Every couple of years or so, Consumer Reports does a test on car batteries. It's a pretty tough test, and heavily weighted towards durability in severe use.

In the 34/78 size, The Diehard was #1, and the Optima Red top was #2.

I think this is the first time the Optima has come up in the top 5. They're either really working on improving their product; or all theothers are getting worse.

Oddly enough, the Optima sisn't even place in any of the other sizes. Not sure what that means. Maybe it's not available in other sizes. 34/78 is a dual terminal. You can also use a 65, but it's a top terminal only. I don't think the Optima comes in a top terminal only.

If you move the results of the Optima 34/78 up into the 65 catagory, it comes out around 6 or 7. Which is about where's it's fallen in the past.

The 65 Duralast scores higher, and costs about 2/3. If I was buying a battery right now, it would be a Duralast.

Just thought it was interesting.

 

Just wondering what company makes the duralast? Exide or interstate seem to make most of the batteries. How do excide or interstate rank on their own merits?

 

The problem with the Consumer Reports testing is that they tend to only look at things like strength and lifespan. Those characteristics are very important, but my biggest pet peeve with batteries is certain brands that seem to be more prone to sweating acid out everywhere, which corrodes connections, cables, hold-downs, wiring and even destroys underhood paint if ignored long enough. I think the Optima is worth buying for that reason alone. It's too bad the Optima offers so few part numbers.

 

I changed out the battery in my 06 to prevent acid spillage and to get rid of the passenger side battery that is over the turbo. I used a single Odyssey PC1750T to replace them. The Odyssey can put out up to 1750 amps and has been working well, it cranks over the engine just as fast or faster than the originals. I've used Optimas in some of my other cars and trucks and they were good batteries, I used the Odyssey because the Optima did not have a battery with enough output.

 

When I replace the batteries next year, I had originally planned to buy Optima's, since I want a sealed battery. But recently I have noticed guys on here buying the Diehard Platinum sealed batteries from Sears since others have been having problems with Optima's. Both batteries are about the same price, but the thing I like about the Diehard Platinums is that they come with a 4 year free replacement warranty compared to Optima's 3 year. That's an important thing to take into account right there.

 

The Die Hard Platinums are made by Odyssey, just for less money and with a better warranty. I have had them in my truck for over a year now, and couldn't be happier with them. Not having to deal with corrosion on the terminals is definitely an added benefit.

 

I guess I lucked out as I've never experienced corrosion on the Mopar batteries on my '98.5 or my present truck. After four years I did replace the batteries on my '98.5 with an Optima with great results. It was a much stronger battery.

 

I use the optimas in my jeep for offroading. They are expensive so I didn't put them in the truck. Also I've found the optimas to have a lower CCA rating on average than a comparable battery.

Went with Delco's for the truck. I work on snow removal equipment and have seen many Delco's go 10years in a heavy truck. My boss had Delcos in his '98 GMC truck as OEM equipment and just changed them out this year.

This is my first set of Delcos so we'll see how they do. I noticed that they were also 100CCA higher in rating that the OEM mopars that came out.

Something to pay attention to when buying batteries. Make sure you are comparing CCA(cold cranking amps) to CCA and not CA(cranking amps). Some battey manufactures have started labeling their batteries with CA ratings which are at room temp and so higher than a CCA rating. Not really a fair comparison there.


Diehards would be my second choice as I used to work at a Sears so I got them for cheap and beat the crap out of them in my Jeep and still got about 6 years of life for it. Make sure to get the Gold line though. I stayed away from them this time as the Sears autocenters in Canada got taken over by Kal Tire. Shortly after the take over our Kal tire rep sold us some Diehards. My boss bought them on my recommendation. We had problems with all three batteries within 6 months. I looked pretty dumb. However they were Diehards bottom line battery not the Gold.

 

How long are most people's original batteries lasting? I've got an early '03 and thought that last winter would be it but they just keep on going.


Of course now that I said something I'll probably get stuck up in the mountains this winter.....

 

I've been wondering the same. I just moved back to a colder climate than SoCal and am considering replacing mine. So far, the coldest I've seen here this fall has been 36 and the truck cranked over speedy fast, so maybe they're just fine afterall.

 

The Sears Diehard Platinum is an Odyssey battery.

 

My vote is for Delco's. They don't make the Green Eye anymore to keep costs down, so I was told. I got 6 years out of the last set I bought for my previous truck. Warranty is equal to Sears. $130.00/ $89 if you know somebody.

They are sealed can't put water in them. No fumes to mess up terminals.

Dave

 

MY 99 HAS ORIGINAL BATTERIES W/ over 200,000 miles, what gives........

 

^^Maybe because its California? Its a bit colder up here and batteries are important.

I'm just starting my hunting season which can be very cold and no block heaters (generator is available if required but we don't usually go there). I'll let you know at the end of November. Original batteries and no sign of trouble yet.

Cya

 

Still running the original batteries, 7 years knock on wood. Still starting fine. I never had batteries last this long, average is about 3-4 years.

Watch, I'll go start the car this morning and they'll crap out.

MikeyB