Batteries: Optima vs Odyssey

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I need a new 12v battery for one of my buses. From what I've read on the interwebs, the quality of the Optima batteries took a serious hit when Interstate acquired them and moved production to Mexico. That being said, is the Odyssey battery really worth the $100+ premium over the Optima?

Odyssey Batteries 34R-PC1500-A Group 34 Automotive/Light Truck Battery : Amazon.com : Automotive

Optima 8002-002-FFP RedTop Group 34 Starting Battery : Amazon.com : Automotive

I am not open to using an old-fashioned lead-acid battery for this application. This is just for basic operation - no stereos, winches, or anything fancy like that. I'm using an AGM battery so I don't have to worry about rust.

aschen · 01-10-2014, 12:55 PM

anecdotal but I had and optima battery that went bad in less than a year, as A result I got a replacement at a discount, it failed in a few months as well. I replaced it with a cheapo that lasted at least the 3 more years I had the car. This was under the hot underhood temps of my subaru STi. FWIW

I have used a small odyssey batteries (pc 680) to good effect but nothing as large as the one you show. I think Optima searches the web often so they will probably chime in directly soon!

Laneco · 01-10-2014, 01:06 PM

We have an Odyssey in the spyder and I can't say enough good about this battery. I think we've had it in the car about ten years now and it is still STRONG. We don't have it on a "battery tender" or anything. If the car has been sitting a few months (say six or less) we just go start it up. Longer than that, and we'll top off the charge then fire it up.

In less than that, we've gone through 3 optimas in another car... Fortunately each has been under warranty (or at least partial warranty) and the dealer has stood behind their product, but that is still a little disconcerting to me.

anglea

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Westco is another option for AGM, popular with the Miata guys, because they are cheaper.

Miata has reversed terminals, just like a 914. Miata sized battery should have plenty of amps to start an old bus, might be a bit of a trick to secure it well though.

faverymi · 01-10-2014, 01:49 PM

Duralast platinum agm.

With a 3 year warranty and the store around the corner is priceless.

I think it was 160 ish.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I had a PC680 in my 911 and it worked great. This is what happens when you put it on the charger and then wander off for a few hours...

willtel · 01-10-2014, 02:05 PM

I'd take the Odyssey any day of the week. The new Optimas are needy junk IMO.

Nostril Cheese · 01-10-2014, 02:16 PM

Another vote for Westco here.

Its a shame that the Optimas arent that good anymore. I bought one 12 years ago. Thing still works.

rcooled · 01-10-2014, 03:42 PM

I have Odyssey dry-cell batteries in my old VWs. These cars aren't driven very often but the batteries are always ready to go, even though they're not on tenders. No leaks or fumes with the dry-cell either.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I think you have to use a special charger for the AGM batteries

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

I think you have to use a special charger for the AGM batteries

My charger has an AGM setting

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Bummer

It does not look like it leaked though, so lucky you came back in time I guess

J P Stein · 01-10-2014, 07:15 PM

I had a wire splice (D+) fail and put 17.4 V into an Optima a few years back.
Lemme tell ya, the Optima will boil green shyte all over hell & gone.

Never had any problems with the my PC680 Odyssey.....but never tried it with 17.4V.....fool me once. I think the PC680 may be too light duty for a street car.
Just bought another make dry cell (Powermaster)with about twice the power but is almost twice the weight.

I'll never again buy a lead acid battery......cept for the wife's rig..... just to watch the green fuzzies grow on it.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

I got three blown Red top optimas in 6 years.

You do the math.

masraum · 01-10-2014, 07:32 PM

Westco seems to be a good quality product. I've had two in the past, but the last miata battery that I bought was at O'Reilly. I think O'Reilly has them and the part number is something like bat-miata. I think many of the larger auto parts places carry them these days.

T77911S · 01-13-2014, 03:43 AM

its the charging voltages. different batteries require different voltages. also deep cycle batteries really arent the best choice for autos.
they are designed to be drained then charged, over and over.
i have always been a fan of interstate. i had one that got a hole in one of the cells. all the acid drained out. i used tha battery for another 8 months until i left the lights on.

Danimal16 · 01-13-2014, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T77911S

its the charging voltages. different batteries require different voltages. also deep cycle batteries really arent the best choice for autos.
they are designed to be drained then charged, over and over.
i have always been a fan of interstate. i had one that got a hole in one of the cells. all the acid drained out. i used tha battery for another 8 months until i left the lights on.

ODYSSEY Batteries - Chargers

The above is a link to the proper odyssey charger. I have one of these and the batteries function perfectly. Using a Schlumberger AMG charger cooked the first odyssey I had. The key to long life on these batteries, is indeed, the proper charger with the proper charging cycle.