Red Top or Yellow Top

[firebob]

Which one? I've always run a red but these days I see a lot more yellow tops in cars, Why?

[B rad '69elky]

The red one works great, but the yellow one will tolerate being drained and recharged.

[Chad-1stGen]

I've had much better luck with yellow tops. As B rad has said, they can handle more discharge cycles than a red top. Yellow top is a deep cycle battery. And since my camaro has a slow drain and I occasionally forget to hook up the maintainer this has saved me a few times.

The yellow top is also about 5 lbs heavier. It has more material and vibration resistance than the red top. After killing two red tops I've yet to kill a yellow top.

[anguilla1980]

I thought the blue top was the deep cycle, but not used because it's not as capable to high CCA?

[badazz81z28]

I thought the blue top was the deep cycle, but not used because it's not as capable to high CCA?


The blue top is a RV or marine battery, you don’t want that in your car. The red top is like your general application automotive battery. The yellow top is the high performance battery. It’s not more vibration resistant than a red top but it can be drained and recharged and not suffer like the red top would. I would say the cost of the red top makes it more appropriate for most muscle car application. The Yellow top is like a $100 more...you’ll have to decide if your electronic demands need a yellow top.

[ilikeike]

I thought the blue top was the deep cycle, but not used because it's not as capable to high CCA?

Optimas have either dark grey cases (starting)
Or light grey cases (deep cycle)

The blue tops have the extra wing nut terminals which are convenient for RVs and boats.... But are the same as yellow and red depending on the case color.

Red top starting battery have the dark gray case, and is the same as the dark case blue top.

Yellow top deep cycle have a light gray case and is the same as the deep cycle blue top with light gray case,

I like the blue tops for the extra terminals when I used them years ago.

[badazz81z28]

The color of the case is new to me. That’s not what I found on Optima site. They don’t even advertise them as “dark” or “light” case. Just blue,yellow and red.