The Ford Barn

Bruce Adams · 10-17-2016, 10:23 PM

Hi,
I purchased a 6 Volt Red Topped Optima Battery about ten years ago and it has performed perfectly on my frequently driven Cabriolet.
I am considering purchasing a new one to just replace the seasoned one as "Preventive Maintenance" so I am not out one night with a dead battery.
What kind of longevity do they have?
Thanks.

RUNNERBUN · 10-17-2016, 10:50 PM

If it aint broke, don't fix it. You will find comments here on the Barn that Optima Batteries are still going after 15 years.
You might as well get your monies worth.

Mike V. Florida · 10-17-2016, 10:55 PM

I have also read here that the new ones don't don't last nearly as long.

SeaSlugs · 10-17-2016, 10:57 PM

ya leave it alone. I'm not sure how an optima dies but standard batteries you can tell by the speed it cranks.

dont forget that while the battery may not have enough oomph to turn the engine, if you hand crank or hill start it should still have enough juice to fire the coil for miles.

C26Pinelake · 10-17-2016, 11:36 PM

Buy an AAA membership if you are concerned. Wayne

ronn · 10-18-2016, 05:08 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

on the recent ones- I have one good and one died after 5 years..............

keep your battery till the end. the new ones are hit and miss.

C26Pinelake · 10-18-2016, 05:31 AM

I also recently had one last a little less than five years. It was made in Mexico and not United States. I replaced it with a regular battery". I would never buy another Optima. Wayne

Kurt in NJ · 10-18-2016, 06:14 AM

Aty 15 years my Optima wasn't as strong as it had been, at 16 years one day --nothing, There is another Optime, a 12V one I found in a junk car, it must have sat dead for 4-5 years, it charged up slow, seemed like it was weak, but one day a friend needed a battery so I gave it to him---that was 8 years ago, still in use

Bruce Adams · 10-19-2016, 08:30 AM

Thanks Guys !

handlebar99 · 10-19-2016, 12:38 PM

Not to worry. That's why old Henry supplied a crank.

Ray Rice, still cranky, in Rifton

10-17-2016, 10:23 PM	#1
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Optima Battery Longevity Hi, I purchased a 6 Volt Red Topped Optima Battery about ten years ago and it has performed perfectly on my frequently driven Cabriolet. I am considering purchasing a new one to just replace the seasoned one as "Preventive Maintenance" so I am not out one night with a dead battery. What kind of longevity do they have? Thanks.

10-17-2016, 10:50 PM	#2
RUNNERBUN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 640	Re: Optima Battery Longevity If it aint broke, don't fix it. You will find comments here on the Barn that Optima Batteries are still going after 15 years. You might as well get your monies worth. __________________ Adjust your points with gentle blows of a 2 pound hammer

10-17-2016, 10:55 PM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Optima Battery Longevity I have also read here that the new ones don't don't last nearly as long. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-17-2016, 10:57 PM	#4
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Optima Battery Longevity ya leave it alone. I'm not sure how an optima dies but standard batteries you can tell by the speed it cranks. dont forget that while the battery may not have enough oomph to turn the engine, if you hand crank or hill start it should still have enough juice to fire the coil for miles. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

10-17-2016, 11:36 PM	#5
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Optima Battery Longevity Buy an AAA membership if you are concerned. Wayne

10-18-2016, 05:08 AM	#6
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,782	Re: Optima Battery Longevity Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) on the recent ones- I have one good and one died after 5 years.............. keep your battery till the end. the new ones are hit and miss.

10-18-2016, 05:31 AM	#7
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Optima Battery Longevity I also recently had one last a little less than five years. It was made in Mexico and not United States. I replaced it with a regular battery". I would never buy another Optima. Wayne Last edited by C26Pinelake; 10-18-2016 at 09:45 AM.

10-18-2016, 06:14 AM	#8
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Optima Battery Longevity Aty 15 years my Optima wasn't as strong as it had been, at 16 years one day --nothing, There is another Optime, a 12V one I found in a junk car, it must have sat dead for 4-5 years, it charged up slow, seemed like it was weak, but one day a friend needed a battery so I gave it to him---that was 8 years ago, still in use

10-19-2016, 08:30 AM	#9
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Optima Battery Longevity Thanks Guys !

10-19-2016, 12:38 PM	#10
handlebar99 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 20	Re: Optima Battery Longevity Not to worry. That's why old Henry supplied a crank. Ray Rice, still cranky, in Rifton