anyone running the blue top optima? need new batteries and cables in my truck, corrosion has finished it all off.

the D31M is a dual purpose STARTING and DEEP CYCLE with 900CA/1125CCA and a 155 reserve. It seems like a great battery, cheapest i've found is $160. Just wondering if anyone's running it?

 

My first experience was a contract last winter (transit bus) for Santa Monica. I haven't seen any problem reports from the field.

 

A fellow posting on TDR who used to work for Interstate, the company that makes Optima, said they had twice as many warranty returns on the yellow and blues compared to the reds.

 

that's interesting to hear. i wonder if it was from misuse or not? i noticed on optima's website they're pretty picky about how the batteries are charged/maintained.

 

Could be wrong but it's always been my understanding that deep cycle batteries don't last as long unless they are drawn way down occasionally.
Not something you really want to do if you depend on a battery to start every time.

 

i've heard that and it is a concern, i'm just wondering if it's not as much of a problem since the blue is considered a dual purpose. i'll call optima tomorrow, also there's a good battery shop in my area that we've done business with, i'll ask them what they think.

 

Interstate Batteries are made by Johnson Controls as well as most large retailers batteries. There is a local JC plant in town that a friend works for. He said Optima was a competitor, but made a very good battery. Just thought I'd clear the manufacturer thing up.

 

Ok now everybody hold on to your aditudes , this is about info that we think we have not about are personal relationship with inatiment objects , I been in the auto repair buis. for about 30 yrs. and alternitive energy world for 25 yrs. , this is how I gathered my info on batteries, a dual perpose battery has never lasted in either apllication that I've seen , its diesine is to do both jobs so it sacrafices the diesines of both [its like using a 3/8 ratchet with a cheater bar to take off lug nuts on a truck and expecting it to put in 40 hrs. a week] , the marine world as been doing it for a while but there engs. take very few amps. to turn over and the diesels take about the most amps . and it seems by every body that askeds me to work on there boats the batteries more often than not last 2 seasonds. Then theres the issue of buying a premiunm anything and not taking the long term costs into it ,[ sorry another analogy, the home owner buying Snap On tools and ony using them twice a year] , well with all that being said I'ld buy 2 Interstates [ about 80.00 each] the best warentee - a big part of that is when your batteries go bad you need a place to get them . I never said this was going to be a short story.

 

Optimas are made my Johnson Controls-- I believe Interstate is a separate company. http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/bg/products_brands.htm

Blue Top and Yellow top batteries are identical in every way except the cap color. They are distinguished purely for marketing reasons only.


It's also correct that you do NOT want a deep-cycle battery pulling starting duty, as it will die quickly.

You should be considering only the Red Tops for Optimas. Or, consider another fine battery like ODYSSEY.

 

What's this all about then?
http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content...tmain.asp?js=1

It could be that Johnson now owns Interstate, which owns Optima.

 

That's interesting. I'll have to call my buddy and ask him. I know Johnson Controls make Interstate batteries, but maybe I misunderstood about the Optima's. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

that statement is a little too broad as there are a lot of boats that have small block chevy's in them, doesn't matter what you put it in it's going to use the same starter and draw the same amount of juice. 2nd, most marine batteries live a short life because they sit all winter, around here boats are run for 4 months max in a year.

I understand your analogy, i'm a mechanic and it's true that snap-ons may not be the best choice for hardly being used. that analogy is not even close to applicable to what quality batteries i buy; a battery is much more necessary to a vehicle's operation than premium tools are to the occasional user. i drive my truck 50,000 miles a year for work and play. it sees long road trips, 4 wheelin and 0 deg F to 120 deg F ambient temperatures throughout the year. why buy two more batteries that are going to puke acid all over the place and wreck everything underneath them and the cable ends?

i'm not looking at optimas or odyssey because i think they'll last forever, i want to buy something good that won't spill acid everywhere and that's been proven by thousands of people to last longer than a "good" standard battery. besides, the red tops are only $20/piece more than the interstates you quoted. i can't make new cables, battery trays and clean and repaint my inner fenders for under $40 in materials!!

how is that cost effective?

 

now that this thread has been de-railed....i'm interested in hearing from people that have run optima blue tops, not generalizations about which company owns what or how long a different battery lasts in a different application. i'm done

 

I run Blue Tops.... they seem to work fine for me so far...

 

how long have you had them?
i think based on the numbers on their website and their description the blue top would be the way to go...with two batteries in there they're not being stressed all that hard on a start.