Cheapo wiper blades vs. expensive

[Bird]

One of the advantages (or is it a disadvantage?:laughing of keeping detailed records is that you sometimes forget, or at least us older folks do. I thought I changed wiper blades about once a year or so, but I haven't. We bought our 2002 Ford Crown Vic on 1/19/09 and I put new wiper blades on it on 2/8/09. We bought the 2001 Ford Ranger on 12/21/04 and I replaced the wiper blades on 2/26/08 and on 9/19/09. I guess I ought to do that to both of them again.:laughing: Of course our vehicles are kept in a garage, almost never out in any ice, and not out in the rain too often so I've always been very happy with the regular Anco blades from Walmart.

I've not used Rain-X, but cleaning the windows with Invisible Glass seems to get the same results as far as shedding water. I use the aerosol version of Invisible Glass, also from Walmart, although I think Home Depot and Lowe's also have it.

 

[JDgreen227]

One of the advantages (or is it a disadvantage?:laughing of keeping detailed records is that you sometimes forget, or at least us older folks do. I thought I changed wiper blades about once a year or so, but I haven't. We bought our 2002 Ford Crown Vic on 1/19/09 and I put new wiper blades on it on 2/8/09. We bought the 2001 Ford Ranger on 12/21/04 and I replaced the wiper blades on 2/26/08 and on 9/19/09. I guess I ought to do that to both of them again.:laughing: Of course our vehicles are kept in a garage, almost never out in any ice, and not out in the rain too often so I've always been very happy with the regular Anco blades from Walmart.

I've not used Rain-X, but cleaning the windows with Invisible Glass seems to get the same results as far as shedding water. I use the aerosol version of Invisible Glass, also from Walmart, although I think Home Depot and Lowe's also have it.

Bird, on my Blackberry in the Memo Pad function, included with at least another 100 other items, I keep detailed records of vehicle servicing. In ten seconds I can look up that our 2004 Saturn had it's last oil and filter change on 10/25/11 at 52280 miles, the oil is 5 quarts of 5W-30, the oil filter used is a PureOne PL15309, the drain plug is a Torx T 45 bit, the filter canister bolt is a 24mm, the wipers are 19 inches and were new on 6/11....

Yes, I keep a paper record in the house, but it sure is easier to have the information I need right with me all the time....

 

[Car Doc]

I use yellow box Ancos the 31- series exclusively I never use trico I consider them the low quality oem replacements (junk in other words).

I seem to be pulling those new Michelin's and other fancy types off here lately now its finally raining etc. The Ancos are $7-8 each and they all only last a couple years less in some areas so why spend more is me thinking.


If someone does a lot of highway driving and that puts a lot of oil on the windshields from other cars wake when its raining etc no wiper will last long. my .02

 

[Bird]

Bird, on my Blackberry in the Memo Pad function, included with at least another 100 other items, I keep detailed records of vehicle servicing. In ten seconds I can look up that our 2004 Saturn had it's last oil and filter change on 10/25/11 at 52280 miles, the oil is 5 quarts of 5W-30, the oil filter used is a PureOne PL15309, the drain plug is a Torx T 45 bit, the filter canister bolt is a 24mm, the wipers are 19 inches and were new on 6/11....

Yes, I keep a paper record in the house, but it sure is easier to have the information I need right with me all the time....

I don't have any of those modern portable gadgets; just keep a spreadsheet on this computer.:laughing: So every nickel that's gone into the vehicles is on there.

 

[JDgreen227]

I don't have any of those modern portable gadgets; just keep a spreadsheet on this computer.:laughing: So every nickel that's gone into the vehicles is on there.

What's a spreadsheet....??? :laughing:

 

[Bird]

What's a spreadsheet....??? :laughing:

It's just one of those things that puts horizontal and vertical lines on my computer screen. Never figured out why they call it a spreadsheet.:laughing:

 

[redharley]

Never seen fancy wiper blades come on any new car or truck. I am pretty sure big 3 auto makers do not make any wiper blades.They are just like us buy them from a supplier most likly trico or anco[ 2 bigest]to install on their vehicles. Just buy one of those two brands almost sure to get what came on car or truck from new.

 

[jonyyuma]

I don't have any of those modern portable gadgets; just keep a spreadsheet on this computer.:laughing: So every nickel that's gone into the vehicles is on there.

Well both of you beat my method. I keep a Log book in the Glovebox of each car. A notebook in my tractor manual for maintenance of them. I like the Gov. idea of log books for equipment, so i carried it on....You buy my car you get the logbook too, if good price you get the repair manuals too. But if That phone gets wet, Does it Die or can you still get the info. I know our company spends Big Bucks to recover info from bad harddrives..thousands..

 

[Bird]

Well both of you beat my method. I keep a Log book in the Glovebox of each car. A notebook in my tractor manual for maintenance of them. I like the Gov. idea of log books for equipment, so i carried it on....You buy my car you get the logbook too, if good price you get the repair manuals too. But if That phone gets wet, Does it Die or can you still get the info. I know our company spends Big Bucks to recover info from bad harddrives..thousands..

I think the log book is a good idea, but since I have the time, I go a lot further. When we buy gas, we write the odometer reading on the receipt and I enter it on the spreadsheet, so I have a running account of the mileage for this fill-up and the average mileage since we've owned the vehicle

My "maintenance" column (if you want to call it that) includes all maintenance and/or repairs, but also insurance premiums, wash jobs, even any tolls on toll roads or parking fees.

 

[jonyyuma]

What I do, once the old fluid begins to flow I just move the siphon hose to a smaller container on the ground. Thanks for asking, I should have clarified the method better.

Of course you did, and I understood it, I do have a large rubber bulb, i could use to start it. I don't know exactly how cold we will be getting. I don't expect much lower than 20 deg. I just don't like to see it freezing when i am trying to drive and clear from the spray. So I like it concentrated..I think I will stick the tank and see how much Summer formula is left??