Help me choose a battery
Help me choose a battery Battery from '09 finally took a dump, 5 years, no too bad, so I need to go get a new one and am looking for recommendations.
Car is a '98 trans am, garaged all the time, driven 1-2 times a month for maybe 20-50 miles each time. I always keep the battery on the maintainer. I'm in South Texas so temps get into the 100's during summer and maybe 20's in winter.
Should I go with something like a AC Delco replacement, auto parts store replacement, or something else?
Is it worth the cash to get a deep cycle, like an Optima Yellow since I don't driver the car often?
Car is a '98 trans am, garaged all the time, driven 1-2 times a month for maybe 20-50 miles each time. I always keep the battery on the maintainer. I'm in South Texas so temps get into the 100's during summer and maybe 20's in winter.
Should I go with something like a AC Delco replacement, auto parts store replacement, or something else?
Is it worth the cash to get a deep cycle, like an Optima Yellow since I don't driver the car often?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,557
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I use AC Delco Professional series (the more expensive version from AC Delco).
The current one in my '98 is at 5.5 years and still doing pretty well. I never leave it hooked to a tender, but I do hook it up to a smart charger once every ~4 weeks if I don't drive the car at all. Otherwise, my usage is similar to yours.
I wouldn't really trust any battery past 6-7 years at most, sometimes I replace them at 5. The AC Professionals have always lasted into this range for me, so I've stuck with them.
The current one in my '98 is at 5.5 years and still doing pretty well. I never leave it hooked to a tender, but I do hook it up to a smart charger once every ~4 weeks if I don't drive the car at all. Otherwise, my usage is similar to yours.
I wouldn't really trust any battery past 6-7 years at most, sometimes I replace them at 5. The AC Professionals have always lasted into this range for me, so I've stuck with them.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I use the Autozone Duralast Gold. From "online experts" it seems to provide good power and longevity. Plus, it is decently priced and has a great warranty.
On the flipside, Pep Boys occasionally has great online coupons for Optimas.
On the flipside, Pep Boys occasionally has great online coupons for Optimas.
Given that you are in a warm climate and don't drive it often, I'd recommend using a deep cycle battery, regardless of which brand you choose. It should perform better for your situation. You loose some CCA over a regular battery, but that should be of concern in TX.
no. get a regular 'starting' battery, I would not get a deep cycle because you are never going to use it as intended where you are running it down, so it would be a waste of money.
if you don't drive the car much and keep the battery on a good maintainer then i would just buy a cheapo battery from wherever.
my oem delco lasted 5-6 years and it failed because it started leaking through the side terminals... on my workbench over the winter sitting on a float charger. i replaced it with an optima red top and that is still 100%, no side posts on that so there's no way it can leak. that was the reason i chose the optima back then based on my experience, i didn't want another side post battery that was also flooded and could leak.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 6
From: Marengo, Ia
I use AC Delco Professional series (the more expensive version from AC Delco).
The current one in my '98 is at 5.5 years and still doing pretty well. I never leave it hooked to a tender, but I do hook it up to a smart charger once every ~4 weeks if I don't drive the car at all. Otherwise, my usage is similar to yours.
I wouldn't really trust any battery past 6-7 years at most, sometimes I replace them at 5. The AC Professionals have always lasted into this range for me, so I've stuck with them.
The current one in my '98 is at 5.5 years and still doing pretty well. I never leave it hooked to a tender, but I do hook it up to a smart charger once every ~4 weeks if I don't drive the car at all. Otherwise, my usage is similar to yours.
I wouldn't really trust any battery past 6-7 years at most, sometimes I replace them at 5. The AC Professionals have always lasted into this range for me, so I've stuck with them.
The majority of "private label" car batteries are made by Johnson Controls, Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Robert Bosch GmbH, Costco, NAPA, O’Reilly/CSK, Interstate Battery
System of America, Pep Boys, Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Wal-Mart stores, just pick one from a store you trust to stand behind it's warranty.
I may just go with an el cheapo for now, as 90 percent of it's life is going to be sitting on the maintainer. I can get two for the price of the optima. Unless someone can sway me otherwise.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
The higher level AC Delco version should be no worse than premium level batteries from any other retailer.
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12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
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From: Bucks County, Pa.
Powerful, will NEVER leak into the coolant reservoir, lasts a long time at full power, and made HERE in the USA with 100% virgin lead.
I went for the Sears DieHard Platinum, since it is the same exact thing as the Odyssey (specs, case, sizes, etc.), just in a different color case, with Die Hard stickers instead of the EnerSys/Odyssey stickers, for A LOT less $$$$.
Sadly, Sears is getting out of these (I guess they did not sell too well for them), so next time (hopefully in 10+ years with the weekly charging I do with the Odyssey specific charger) I buy one it will have to be from Odyssey.
Same here.
Powerful, will NEVER leak into the coolant reservoir, lasts a long time at full power, and made HERE in the USA with 100% virgin lead.
I went for the Sears DieHard Platinum, since it is the same exact thing as the Odyssey (specs, case, sizes, etc.), just in a different color case, with Die Hard stickers instead of the EnerSys/Odyssey stickers, for A LOT less $$$$.
Sadly, Sears is getting out of these (I guess they did not sell too well for them), so next time (hopefully in 10+ years with the weekly charging I do with the Odyssey specific charger) I buy one it will have to be from Odyssey.
Powerful, will NEVER leak into the coolant reservoir, lasts a long time at full power, and made HERE in the USA with 100% virgin lead.
I went for the Sears DieHard Platinum, since it is the same exact thing as the Odyssey (specs, case, sizes, etc.), just in a different color case, with Die Hard stickers instead of the EnerSys/Odyssey stickers, for A LOT less $$$$.
Sadly, Sears is getting out of these (I guess they did not sell too well for them), so next time (hopefully in 10+ years with the weekly charging I do with the Odyssey specific charger) I buy one it will have to be from Odyssey.
And I looked for the Die Hard Platinum. They don't make it anymore. I looked back in May of this year.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Is it a 6 speed ? If so forget about a battery . It adds weight . Just park on a hill every time haha . Pop the clutch and you're good to go .
Only joking . Seriously though would that be good or bad for the car over time ? Push starting it ?
Only joking . Seriously though would that be good or bad for the car over time ? Push starting it ?
What about the lithium batteries? Nobody has chimed in on this thread I've been watching but I am also curious...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...batteries.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...batteries.html
I am always happy with my ACDelco replacements (in all my vehicles). Aside from their reliability and life span, they fit perfectly in our crappy battery trays.
BTW, the Professional line of ACDelco is also referred to as Gold in some applications.
BTW, the Professional line of ACDelco is also referred to as Gold in some applications.
12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, Pa.
What about the lithium batteries? Nobody has chimed in on this thread I've been watching but I am also curious...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...batteries.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...batteries.html
I do NOT trust the small, racing versions of ANY battery, since this car is a daily driver, and must start the car even if it has been sitting out overnight in 0*F temps in the winter.
12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, Pa.
The 25 amp is all you need to charge, de-sulfate, and maintain/'float' charge the car Odysseys.