Who makes a good battery?

[Caplax40]

Just as the title says. Who makes a good battery for our cars? What make/model are you guys running? The Autolite that the previous owner put in my car is starting to corrode so its time for a new one. I was thinking of either a Diehard or maybe an Optima or something.

I'm not running a major sound system, so my power requirements aren't much more than stock.

 

[Setheroo]

I had a Titanium battery in mine - and it suited the purpose well, and looked nice.

If you want something great I say go with the Optima. It definetely is overkill if your not running a major stereo or anything. But its really nice to know that the thing will always do the job.

 

[jetjock]

There are only 3 or 4 major battery makers in the entire USA. Interstate, Exide, Johnson Controls, the last one escapes me. Pretty much everything you can buy is made by them and re-badged. All will work as long as you take care of them, which most people don't. Get what you like but if I were you I'd stay away from Optima. The Diehard Gold (made by Johnson Controls iirc ) will do the job fine.

I use either those or AZ's Duralast, also made by JC. I typically get 6-8 years and change them when the reserve capacity has fallen to 50%. I also use one size smaller (a Group 74) than what came with the car because my Priority Start unit takes up some space. Never had a problem of any kind but if you live in a cold climate you should probably stick with the Group 78. No matter what you get if you want it to last I suggest you do some reading on the proper care of flooded cell L/A batteries.

 

[stratoayu]

whats wrong witht he optima's? ive never heard anone say anything bad about them,

 

[suprageezer]

I prefer the Optima’s for two reasons, One since they don't outgas they don't corrode your battery terminals. The second is I had my first red top in my 68 Charger for two years, when I sold that I put in my 94 Dodge van where it's worked perfectly for five years, that’s seven years of use for $99.00. On top of that my wife has many times left the lights on overnight and drained the battery dead. My Supra has had it's red top for fives years now. Never in the past 35 years of vehicle ownership have I had a lead acid battery last close to that, even with a perfectly functioning system. Now next time I think I’m going to go with the yellow top since I've read they do have a little more juice for extra options

 

[SupraStardom]

Nothing is wrong with optima's. The only problem with them is that there dry cell batteries which means you have to watch how you charge them. You can't slap any charger on it or it may ruin the battery. You need a certain charger and charge rate if I remember correctly. I run a Autolite Platinum 96. Got it from Kragen Auto parts. It has both top and side posts for terminals. So you can keep your top leads and use the side posts for any accessory that requires a constant 12v source.

 

[jetjock]

Hey, he asked for an opinion and I gave him one. Based on what I know about batteries I won't use Optima for several reasons. Others can do as they please based on what they know. I should've pointed out if he buys a FCLA battey he should stick with the upper scale or premium model no matter which brand he decides on.

 

[oscolivar1]

a lot of ppl i know did not like the optima battery as well, but i do not know if they maintained it or charged it properly.

a lot of ppl i know use duralast.

 

[jtaylor]

I like the duralast golds. I have one that's 7 yrs. old and still used everyday. We used to sell interstate at our shop but none lived to their term. I have ran several down that did not come back. A good bat will come back up on its own. The duralasts are the only thing I go to autozone for. Years ago consumer reports rated them #1.

 

[Syris]

Go for the Optima, mine sat in my supra during the winter for 6 months and still wasnt dead when I went to use it.

 

[jetjock]

Sure, that's a good reason to choose a battery. Batteries have almost as much BS associated with them as does oil and ignition parts.

Fwiw Optimas are also made by Johnson Controls, are not "dry cell" (they're recombinant gas AGM), and like any battery run below it's end of cell voltage require special charging methods. Otherwise they don't. I mean come on, the stock charging system doesn't "know" an Optima is in there.

I'm not going to educate people on the pros and cons of RG/AGM batteries. Not my job although I have lots of experience with them in aircraft where they cost a lot more and are built better than the crappy spiral wound construction of Optimas. Just be aware any battery, AGM or FCLA, run down below EOC just once will have it's service life cut by nearly 40%.

 

[themadhatter]

I'm a big fan of motocraft batterys but thats me

 

[suprageezer]

Well I just gotta say I don't have anything special when it comes to my battery charger 6V-12V, Slow charge and fast charge. So I'm here to say in my case that myth is busted. I have not only charged my two optimas many times from as dead as lights can run them, but some of those times I just jump started it and never have i had any issues with my optimas which are still working fine.

 

[jetjock]

"Working fine" needs to be defined. Just because it starts the engine means squat. The only way to know a battery's true condition is a capacity/load test followed by a recovery test. I prefer the newer conductivity testers over the old carbon pile/resistor junk. Much less strain on the battery.

 

[tekdeus]

Any better dry-cell options out there?

 

[Nick M]

AC Delco manufactured batterys for some time. With GM selling off the division, I don't know if they still do. And Interstate was made by Johnson Controls. So AC Delco is the one you were missing jdub. They made their own label, the Wal Mart battery and a few others. They even did the Die Hard for a short stint. The AC Delco is reconizable by the lack of maintenance caps.

The Die Hard was for a long time, a Johnson Controls product, but Sears switched to Exide in the 90's as a cost saving measure. That is when they went to shit. Sears did switch back after their prized Die Hard only became a common battery. Johnson Controls also makes OEM batteries. I think they make a good product.

 

[jetjock]

Thanks Nick (jdub thanks you too ). I have so much stuff in my head sometimes I can't keep it all straight. Gettin' old I guess.

 

[supra90turbo]

Interesting conversation yet again JJ.
There's always so much more to it than meets the eye.

Although, I must say that my Optima red top has lasted 5 years, being drained completely and for some time about 3 times, whilst being brought back to life with full capacity. I'm going to bring it back yet again, and do a full test on it's self worth to see how it's standing up to my neglect and abuse. lol

 

[suprarx7nut]

So does anyone have a conclusion or is the moral of this thread that if you buy a "premium" battery from just about any brand name company, you're gonna be fine?

Anyone have a bad optima experience? I've heard a lot of people say they dont like them, but just because of how they're made, not from one actually failing.

 

[Nick M]

Your battery's needs depend on where you live. A battery for Buffalo, New York is compeletly different than one being shipped to Miami.

As you may have read, there are lead and lead alloy plates inside an automotive battery. They sit in acid. Two dissimilar metals in acid causes a chemical reaction transfering electrons(electricity). The more plates you have, the more amperage the battery can produce. But the battery is only so big, as it has to fit in the battery tray, and under your hood. So the plates are thinned out, so more can be put into the case.

This makes more cranking power for Buffalo, but weakens the structure. A battery in Miami will have fewer plates, so lower cranking power, but can handle the heat of Miami (or Phoenix) better. Different manufacturers put more into their cold weather batteries than others. Thin plates can vibrate free easier. Vibration kills batteries just like heat does. Johnson Controls puts more into the materials than Exide. Or at least they did. So their cold climate batteries lasted longer.

That is the moral to the story.