Which Optima Battery....

[gcburdic]

should I buy??....Hey...which optima battery are you guys using??? (34/78, 34, 25, 35, 75/25)...I know some have top posts (34, 25, 35) and others and 34/78 and 75/25 have both top and side posts.....see this web site....http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

Also, why is there such difference in price???....very confusing!!!

Thanks for any help!

[myoldchevytruck]

Here's The Optima Product Page
I'm using the Red Top in all of my vehicles

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/

[clay68c10]

I'm using the 34/78 in both my trucks and my Corolla. The 68 has had it for 2+ years and I've never had a problem. It will sometimes sit for a couple of weeks with the TBI memory drawing on it and it always starts.
I left the dome light on for a couple of days in the Yota, and it cranked right up.

[d10s69c10]

Red Top Thru and Thru!!

My Buddy down here owns/Runs the Interstate batteries here in town and these are all he runs in his own Vehicles and i follow him avidly.

It has all the Crank amps you will ever need and also has the 3 year free replacement warrenty.. and its th e least expensive.

but if your going for a mega Sound system or somthing the Reserve cap on the yellows and blues might be a better choice.

[jkade]

optima batteries suck!!!!!! Don't waste your money!!!!! Trust me!!!

[d10s69c10]

Originally Posted by jkade

optima batteries suck!!!!!! Don't waste your money!!!!! Trust me!!!

just out of curiosity what was your experience with them that has you feeling this way?

[jkade]

Originally Posted by d10s69c10

just out of curiosity what was your experience with them that has you feeling this way?

Well considering I have been through 2 in 2 years and drove less than 3000 miles total on both. One quit holding a charge and the other started leaking out the top. I think my brother is on his 2nd or 3rd in three years. The only good thing is advance auto has replaced them all free of charge but for the money I would just buy a die hard or something. JM2C

I have a cheap walmart battery in my 86 4x4 and it has been in there for 5 years with no trouble. I have never had a dead battery with that one. I just think they are way over priced and I personally will not buy another. I always thought they said they where leak proof but the last one I returned was leaking out those little what appear to be breather holes on the top.

[69heavychevy]

Originally Posted by jkade

Well considering I have been through 2 in 2 years and drove less than 3000 miles total on both. One quit holding a charge and the other started leaking out the top. I think my brother is on his 2nd or 3rd in three years. The only good thing is advance auto has replaced them all free of charge but for the money I would just buy a die hard or something. JM2C

I have a cheap walmart battery in my 86 4x4 and it has been in there for 5 years with no trouble. I have never had a dead battery with that one. I just think they are way over priced and I personally will not buy another. I always thought they said they where leak proof but the last one I returned was leaking out those little what appear to be breather holes on the top.

leaking out the top??? i thought that was impossible since they are gel batteries. thats one of the main things they advertise is that they dont leak.

[71BB_LWB]

Originally Posted by jkade

optima batteries suck!!!!!! Don't waste your money!!!!! Trust me!!!

I'd be interested in knowing why you think they suck.

Personally I have always had very good experiences with them, and I can't remember anyone not liking them before.

Just curious.
Dan

[bdydrp97s10]

i had a yellow top in my bagged s10 wheni was 16.. i had two compressors and a very large stereo puilling on it and it always worked for me .. no problems with them for me.

[70rs/ss]

Red for normal use, yellow deep cycly (amps, compressors, etc, etc) BTW cost more too!! and blue top for marine use as in to run trolling motors, made to be charged and run down and charged again, kinda like the yellow top. I use the red top with top post for the older vehicles and the side posts for the new.

[d10s69c10]

that seems like a perfect reason to not like them. sorry about the luck.

if i may put in 2 cents all Car batteries come with Production #'s well its a combination of numbers and letters of when they were built.. Most auto parts stores are well aware of this and do the " Old Milk out in Front" Trick..

just saying even tho you buy a brand new battery at Auto Zone/napa/Discount/central/wal-mart. it still could have been sitting out back for a year or more. witch will greatly deteriorate battery life.

[mrein3]

Let me start this with a disclaimer. I don't own an Optima nor do I work for any battery company.

I tried to buy one once. My very trusted shop owner (and former boss) said,
"They last twice as long and cost twice as much. Save your money and stick with lead acid."
This man has never steered me wrong yet.

Between my pontoon boat, fishing boat, bass boat, two daily drivers, two Chevelles, truck, and two riding lawn mowers, I own and maintain at least 12 batteries. They are ALL lead acid.

If I was a rock climber 4x4 guy I'd consider an optima. If I had a ka-zillion dollar fresh restoration I'd consider a optima or like I do put a "bat mat" under your lead acid battery that you picked up at Wal*Mart.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Optima red top, been running them for 5 years now and no problems so far, best part is no corrosion on the terminals or leaking acid to eat the paint!!!

[Lugnut64052]

Originally Posted by mrein3

I tried to buy one once. My very trusted shop owner (and former boss) said, "They last twice as long and cost twice as much. Save your money and stick with lead acid."
This man has never steered me wrong yet.

Welllll, I more-or-less agree. Here in my neck of the woods, three years is about the average battery life. Summer heat fatally weakens them, then the first cold snap finishes them off. Even Optimas don't last six years.

Here's an excellent, interesting article on "recombinant gas" batteries written by an aviation guy. Most light aircraft are flying around with plain old lead-acid batteries, just like cars.

[71 super]

I have a optima red in my daily driver because of the red optima I have in my 71. This battery has been deep cycled twice and is 7 years old. I have never -never had to charge this battery and it sits more than it is used, and has yet to fail to crank my 71 with 402 big block. The one I have in my 2000 GMC is over 1 year old and has not failed to date. With this said, the original Delco in the GMC was still going strong when the positive terminal decided to fall out on day, according to the magic eye the battery ws still good- go figure. In any case buy a optima you can't go wrong. JMO

[Pont406]

I had a red top mounted in the trunk. Car was rear ended. Stud from the tailight punched a hole in it. Nothing leaked out from it. Battery ran fine in the other car untill one day I washed the engine and water got inside. Battery was done after that.

[gcburdic]

Thanks for all the input.....anyone have any experience with the 75/25 battery??....and how is it different than the 34/78?? other than size it looks the same.....why do they cost doffernt??

[FormerMember]

I've had many of them. It seemed in the beginning they were a great battery. Then the company got bought... the last three I've had have failed within the first two years. If you're stuck on one, go buy an Orbital... same battery, less cost.

I now run Odyssey batteries. I figure it they work for the military, they work for me.

[69heavychevy]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Thanks for all the input.....anyone have any experience with the 75/25 battery??....and how is it different than the 34/78?? other than size it looks the same.....why do they cost doffernt??

75 is more compact than the 34, thats really the only difference.

[danny6892002]

I use them at work as back up batteries on our Remote Terminal Units. I got the red tops because there were the only ones left. They are great for my use!

[70rs/ss]

I believe, and I am not sure, but the numbers are group sizes and or terminal location, but the price should be same between the type (ie red top vs red top). Buy the group size to fit and go with it. I never would have used one until I bought a car with one in it. Over the next several years, an interior light was left on (drained it dead) charged it and went on, that interior light was left on several times over the time I owned the car (cop car, it was on or off by switch only so it got left on a few times accidentally) and the battery always came back and never an issue. If I buy a battery it is an optima, period. BTW there is no liquid inside the battery to leak, nor are there vents. It is a gel cell and can be mounted in any position, why put a vent on a battery that is "supposed" to be able to be mounted upside down? I don't work for them nor do I get $$$ for pitching them, but I have never had an issue, and if I did I would assume an old battery (shelf life) were sold as new or the possibility of a defect, but if I killed more than one in a year or two, maybe an electrical issue or some other cause could be too?

[70rs/ss]

I looked it up on the site and if they are the same price, I'd go with the 34/78 as it has more cranking amps, as well as reserve. Good Luck!!



PRODUCT: Battery
VEHICLE: CHEVROLET 1972 BLAZER
OPTIONS: None Selected
PREFERENCES: None Selected



Part List




Click on the part number to view images and product details.

4 Parts Found
Group # Description
34/78 (8004-003) RedTop®; Battery; Group 34/78; Cold Crank Amps 800; Crank Amps 1000; Reserve Capacity 110; Ampere Hour 50; Dual Terminal; L-10 in.; W-6 7/8 in.; H-7 13/16 in.;

75/25 (8022-091) RedTop®; Battery; Group 75/25; Cold Crank Amps 720; Crank Amps 910; Reserve Capacity 90; Ampere Hour 44; Dual Terminal; L-9 5/16 in.; W-6 13/16 in.; H-7 5/8 in.;
D34/78 (8014-045)

YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; Group D34/78; Cold Crank Amps 750; Crank Amps 870; Res. Capacity 120; Ampere Hour 55; Top Terminal; L-10 in.; W-6 7/8 in.; H-7 13/16 in.;
D75/25 (8042-218)

YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; Grp. D75/25; Cold Crank Amp 650; Crank Amp 810; Reserve Capacity 98; Amp Hour 48; Dual Terminal; L-9 5/16 in.; W-6 13/16 in.; H-7 5/8 in.;

[gcburdic]

Thanks for your input 70rs/ss.....I went out to Costco and got one....$129.99 plus a $10 core charge....and a $25 rebate (see this thread for yours)

Thanks again!!!

[bc gman]

I just bought one the other day 75/25 red top, it cost me $175 then put in for the $25 rebate, my vehicle will be sitting more than driving as I am just about ready for the body and paint to get done. A mechanic I work with suggested the battery as the diehard I had in there finally packed it in.