Motor battery

[alter]

Good evening, I'd like to replace the engine battery in my Cali. I currently have a 68Ah battery with 680 amps of cranking power. I've always used Optima batteries on my Jeeps and boats; they have exceptional cranking power. What do you think if I put one of these on my Cali as well?

 

[Salty Spuds]

Good evening, I'd like to replace the engine battery in my Cali. I currently have a 68Ah battery with 680 amps of cranking power. I've always used Optima batteries on my Jeeps and boats; they have exceptional cranking power. What do you think if I put one of these on my Cali as well?

I have Optimas on my boat, I wouldn’t bother on the van. You can get more cranking power for half the money. Look at an Exide Ek960.

 

[Lubrown]

I have Optimas on my boat, I wouldn’t bother on the van. You can get more cranking power for half the money. Look at an Exide Ek960.

Just writing the same thing about cranking capacity vs cost.
I’ve never had an issue with more ‘generic’ brands staring vehicles anyway. Having said that I’ve never taken the van anywhere really cold.

Optima’s supposedly charge faster than some others but that’s not an issue unless you only do short runs - and if that’s the only way you use the van you’re asking for other problems anyway. Quicker charging might make the best use of solar though if your van can send that to the starter? Of course, I might just be a marketing man’s dream and they don’t charge any faster than any other battery!

 

[FWhite]

Agree with other posters.
Faster charging means not much especially if you have a smart alternator.
I found the VW 2L TDI extremely tolerant as for starter battery, more than any other van, even ones with smaller 1600 engines. Mine starts happily after 2 weeks of sleep under 0 C' on the original tiny 70 Ah EFB, 3 winters old.
I would go for any good brand AGM or EFB one, with high max current, capacity 80 to 90 Ah seems the good compromise between capacity and size/easy to install.

As an example here in.my place is difficult to beat price/performance an Exide EFB (similar to my OEM one) or, if you want to spend a little more a Varta Silver/AGM. Many Bosch are just Varta rebranded, just at higher price (unverified urban legend).