Do I want an Optima?

[Kneale Brownson]

You want a vented battery in the back seat mounting area unless it is a
completely sealed unit (do the gel-types "breath"?).   As I understand it,
Optima is no different than other lead/acid batteries except it has
features to let it survive tough heat and vibration exposures, neither of
which should apply to the inside of a sedan driven on normal roads.  I
remember something from a past search of Optima's website material on
safety that their battery can produce some sort of fume when overcharged
and a warning somewhere there that hydrogen gas is flammable, so the
battery should not be exposed to sparking.



At 03:51 PM 9/17/2006 -0400, Dave Kase wrote:
>I was getting ready to buy an Optima Red Top for my e//S2 and was told I 
>might not be doing the right thing.
>
>The battery is currently in the trunk area and I will be relocating to 
>under the rear seat in a stock S2 battery box.  I figured an Optima 
>would be the right choice as it is a vent-free battery and the battery 
>will be in the passenger compartment.
>
>I went to pick one up at Advance Auto and the store employee told me 
>that I should have a vented battery.  She said that a vented battery 
>would exhaust the fumes outside the car.  If I had an Optima I might 
>exhaust any fumes inside the car - not good.
>
>OK, OK, I know...it was a discount auto parts joint with a likely 
>less-than-pro clerk, but it did make me think.
>
>Do I need an Optima? (I guess not since the stock S2 battery was vented 
>- the vent hose in still in the box I bought)
>
>Do I even want an Optima?

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