Howdy;

Hey, you guys'n gals w/ Optima red top batteries...how well do they hold up in the below freezing temperatures? I'm seriously considering pickin' one of those puppies up for my next battery! I need something that'll hold up in the cold winter afternoons and early mornings! Thanks a trillion!

-kuso <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I just bought mine at the beginning of august.. so far ive only killed it once by leaving the lights on for 8 hours... no problems so far...

I like mine. I especially like the ability to take them back and get new ones, no questions asked, when I kill them.

I've had a couple yellow top deep cycles and in the past, I drained to nothing so often that I'd kill one about once a year. Take it back to the store and after they confirm it's bad, they give me a new one free of charge. I think they have free replacement warrenty for 1 or 3 years. Can't remember.

Of my red tops that I use in two of my cars, never had a single problem.

But I don't have a lot of experience in extreme cold weather. I can tell you they hold a charge under normal conditions for an extremely long time.

I've got an optima red. Had it for two winters. No problems in Wisconsin starting in -20F weather. We haven't had really cold weather for a while, so I can't comment on -30 or colder.

Muffin Man
Madison, WI

I can't comment on cold weather since it doesn't get too cold here. However, the red top in my '86 truck is over 11 years old and still going. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I've had my red top in my truck for about 3 years (after sitting for more than a year not being used, long story).
I know Boston doesn't get as cold as where you are, but I've had no problems.

Just put one in my sentra after I killed it's battery by leaving the DOME light on for 5 hours - jeesh.
The starter spins like a top now. I know I won't have problems starting in the winter with it.

Main thing is the CCA on the batteries. The more you have, the easier it will be to start your vehicle.

Well, then that settles it! Gonna get me a nice red top here before too long! Thank you for the replies and the tip on the CCA! I was lookin' at an 800CCA, so that'll be sweet!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> The warranty sounds good too! Thanks again!

-kuso <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Just to throw my .02 cents in here...

Had my red-top in 4 different vehicles in the past 4 years.

Each car (except my runner now) has had a bad alternator. Two of those cars had a bad voltage regulator.

3 of those cars I didn't kknow it had a bad alternator for about a week when stuff started acting *wierd*

Been over-charger BIG TIME twice now.
Im talking like 20+ volts at least.

Same battery, many problems with the cars.

It's still puttin' out 12.59 volts (fully charged is 12.6)
And puttin out about 1000 Cranking amps at 70ish degrees.

Greatest battery ever IMO.
Convinced my entire family to convert, as well as my last *lady-friend*

I'm sold on them.
Hope you are too!

-Dano-

I've also been looking at getting an optima red top here pretty soon. This may seem stupid, but whats the difference between the 34 & 34R vs. the 75/25 vs. the 34/78 & 25? They all seem to have pretty close to the same specs, and I'm having a hard time distinguishing much difference between the different models. Is there a particular one you recommend, or are they all basically the same?

The differences between those is where the pos. and neg. terminals are located. That's called the "group size". Match up the one that goes with your truck and you're good to go.
Other sizes may fit, but not as well.
If it's the 34 or 34R, just make sure you get the right one. The 34R has the pos. and neg. terminals Reversed of the 34.
Todd