Batteries
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,545
Likes: 1,156
From: San Jose, CA
Nobody "needs": anything better in these old trucks. But if you can, then I say why not!
There are plenty of AGM's out there now that look like normal batteries. Even more normal than the Odyssey batteries. Which look like little miniature nuclear power generating stations and act like them too!
I've got an Odyssey in one Bronco, had an Optima in the other, and have a monster fancy looking AGM (can't remember the name off-hand) purchased from Batteries & Bulbs (Batteries & More?) 'cause it was big!
As far as I know, for myself the only CON of an AGM (absorbed glass mat) is the price. But with even crappy batteries these days being triple what they used to be, paying $200 for a battery that will give all the other PRO's is worth it to me.
I just sold an old Buick that I put my old Optima Red Top in that, at 9-years old was still cranking away. But sold the car cheap, so they got the old battery and I kept the new AGM ("Intimidator" I think?) for my car.
The pros are no more liquid to spill out for one.
Good performance in small packages.
Sometimes (most of the time in my experience) much longer lifespan than regular batteries. I've had five Optimas over the years, and not one has lasted less than 7 years, with the champion having gone 11 years before I retired it. NEVER had a regular battery do that. Ever...
Deep-Cycle similarities. What they call a standard "starting battery" can take more deep cycling than any regular battery I've ever had, and then they have their version of a deep-cycle battery that is theoretically even more robust.
The only AGM's I ever killed were my fault. I stupidly let two brand new Optima Blue Top (starting style) marine batteries sit without a tender on them. I think I charged them once in 7 or 8 years they sat in my garage. Stupid waste of $200 bucks!
Only $200 because only one actually died. The second one came back and now gets some more love than it used to and more frequently.
Thirty years ago I was on a long trip and had an overcharge situation with a really good, but regular battery. Got to the middle of nowhere and found battery acid blown all over my nice engine compartment. Pissed is a good way to describe my reaction.
But my second reaction was to buy an Optima and never look back.
Even at the extra cost, the extra long life mitigates, or eliminates completely, that as a negative.
Did I mention that with the way they're constructed they don't blow acid? They physically can I guess, under the right/wrong circumstances. But it's a rare day that that's going to happen I'm thinking. And nobody I've ever known has had that issue.
Paul
There are plenty of AGM's out there now that look like normal batteries. Even more normal than the Odyssey batteries. Which look like little miniature nuclear power generating stations and act like them too!
I've got an Odyssey in one Bronco, had an Optima in the other, and have a monster fancy looking AGM (can't remember the name off-hand) purchased from Batteries & Bulbs (Batteries & More?) 'cause it was big!
As far as I know, for myself the only CON of an AGM (absorbed glass mat) is the price. But with even crappy batteries these days being triple what they used to be, paying $200 for a battery that will give all the other PRO's is worth it to me.
I just sold an old Buick that I put my old Optima Red Top in that, at 9-years old was still cranking away. But sold the car cheap, so they got the old battery and I kept the new AGM ("Intimidator" I think?) for my car.
The pros are no more liquid to spill out for one.
Good performance in small packages.
Sometimes (most of the time in my experience) much longer lifespan than regular batteries. I've had five Optimas over the years, and not one has lasted less than 7 years, with the champion having gone 11 years before I retired it. NEVER had a regular battery do that. Ever...
Deep-Cycle similarities. What they call a standard "starting battery" can take more deep cycling than any regular battery I've ever had, and then they have their version of a deep-cycle battery that is theoretically even more robust.
The only AGM's I ever killed were my fault. I stupidly let two brand new Optima Blue Top (starting style) marine batteries sit without a tender on them. I think I charged them once in 7 or 8 years they sat in my garage. Stupid waste of $200 bucks!
Only $200 because only one actually died. The second one came back and now gets some more love than it used to and more frequently.
Thirty years ago I was on a long trip and had an overcharge situation with a really good, but regular battery. Got to the middle of nowhere and found battery acid blown all over my nice engine compartment. Pissed is a good way to describe my reaction.
But my second reaction was to buy an Optima and never look back.
Even at the extra cost, the extra long life mitigates, or eliminates completely, that as a negative.
Did I mention that with the way they're constructed they don't blow acid? They physically can I guess, under the right/wrong circumstances. But it's a rare day that that's going to happen I'm thinking. And nobody I've ever known has had that issue.
Paul
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 344
Likes: 7
Nobody "needs": anything better in these old trucks. But if you can, then I say why not!
There are plenty of AGM's out there now that look like normal batteries. Even more normal than the Odyssey batteries. Which look like little miniature nuclear power generating stations and act like them too!
I've got an Odyssey in one Bronco, had an Optima in the other, and have a monster fancy looking AGM (can't remember the name off-hand) purchased from Batteries & Bulbs (Batteries & More?) 'cause it was big!
As far as I know, for myself the only CON of an AGM (absorbed glass mat) is the price. But with even crappy batteries these days being triple what they used to be, paying $200 for a battery that will give all the other PRO's is worth it to me.
I just sold an old Buick that I put my old Optima Red Top in that, at 9-years old was still cranking away. But sold the car cheap, so they got the old battery and I kept the new AGM ("Intimidator" I think?) for my car.
The pros are no more liquid to spill out for one.
Good performance in small packages.
Sometimes (most of the time in my experience) much longer lifespan than regular batteries. I've had five Optimas over the years, and not one has lasted less than 7 years, with the champion having gone 11 years before I retired it. NEVER had a regular battery do that. Ever...
Deep-Cycle similarities. What they call a standard "starting battery" can take more deep cycling than any regular battery I've ever had, and then they have their version of a deep-cycle battery that is theoretically even more robust.
The only AGM's I ever killed were my fault. I stupidly let two brand new Optima Blue Top (starting style) marine batteries sit without a tender on them. I think I charged them once in 7 or 8 years they sat in my garage. Stupid waste of $200 bucks!
Only $200 because only one actually died. The second one came back and now gets some more love than it used to and more frequently.
Thirty years ago I was on a long trip and had an overcharge situation with a really good, but regular battery. Got to the middle of nowhere and found battery acid blown all over my nice engine compartment. Pissed is a good way to describe my reaction.
But my second reaction was to buy an Optima and never look back.
Even at the extra cost, the extra long life mitigates, or eliminates completely, that as a negative.
Did I mention that with the way they're constructed they don't blow acid? They physically can I guess, under the right/wrong circumstances. But it's a rare day that that's going to happen I'm thinking. And nobody I've ever known has had that issue.
Paul
There are plenty of AGM's out there now that look like normal batteries. Even more normal than the Odyssey batteries. Which look like little miniature nuclear power generating stations and act like them too!
I've got an Odyssey in one Bronco, had an Optima in the other, and have a monster fancy looking AGM (can't remember the name off-hand) purchased from Batteries & Bulbs (Batteries & More?) 'cause it was big!
As far as I know, for myself the only CON of an AGM (absorbed glass mat) is the price. But with even crappy batteries these days being triple what they used to be, paying $200 for a battery that will give all the other PRO's is worth it to me.
I just sold an old Buick that I put my old Optima Red Top in that, at 9-years old was still cranking away. But sold the car cheap, so they got the old battery and I kept the new AGM ("Intimidator" I think?) for my car.
The pros are no more liquid to spill out for one.
Good performance in small packages.
Sometimes (most of the time in my experience) much longer lifespan than regular batteries. I've had five Optimas over the years, and not one has lasted less than 7 years, with the champion having gone 11 years before I retired it. NEVER had a regular battery do that. Ever...
Deep-Cycle similarities. What they call a standard "starting battery" can take more deep cycling than any regular battery I've ever had, and then they have their version of a deep-cycle battery that is theoretically even more robust.
The only AGM's I ever killed were my fault. I stupidly let two brand new Optima Blue Top (starting style) marine batteries sit without a tender on them. I think I charged them once in 7 or 8 years they sat in my garage. Stupid waste of $200 bucks!
Only $200 because only one actually died. The second one came back and now gets some more love than it used to and more frequently.
Thirty years ago I was on a long trip and had an overcharge situation with a really good, but regular battery. Got to the middle of nowhere and found battery acid blown all over my nice engine compartment. Pissed is a good way to describe my reaction.
But my second reaction was to buy an Optima and never look back.
Even at the extra cost, the extra long life mitigates, or eliminates completely, that as a negative.
Did I mention that with the way they're constructed they don't blow acid? They physically can I guess, under the right/wrong circumstances. But it's a rare day that that's going to happen I'm thinking. And nobody I've ever known has had that issue.
Paul
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chirkware
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Apr 7, 2019 07:29 PM
