Optima VS Interstate VS Etc...
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 703
From: Mississippi
Optima VS Interstate VS Etc... Its time for me to buy a new battery for my truck/tow piggy.
Quick facts...
~1997 Chevy Silverado 3/4 ton 454 Vortec.
~not a daily driver.
~Polk audio door speakers (4) and a single din bluetooth Cd player by pioneer.
~ I live in Mississippi... we do see cold weather here just no snow really. It sometimes get below 20 degrees here.
~ I'm willing to spend a liitle more for a better battery. Must be RELIABLE.
~ factory battery calls for a group 78 battery.
I want to do it right and not be buying another battery next year.
What brand you guys recommend/like ?
If Optima.... red top or yellow top or blue top?
Thanks in Advance
Quick facts...
~1997 Chevy Silverado 3/4 ton 454 Vortec.
~not a daily driver.
~Polk audio door speakers (4) and a single din bluetooth Cd player by pioneer.
~ I live in Mississippi... we do see cold weather here just no snow really. It sometimes get below 20 degrees here.
~ I'm willing to spend a liitle more for a better battery. Must be RELIABLE.
~ factory battery calls for a group 78 battery.
I want to do it right and not be buying another battery next year.
What brand you guys recommend/like ?
If Optima.... red top or yellow top or blue top?
Thanks in Advance
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 751
Likes: 322
I've bought so many different batteries over the years. I tend to buy based on what my goal is.
Napa Legend - I buy these for my daily driver's.
Napa Legend Premium - I buy these for my wreckers.
Napa Commercial Deep Cell - I buy these for my flat beds tow trucks
Optima Red Top - I buy these for my fork lifts
Optima Blue Top - I buy these for my car audio system
Optima Yellow Top - never used one
Autoparts International - These are cheap - last 2-5 years - I tend to put these into anything that I don't plan on hanging onto.
Interstate batteries - I use to buy these, but I stopped 7 years ago cause I found cheaper batteries
Duracell - junk
Exide - Not bad, I put them in my cargo vans
For a 97 pick-up with a 454 - I'd buy a Optima Red Top or Napa Legend
Napa Legend - I buy these for my daily driver's.
Napa Legend Premium - I buy these for my wreckers.
Napa Commercial Deep Cell - I buy these for my flat beds tow trucks
Optima Red Top - I buy these for my fork lifts
Optima Blue Top - I buy these for my car audio system
Optima Yellow Top - never used one
Autoparts International - These are cheap - last 2-5 years - I tend to put these into anything that I don't plan on hanging onto.
Interstate batteries - I use to buy these, but I stopped 7 years ago cause I found cheaper batteries
Duracell - junk
Exide - Not bad, I put them in my cargo vans
For a 97 pick-up with a 454 - I'd buy a Optima Red Top or Napa Legend
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 102
Likes: 3
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 703
From: Mississippi
Optima red top guy here. They are very reliable when daily driven but become a bit finicky if drained. Usually last 5-7 years daily driven in my experience. I plan to go with a yellow top next time as it can withstand/recover from deep discharges as opposed to the red top that degrades after a deep discharge. Even if a red top does recover from a deep discharge, it's never the same and prone to discharge quicker. I am only speaking from my own experiences.
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 103
Likes: 18
I used to pull optima batteries out of Johnson Controls in St Joseph Missouri when they first bough out optima. "Internet lore" says they are no good now (built in Mexico, blah blah blah) but I recently put one in my formula and have had no issues with it. But I'll freely admit they aren't worth the money. For a "fairly regularly driven" vehicle, I'd just go with a good interstate branded battery, which is exactly what I put in my '97 5.7 gmt400. Unless you're playing your stereo for long periods with the vehicle not running, I wouldn't even use having a "system" as a criteria for battery selection, as the alternator is responsible for that.
I used to work at AutoZone and changed quite a few batteries. did a lot of interstates that ranged from 3 to 4 years or less, same with everstart, lots of interstates actually but may just be the go to battery, did a few duralast reds that I think averaged 4 to 5, and very very few duralast golds but those are minimum 125 bucks so can be a tough sell. but I did change 1 duralast gold that made it 8 years I think it was. I personally had an interstate fail around 1.5 years.
one thing to keep in mind for Costco members, they sell interstates pretty cheap so if ur a Costco member may be worth looking into. I think my size was 78 bucks and it was for a 6 cyl Taurus.
one thing to keep in mind for Costco members, they sell interstates pretty cheap so if ur a Costco member may be worth looking into. I think my size was 78 bucks and it was for a 6 cyl Taurus.
I think one of the issues with Optima is that some people don't realize that you don't use a conventional charger with an AGM battery. You need a charger with an AGM setting.
Tusky, we run a small independent repair shop. We stock Interstate and AC Delco...I sell a lot more AC's than Interstates. I had an AC Delco "Gold" series batt last twelve years in my DD. It was -21 degrees below zero here two mornings ago. Goes from that cold this time of year to over 100 occasionally in the summers. WE have very good luck with the AC's. Although it's rarely needed, excellent warranty also.
EDIT: That 12 year old batt was a group 78.
EDIT: That 12 year old batt was a group 78.
