I bought the Optima red top 800 CA 110 min drycell battery last June just before WCBF06.

Last month the battery suddenly went flat while the Bonne was parked. I thought I might have left something on, so just recharged it and it seemed fine with proper voltage numbers of 12.4 v engine off or 14.7 running.

Was fine for a few driving cycles then yesterday I open the door and ....oh oh...no interior lights.
Measured the battery at 0 volts.

So I pulled it out and popped in the original battery that I dusted off.....it amazingly had an almost full 12.3 v charge with green bubble still glowing.
That puppy weighs 47 lbs.
The Optima weighs 39 lbs.....and is dimensionally smaller in length.

Tried to recharge it and the charger went off scale into the red buzzing like an alarm.

Brought it back to Walmart and they exchanged it free of charge (3 yr repl) 10 year life. ($200. Cdn)
Hmmmm I wonder just how reliable this drycell is than a wetcell.

I still have the original lead weight in the Bullet..........should I pop in the new Optima :?:

I have like 4-5 years on my yellow top and still going strong.

That is odd considering the expectations and claims of an Optima. Also... before we buy a battery there is no way of knowing how long it has sat on the shelf before our purchase.

Being that you park the car for long periods of time, have you considered a battery tender?

Paul, an Optima isn't a drycell. It'* a GELcell. More wet than dry. I've had mine for 3 years now? Including 3 winters out of the car for long periods of time.

Paul, are you disconnecting the battery during the cars long sitting sessions?

I tend to think that your circumstance is based either on a rare defective battery or possibly because of the way you treat your batterys, most specifically sitting periods???

My Sonoma came with one, it dropped a cell last week and died. I replaced it with the Delco out of the Bonneville.

The Optima Red Top had a purchase date sticker of 05-05, I took it back, got a brand new one, now it lives under the hood of the Bonneville

I always use my Battery Tender to keep the battery fresh. Been doing that for the last four years.

It must have been a defective battery. :?

I popped in the replacement Optima 'Gel' Cell since the measured voltage was .5 V higher, it is 6 lbs lighter and has the same 800 A rating as the original.

I'm good for another 3 years of free replacement.