Time to replace my batteries, Ill prob go with optima red tops. How long is everyone seeing out of their AC Delco stockers? Dead battery this morning, I can home at 9pm instead of 1 or 2 am, thats the only difference. Left at 6:00 am like usual, click click. Nothing was left on, same as usual, just the extra couple hours was enough to drain it below starting. Happens any time when my truck is left longer than a quick overnight. Lets see.... I guess about 27 or 28 months on these batteries. Seems decent I guess, just gonna hurt for Optima $

All of my Dmaxs have the stockers still in them. Our LB7 work truck has 4 years on the battery and still running strong. All the llys also have the stockers. The weird thing is my LBZ batteries are starting to crank hard......Only one full SUMMER of running???WTF. So weird how they range but I think because I am cleaning it and doing so much wiring etc in my garage that I leave the radio on a lot and that might have a toll on it too.

Ya definately. I have tons of electrical in my truck and it definately takes its toll. 1500 watt amp, 3 subs, 2 screens, 1000 watt inverter, auxillary lighting and audible equipment, laptop docking station, multiple sets of HIDs, etc. I use my truck hard, it deserves some new Optimas :)

Stock batts since Jan 2004. 400 watt Amp and quite a few Accessory DC draw.

my duramax is an 04.5 and to this day the batteries only died once from leaving the headlights on

Pooop... dead again 4 hours later LOL.

I had to have the dealer replace my batterys last month, only got 34,000 out of them. Thanks to the warranty or they would have been optima's they just dont get no better.

Ya definately. I have tons of electrical in my truck and it definately takes its toll. 1500 watt amp, 3 subs, 2 screens, 1000 watt inverter, auxillary lighting and audible equipment, laptop docking station, multiple sets of HIDs, etc. I use my truck hard, it deserves some new Optimas :)

Hmmm.....It would be nice to find a place today that sold OPTIMAS on sale!!!!

I got 4.5 years out of mine in the AZ heat, about 85k. I just put new stockers in them, seem to work ok for me.

i just replaced my stock batteries. i think i got 70K out of them. got two new duralast batteries. those optimas would be nice, if they weren't so damn expensive.

Time to replace my batteries, Ill prob go with optima red tops. How long is everyone seeing out of their AC Delco stockers? Dead battery this morning, I can home at 9pm instead of 1 or 2 am, thats the only difference. Left at 6:00 am like usual, click click. Nothing was left on, same as usual, just the extra couple hours was enough to drain it below starting. Happens any time when my truck is left longer than a quick overnight. Lets see.... I guess about 27 or 28 months on these batteries. Seems decent I guess, just gonna hurt for Optima $


Installed 2 Bosh Hi amp batteries in one our Ford Diesels. Pep Boy has them if I remember correctly around $70 ea. and a great waranty. Here in the desert with high temps in the summer, and our Ford is a service truck allot of starting and stopping the engine. if you get much over 2 years out of a set of batteries I think you are doing good. I try to get them replaced every 2 to 3 years or so and pay very little because they pro rate them.
Ron

I just replaced my stock batteries with two new Duralast batteries also. I'm over 70k miles. Batteries were still working fine, just didn't believe in going over 5 years with the original Delcos. I was suprised they went 5 years though and almost went with Delco again. Consumer reviews were very high on the Duralast brand so went with them. Kept the insulation sleeves in place.

mines an 02 and delcos are still going strong. thinking of replacing before another NE winter though just to be safe

Stock here.

stock here

2003 and still the stock batteries. I would love to get the Optimas (have no problem paying for quality) but I have read where they either are awesome or they die real soon. Eveidently quality control has gone down. Anyone else experience this?

Original batts in both trucks here....................

the costco batterie had a better warranty and was cheaper then the optima but my friend went ahead and bought 2 optimas and they outlasted not only their own warranty but blasted the costco batterie out the window they are worth it and you can mount them any way all tho i see no reason to

just out of curiousity why do we have to batteries in a diesel.. i take it for the glow plugs maybe?? are the batteries connected together in parralel. i couldnt see them being in series that would be 24v.. or they not connected at all and run 2 seperate things

The reason for two batteries is due to very high compression ratio and minimum 100 rpm cranking speed along with glowplugs when cold. I change out my batteries after 3 years of service. Just a carry over from my youth but I do not want to fight batteries away from home and have never had a problem with them in many years of drivin'. Bad batteries have also been known to take an alternator with them. I then use the old batteries in my "Shack" where I have all my radio gear. So I guess I get 6 years use out of them.

I also have heard mixed feelings out of the Optima red top. I have 4 Optima blue tops in my bass boat and have ran them hard, reallly hard in tournaments and have not seen a problem.

Any other gel cells to try out, different brands etc...

04.5, been three winters and still cranks good.if I get this winter out of the stock battery's I'll be amazed. The first sign of weakness and there gone. I guess it's time to start researching options.

Some people say Odysseys gel cell... no experience with em.

Sears has a new battery out called the Die Hard Platinum. They are more expensive than the Optima.

Just Replaced Mine 03 61000 Miles With Autozone 800 Cca 3 Yr Free Replacement 85 Mth For $74.99 . They Wanted $89.00 But They Will Work With You.

Optimas have not performed as advertised for me in the past. Two dead red tops on my 01 6.0 in a year. I have had really good luck with the wally world ever start batts (which are re-branded exides). IIRC an 84 mo battery with 60 month no-pro-rate FREE replacement is something like $59. Note: be sure to tape the receipt to the plastic bag on the side of the battery in case you ever need to return one under warranty.

I have already had one of my factory delco pos batteries replaced under warranty because it was leaking at 32,000.

2 to 2.5 years on my originals (Delco).
I havent noticed a difference between gas or diesel engines in the life of the batteries.

I got a little over 3 years and 83K miles on my original batteries. Passenger side battery started leaking yesterday and I just bought two Optima red tops. I'll see how the Optima's do.

I wont buy the optimas. I see no need for it. Im still on the stockers. 65k

dont forget about Odyssey Batteries, in the offroad/ marine world these are considered the best; but pretty pricey

Some people say Odysseys gel cell... no experience with em.

I will have to check them out here shortly before spring. Thanks

I heard the Optima yellow tops work better on Diesels. :D Mike

Just over 6 years and still going:)

Need to replace mine soon! 20K and less than 2 years on them. I have never had good luck with the AC/Delco's. I think I'm going to use the Duralast.

ya know, until I read this thread, I never really gave the batts a thought. I've got 65K on my 06, and it is now truly winter time in Alberta. -15C at night and up to a balmy -10 to -5C in the daytime (for the next 2-3 months), snow on the ground and the truck is plugged in on a timer. If I am going to see any issues, it will be in the winter I would imagine.

so far so good.

stk

i hope my batteries last for a few years. so far so good though and i have almost 40,000 miles on my truck

We have many diesels and about 30 years ago I came up with the policy of replacing the batteries every 2 years need it or not ! due to this we have not had a battery failure in our trucks since ! I cant afford not to do it this way
and we just take good old batteries and install in one of our tractors or forklifts or what ever is less important ! Either way they get used up but we dont allow them to get us stuck or stranded !

We were one of the oldest optima dealers in the country although we use them in many applications , I have learned not to use them in my trucks

Optmas are true heros or zeros they can and will fail without notice !
If you get a good one , WOW , I replaced 2 8ds in my dozer with "one" red top in the early 90s and its still going strong ! I have one in my 100 hp farm tractor since 95 , still going , and I have a crate full that did not make it a year !
By the way Odyssey are worse , much worse but they do have power

The middle of the road batteries work best for us too many plates and not enough acid ( high power ) not so good , AGM = unpredictable and tough to charge correctly !

Its tough to beat a middle of the road flooded Battery that is replaced as regular maintenance every 2 years ! t

I had to replace the stock factory batteries in my 03 last January as one of them had failed, so they lasted 4 years or a bit more. Replaced with NAPA gold as that's what the shop I get work done at sells. I like as fastlap indicated a good flooded battery for the start batteries. I do however use Trojans in for my camper house batts.

OEMs lasted 60 months/78K miles

I just bought a pair of Duralast Gold (800CCA; 1000CA; 96 month, 3 year exchange) batteries at AutoZone today ($79.99 each), as the OEM AC/Delcos had twice failed to hold a charge over 3-4 days. I've had good luck with these in other vehicles, so ... we'll see.

9/03 Build 139,000 miles original Delcos. Will be replaced with optima yellow tops when the time comes.

2 years, this is about par for my last 4 trucks

my truck was doing the same, my headunit wasent turning off the amps in the truck. so the bose and my aftermarket were running all night. so the third time it did it, i took the battery's out, and replaced them. my truck is a 03, so that is 4 years, i even plow with my truck. so that takes a tole on them.

Just back from wallyworld with two maxx's , have had good luck with them . Original delco's , 5 years , 85k , not bad . Actually one is still good .

Just a shade over 4 1/2 yrs, 58000 miles.

My passenger side delco started to leak at the 3 half year mark. I replaced with Walmart Batteries.

If you are in the market for batteries then consider Walmart batteries. I can't remember who actually makes them but they are a lot of bang for the buck and for warranty purposes, jeeez it is easier to name places that a walmart would not be within 10 miles of you. But then again those places probably aren't going to have any other batteries for sale either . . .

My passenger side delco started to leak at the 3 half year mark. I replaced with Walmart Batteries.

If you are in the market for batteries then consider Walmart batteries. I can't remember who actually makes them but they are a lot of bang for the buck and for warranty purposes, jeeez it is easier to name places that a walmart would not be within 10 miles of you. But then again those places probably aren't going to have any other batteries for sale either . . .
Walmart are Exides...I have always had decent luck with them.

i have an 02, i had 107k on when the batteries went this past summer

mine just went out at 75k miles

I just replaced my originals at 147,000 and 6 years to the month.

wally world batteries, since 6/06..no problems, Except some idot stripped the ground cable screw on the passenger side battery..:rolleyes:

I have had the same pair of Red Top Optima in my last two trucks (05 & 06), putting the new Delco's in other vehicles, and putting the older Delco's from other vehicles back in the D/A being sold. The pair of Optima's I now have in my 06 are 3 years 2 months old, and they just crapped out and started failing. OK - so buy a new pair at about $100 each. WOW, GUESS AGAIN! They are now $150 on sale, $150 at Costco, which means $300 for 2 batteries for three years. True, they have been used hard (lots on winching, two phones, electronic this and electronic that), but that is a lot of $. Same CCA in a old technology battery with a longer warranty (free replacement 3 years, another two years prorated) is $75 for a top of the line battery. 1/2 the price for the same period of time. Got to think about this one. I may have had my last Optima. Before they have always lasted 5 plus years, and now only 3.

Mine only lasted 2.5 years with 36k miles....Lots of starts though, but shouldve still lasted more in my opinion.

7 years & 80K on OEM

I took the Optima red-tops I installed in my 98 into my 06 before it left the dealership. They are still running strong (36k on current truck). I had a hell of a battle with the corrosion brought on by the Delcos on my 98 but have had zero problems since they were installed on a truck with "good" primary cables.

I'll stick with the Optimas...

maybe we should get a poll going about which batteries have performed the best? i personally have had no problems yet with ac/delco and exide and die hard have always been good batteries in vehicles that I have owned. i am hesitant about spending a hundred dollars on an optima that may or may not last long.

Well i got a solid year and a half out of my last batteries! I couldnt believe how lame that is, i think they were Delco.

Originals in my 01, 50k miles. Going to need replacing before spring tho.

This Might Be A Dumb Question But Whats The Difference In An Optima Red Top And Yellow Top?

I have 9 optima red tops and 4 yellow tops bought over the last 5 years in various vehicles and have yet to have a problem.

Red top are mainly for starting loads and yellow are for constant/deep cycle type loads.

2003 GMC 286,000+ km on original batteries

All this discussion, and only one person has mentioned corrosion. I like the fact a sealed battery will not cause corrosion like the old lead acid battery.

If you plan on keeping your truck, and you dont like rusted battery trays, you might look at the spiral wound sealed batteries, like the Optima.

There are other makers of this style battery, I know NAPA sells them, and NAPA should have a good warranty, and I know they are all over the place.

I just changed out my batteries at 80K/6 years. They still started up fine in the cold mornings but felt it was time to get in a fresh pair. I put in Napa Legends, wanted the Napa Select but they weren't in stock.

Take a look at the specs on the CAT batteries for this application. Some see 6 yrs. of service. Cost about $95.

Damn.......I finally lost a battery in my 2001..........4 mos. short of 7 years!!!!

26 months and lost both batteries at the same time here in Phoenix AZ metro area

I've heard that "odyssey" makes a good battery, they have the deminsions listed with the battery, I had a pc1500 model in my old truck and it was amazing, worked great with my winch and lights and electrical fans, ala that with the stock 105amp alternator.

why does the dmax have two batteries?

from what ive seen average for any vehicle is 3-5 years, if you get more play the lottery :p: