Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
IME, most Optima problems are operator error. If you drain them down to nothing a few times you're OK, but if you drain them one too many times they'll be extremely unreliable. I've noticed that a dead Optima battery, I mean dead, less than 1 volt, is never quite the same.
If you tend to leave your lights on etc; then you're better off with a Lead Acid Battery. I've been having excellent luck with Napa's batteries. (I can get part #'s if you want)
If you drive your car/truck 5 times a week and don't forget to turn things off. Then the Optima is the way to go. It all depends on your application. If your Aux batteries are inside your SUV passenger area, then the Optima is the way to go.
I drive a company vehicle, I put an Optima in it. But my personal car/truck sits alot and is only used on weekends, so I use Napa lead acid batteries in those. Since I drive Fords, those particular batteries from Napa still have removable tops to check fluid level!
For camper and emergency vehicle use, I like the sealed Napa G31 batteries with removable screw plugs to check fluid level. I avoid 4D and 8D batteries. Usually a string of G31's works better for me.
I often get 5-9 years of life out of Optima's in Fire Pump applications. Lately we use lead acid batteries and change them out every three years. Optima's last longer, but I still have to change batteries every three years, so the added cost isn't worth it. And the added life is a gamble. 3 years is the majik # for my heavy equipment if I have to promise 100% reliability from any battery.
I never had any trouble from any decent alternator with Optima's. All my engines have 14.5vdc seconds after starting. I generally set my chargers to 13.3vdc.
If you tend to leave your lights on etc; then you're better off with a Lead Acid Battery. I've been having excellent luck with Napa's batteries. (I can get part #'s if you want)
If you drive your car/truck 5 times a week and don't forget to turn things off. Then the Optima is the way to go. It all depends on your application. If your Aux batteries are inside your SUV passenger area, then the Optima is the way to go.
I drive a company vehicle, I put an Optima in it. But my personal car/truck sits alot and is only used on weekends, so I use Napa lead acid batteries in those. Since I drive Fords, those particular batteries from Napa still have removable tops to check fluid level!
For camper and emergency vehicle use, I like the sealed Napa G31 batteries with removable screw plugs to check fluid level. I avoid 4D and 8D batteries. Usually a string of G31's works better for me.
I often get 5-9 years of life out of Optima's in Fire Pump applications. Lately we use lead acid batteries and change them out every three years. Optima's last longer, but I still have to change batteries every three years, so the added cost isn't worth it. And the added life is a gamble. 3 years is the majik # for my heavy equipment if I have to promise 100% reliability from any battery.
I never had any trouble from any decent alternator with Optima's. All my engines have 14.5vdc seconds after starting. I generally set my chargers to 13.3vdc.
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