newer Optimas are slightly taller. I recall 1/4" was the amount. I was pleased that my battery was shipped with a fantastic piece of foam around both top and bottom of the battery. As could be expected, while there was some bubble wrap in the package, the battery was 'floating' in too large a cardboard box, but was fully protected by the foam. So I no longer have fears.
 
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