Optima RedTop Batteries

[Chatham036]

I want everyone who owns a powerstroke to know how pivotal it is that you do not put optima reds in your truck. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE! Here is why...

5 months ago I purchased two optima reds from advance auto parts for cost of around $205 a piece before taxes. as of these last couple weeks these batteries have now drained and are basically shot. before cranking while truck is in "on" position my voltage is ~11.5v and dropping every day. by now this had damaged my FICM which as we all know is $550 to have repaired or $700 for the BPD option.

Now I have to go argue with the manager at Advance where i purchased the optimas to attempt to get him to refund my money to put towards a set of batteries that are worth a darn. Which we all know they probably will only exchange them for another set of optima reds. just to continue this bulls*** cycle and deal with all of it again in another 5 months.

cost write up:
Optima Redtops - $434.50
New BPD FICM - $720
New batteries that work - $464.30 (Die hard platinums $209 @ sears)
Total = $1618.80
That is $1154.50 more than need if the proper batteries were bought the first time.

One can only hope Optima goes out of business so no one else has to deal with this.

[Lowdown89]

I absolutely despise Optimas now days, I bought them 6-7 years ago and had good luck with them but not anymore! I have 2 red tops in my truck right now and my truck started easier with the 2 year old interstates I had in it! I bought them because I got a smokin deal on them from some coupons and gift cards I had for advance and 1 of my interstates had some damage to it... Well I will continue to kick myself in the arse for getting rid of the interstates! They might work ok in some cars but in our trucks they SUCK!

[94slowbra]

Dont run them in my truck but i love them in my street/race cars. After they sit for 2 months the fire right up. Could something else be wrong?

[Chatham036]

Low FICM Voltage

that explains the gist of trouble shooting the issue

[mts678]

I'm not positive, but aren't diesels supposed to use the yellow tops?


Sent from iPhone

[Lowdown89]

Originally Posted by 94slowbra

Dont run them in my truck but i love them in my street/race cars. After they sit for 2 months the fire right up. Could something else be wrong?

There has been quite a few threads on here and other diesel forums about them not working good on our trucks..... I use to run them in a lot of my rides due to either the battery being relocated,big stereos,etc but here lately the quality has seriously went into the crapped

[Chatham036]

Originally Posted by mts678

I'm not positive, but aren't diesels supposed to use the yellow tops?


Sent from iPhone

No. The yellow tops do not have the CCAs that the Red tops have.

if my memory serves me correctly, the yellow tops are 720 CCA and the reds are 850 CCA

[mts678]

Ah I see. I really like the redtops in my Volkswagens (1966 and my dads 1967)


Sent from iPhone

[rr06psd]

Sorry to here the bad luck! I have had the die hard platinum for about 6 months now so far so good. I also installed a 12 volt battery minder to desulfate batteries while truck is running. I also added more insulation to both batteries.

Sent from my DROID Pro using AutoGuide.Com Free App

[ZMANN]

Originally Posted by Chatham036

No. The yellow tops do not have the CCAs that the Red tops have.

if my memory serves me correctly, the yellow tops are 720 CCA and the reds are 850 CCA

either red or yellow are recommended

Optima Battery FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Optima Battery Selector - Car Battery Selector by Optima

but anymore they suck ,, I still have two old blues in a boat that have been fine for 6 years my last yellow went to hell in 2 years