redrockvette

Just found mine leaking. Looks like I caught it just in time. Just a little acid in tray. I will investigate down below tomorrow. Baking powder sizzled quite a bit when cleaning tray out. So much for Optima's being leak proof. Mine was 2.5 years old.

csexton

Glad you caught it in time

Chuck

rws.1

No container holding liquids is leakproof.

Ryan L

Time for an Exide (Napa) Orbital battery.

Vetteman Jack

Close call - sure glad you checked it when you did.

motogib1

Good tip, I gonna look into getting one of those absorption mats. I think there is one in the mid america catalog.

RedWolf

I thought Optimas were made with a gel that would not leak. That was the whole idea of getting one. Did I miss something here?

02MillenniumVette

Toque

I thought the same because I was planning to upgrade.....
I'm curious to know if anyone knows..

Toque

10U 99

the material data safety sheet indicates it contains sulfuric acid, aka battery electrolyte

http://www.optimabatteries.com/_medi...yDataSheet.pdf


did no one bother to research this before?

Aprilia1

What part of the battery is leaking? Was it down at the mounting lugs? Thanks...

A1

fireman591

The Optimas are overrated.
In fact the OP in optima stands for over-priced

DeeGee

Now thats an unusual ocurrance; in fact its so rare I can only think of one other in my time here. That was a crack at the base where the battery had been clamped down too tight. As you say thats the big plus for the AGM batteries as the acid is contained by the absorbent glass mat.

Any pics of the damage? Where's the leak, at the terminal or the base.

Just goes to prove that nothing is ever a certainty in life.

DeeGee

Here's the relevant info:

The so-called Dual Purpose Battery is a compromise between the 2 types of batteries. A Gel or Gelled Acid battery is just a “non spill” version of the normal Sulphuric Acid battery. Silica Gel crystals are added or dissolved into the Acid to form a paste or Gel to stop the Acid being a liquid. There are Starter, and Deep cycle Gelled Acid batteries. These are gradually being superseded by AGM batteries. AGM batteries still use Acid, but in this case it can’t spill because it is Absorbed (A) into Glass (G) Mat (M). These offer more cycles, greater performance whether Deep cycle or Starter types. So this is a superior technology to Gelled Acid

I guess we need to caveat "can't splll"

Riley P

On Optima's site, they call their batteries "Leak-Proof". I think that may be because it is a sealed battery and won't leak in any position you mount it in, not because if it cracks it won't leak. A gel battery will not leak out the electrolyte, even if split in half (obviously because they gel the electrolyte), and I did not find anywhere on optima's site calling their battery a gel battery. In fact, I think they compared themselves to a gel battery and stated that they did not do this because of the increase in resistance added by the gelling compound.

94-vette

Red/yellow tops are junk!! No way am I gonna spend that kinda bread on a battery.Every person I've talked to say within a yr of having one they had problems. Interstate will be my next battery.

ljthe2nd

Well you haven't talked to me. I'm happy with mine. This subject comes up about once a month, and the haters are pretty vocal, but there have been polls taken on this forum and there are many more people that are happy with there Optima's than not. I for one am very pleased. I bought my car new, The Delco battery that came in it died in 9 months. I've had a Red Top for 4 years with no problems. But in the winter when the car is not being used I have it on a Battery Tender. I will say that Optima batteries do not hold up well if you go long periods without starting the car or putting it on a battery charger of some sort. That is where most people have problems with the Optima batteries. If you let them completely discharge by setting there is a possibility that it will not take a charge. That being said it's easy to maintain. Buy a float charger if you are going to let you car sit for more that about 6 or 8 weeks at a time without being started and you wont have any problems. The Battery Tender comes with a little harness that you permanently mount to the battery and you can run it up to the cowl where you don't even need to open the hood to hook it up. Just unplug and you're ready to go. When you're done just plug it back in. And the chance of the Optima leaking and dripping down to damage the computer are extremely slim compared to a regular battery. When this one eventually fails I'll buy another Red Top.

02MillenniumVette

You havent talked to me either. Ive had mine for 5 years with no problems.

BostonJoel

Yellow top in the Corvette---8 years and still going strong----kept on a float charger when not in use.
I have Interstate in the MB--- 3+ years---- and it works just fine.

FrankTank

I've known too many people on this forum, and actually have 4 friends of mine (2 with vettes and 2 with other cars) that had Optima batteries and they ALL had problems. They are JUNK, especially for what you pay. All 4 of these people at one time or another would let the car sit 2 weeks(in the summer), and each time the Optima would require a jump and re-charge..and in 1 case, the battery would not even take recharge.

I'd buy another Delco Glassmatt (my stock battery lasted almost 7 years) before I'd buy any Optima. Yes I am an Optima Hater

JMO