[Rich in Tucson]

In my opinion, typical Model A charging systems are hard on Optima batteries and alternators may be worse (too many electrons up the snoot too fast). Last year I removed from a Model A a dead 6V red top Optima (dated 11-2003) which registered less than 2 volts and charged it with a desulfating battery charger made recently specifically for AGM-type batteries (a cheap one from Schumacher) repeatedly over several days (after peeling back part of the label and adding distilled water until no more was accepted through the breather port on top) and now it starts Model As like new and tests good on a load tester.

It is now part of my tool box and I haul it around to troubleshoot and start 6V cars. I think the life of any battery and particularly Optimas can be greatly extended by using the proper battery charger regularly to supplement the car's charging system.