Box Rocket
Well-known member
I've been running a red top for several years now both in my old Tacoma and in my FZJ80. I keep hearing about the drop in Quality Control from Optima but I've never had an issue and they have always worked for me.
Optima Red Top or Sears DuraLast Platinum?
- Thread starter Martinjmpr
- Start date
ROKTAXI
Adventurer
I still have my Optima battery I bought back in Jan. 2007!! It's in a '91 Dodge 1 ton van. Battery has been seriously discharged a few times to the point that it had to be recharged with an "industrial" charger. When they did, the battery was so hot you couldn't touch it! Thought for sure it would have shortened its life. And 10 years later it's still going like the Energizer bunny!!
RubiconGeoff
Adventurer
I've bought a lot of different batteries over the years as I've built many vehicles. My best experiences have been with Odyssey (Sears Platinum) and various store brands of Deka Intimidators - never had one failure in these batteries even after numerous abusive deep-cycling. I've had some pretty bad experiences with multiples of Optima (red, yellow, and blue tops) and Exide Orbital batteries self-discharging and completely failing with nothing but use as a starting battery. Anecdotal evidence for sure, but I know which brands I will and will not be spending future money on.
SilicaRich
Wandering Inverted
Problem is that Johnson Controls just bought Odyssey, same people that ruined Optima. I currently run Optima, however, it wasn't my choice and you can't beat a "free" battery. I've done reading, and have heard good things from Interstate and Deka. Otherwise, I'm at a loss for batteries now
RubiconGeoff
Adventurer
Oh, no!!!
I hope that when my Sears Odyssey finally wears out, Deka won't be bought out too. I have no experience with Interstate's new line of premium AGMs, but time will tell if they're a good battery.
4x4junkie
Explorer
Interstate's batteries are almost entirely (if not entirely) made by Johnson Controls. Just FYI.
×-however many on Deka (East Penn). I've used their batteries for decades with great results. I too hope they can remain around... Seems JC has been crowding them out of much of the retail market I suspect by undercutting them on contracts for big retailers (Carquest is the latest one I've run into who's batteries have just been switched away from East Penn over to JC
). Between the two batteries mentioned by the OP, I'd definitely take the Sears for sure (which should be DieHard, Duralast is Autozone's brand). I recently bought a pair of Deka Marine Masters... For my dual-battery application, these should work just as good as anything else, and are much less $$$. Previously I had been using the Delco Voyager (also was East Penn), but big evil JC got in there and ruined those some years ago too much like they did Optima (I still have one of those Voyagers I bought in 2004. Still going to this day).
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SilicaRich
Wandering Inverted
Lol, ignore my previous statement:xxrotflma
texascrane
Adventurer
You have no idea what you're talking about. Interstate is a privately owned company. Johnson controls does not own them.
toddz69
Explorer
I find a ton of articles online from early October that state Johnson Controls and Enersys were in talks for a purchase but nothing that states the sale went through or has been completed. Do you know for certain that it has?
Thanks,
Todd Z.
chet6.7
Explorer
texascrane
Adventurer
It generally seems to be correct (although there are a few statements that probably deserve further clarification). Johnson controls does manufacture batteries for Interstate. That's quite a bit different than claiming Johnson controls owns Interstate.
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4x4junkie
Explorer
Ok, so rather than be an аss about it, how about a friendly correction? (this was info given to me by more than one automotive parts supplier). Regardless, I've yet to see an Interstate automotive battery that didn't have tell-tale indicators that it was manufactured by Johnson Controls. If one exists that's made by East Penn, about a link?
rayra
Expedition Leader
There's only a few manufacturers of batteries. Most 'store' brands are just rebadged, so do some digging to see whose product it really is before you buy.
And I wouldn't be too eager to buy the Sears premium batteries, it looks like Sears will be out of business before those batteries' warranty expires.
And I wouldn't be too eager to buy the Sears premium batteries, it looks like Sears will be out of business before those batteries' warranty expires.