Windshield Wipers...How often do you replace therm?...

[5030]

Both my tractors have cabs with windshield wipers and I tend to replace them when the get so hard (blade) that they no longer wipe the glass. Not a high priority.....

On the cars, every year or when the blade seperates.... High priority....

Bought some 'lifetime wipers' for the cars that are now shot......:laughing:

Lifetime must be short.

Thoughts and comments......

What brand is best?

Where do you get them??

I've been getting mine (Trico) at Autozone...

I see they are all made off shore (China or Taiwan).

 

[Toyboy]

I replace mine when they start chattering on the windshield.

 

[JDgreen227]

I started a thread in "Trailers and Transportation" not too long ago about whether the premium brand name wipers were better than the cheapos. Replies were a mixed bag. Currently, for our vehicles I switch them every year, and beginni9ng today the local Menards stores are selling Dupont brand wiper blades, all sizes, for $3.99 PER PAIR (buy one, get one free) and they are what I use. They last a year, easily...going to go get more later this week.

 

[murphy1244]

I use Bosch, I ruined my drivers side yesterday by slamming them againist the winshield.

 

[DMW]

On my last car I purchased a set of Honda wipers for it that were the correct size. Then every oil change I would replace the rubber blade insert that could be bought separately. Overall it was cheaper for me than buying new blades when needed, and always had a set of wipers that were streak free.

 

[Sutol]

I too use Bosh and find them very good and long lasting.

I do not use de-icer which tends to harden the rubber up, I use warm water from a jug instead

 

[JDgreen227]

I use Bosch, I ruined my drivers side yesterday by slamming them againist the winshield.

They make the blades so cheap these days they bend easily. Got a tip for you guys who have to deal with wiper blades frozen on the windshield overnight...I have a spray bottle filled with lo temp washer fluid, if my blades are stuck I just spray the fluid on the rubber and let that unfreeze them.

 

[Sutol]

They make the blades so cheap these days they bend easily. Got a tip for you guys who have to deal with wiper blades frozen on the windshield overnight...I have a spray bottle filled with lo temp washer fluid, if my blades are stuck I just spray the fluid on the rubber and let that unfreeze them.

Think you will find wrm water will not harden up the rubber like chemicals do

just my opinion...ooh and I dont like spending money on de icers when the kettle is hot on the stove.

 

[JDgreen227]

Think you will find wrm water will not harden up the rubber like chemicals do

just my opinion...ooh and I dont like spending money on de icers when the kettle is hot on the stove.

Costs for electricity to heat the kettle, and then I would have to carry it 200 feet to the garage...:laughing:

BTW all, the local Meijers store chain is having a sale this week, a pair of the premium brand Trico Teflon Shield wiper blades in $24.99 per pair. I can buy 6 pair of the Dupont brand at Menards for $23.99....guess what my choice is.

 

[Sutol]

Costs for electricity to heat the kettle, and then I would have to carry it 200 feet to the garage...:laughing:

BTW all, the local Meijers store chain is having a sale this week, a pair of the premium brand Trico Teflon Shield wiper blades in $24.99 per pair. I can buy 6 pair of the Dupont brand at Menards for $23.99....guess what my choice is.

Could always take em off and keep em in the house

 

[RickB]

I have been using the I-beam or leaf spring style blades for a while now, they seem to hold contact with the windshield better than conventional blades. I usually get them from a local NAPA or Carquest; one delivers to my workplace, my wife drives past the other on her commute. I don't shop brand, just convenience. I replace my blades when they don't function properly.
I freely admit to not putting a lot of thought into the selection of my next wiper blade. If I need one, I buy one and install it.

 

[Markcuda]

I use RainX Weather Beater, they are 14 months old, still as good as new.
I drive 46 miles a day, times 6.

 

[JDgreen227]

Could always take em off and keep em in the house

That reminds me of a book I read one time, it was set in Russia, if I recall right...the drivers in the story would remove their wipers when parking their cars and lock them inside so they would not be stolen...

 

[5030]

I'm all about warm washer fluid. I wrap a cpuple turns of windshield washer hose around a heater hose and top that with a length of foam water pipe insulation. That gives me warm washer fluid for those crappy, icy drives.....

Not too impressed with Bosch blades. We use 'em on the big trucks in the fleet and they last maybe a year and get hard and chatter.....

 

[JDgreen227]

I'm all about warm washer fluid. I wrap a cpuple turns of windshield washer hose around a heater hose and top that with a length of foam water pipe insulation. That gives me warm washer fluid for those crappy, icy drives.....

Not too impressed with Bosch blades. We use 'em on the big trucks in the fleet and they last maybe a year and get hard and chatter.....

Never heard of that idea...maybe two years ago my neighbor took his Tahoe into the dealership for a factory recall, GM had a huge recall for many of their vehicles where they disconnected the heated washer fluid system and if I recall right, they gave each owner a cash voucher ($100?) for the inconvenience. Supposedly the recall was because fires had been reported...?

 

[5030]

Never heard of that idea...maybe two years ago my neighbor took his Tahoe into the dealership for a factory recall, GM had a huge recall for many of their vehicles where they disconnected the heated washer fluid system and if I recall right, they gave each owner a cash voucher ($100?) for the inconvenience. Supposedly the recall was because fires had been reported...?

They probably used a Mullion heater (resistance element) in a holding tank, thermostatically controlled, to preheat the fluid. Much simpler. less complex and safer to wrap a few turns of washer hose around a heater hose and toute it to the spray nozzles. There will be a slight delay in delivering watm fluid (depending on the length of the hose between the heated segment and the spray njozzle, but the delay is slight. Been doing that for years and added insulation (in the form of pipe insulation) really reduced the cold fluid to hot fluid lag time. Most vehicles draw the heater core fluid on a pump bypass so as soon as the engine is started, the heater core receives warmed fluid (for your comfort). Tapping that heat is easy.

Typical of any automaker to complicate a simple process. I can see the tank heater malfunctioning and heating the washer fluid to ignition temperature. remember, washer fluid contains alcohol and it's flammable. No such issue with a simple heat exchanger (wrapped hose on the heater hose). temperatures never rise excessively. All my water cooled vehicles are set uip that way, have been for years.

 

[jdtractor]

I plowed snow for 11 yrs for the Township were I live. I also have a few contracts I plow. The Township used Deicer windshield cleaner, I use the same. It works well for me. Just my 0.02 cts.

 

[5030]

I sort of remember back when I was a kid and my dad never replaced the wipers on his cars and they seemed to last a good long time, unlike wipers today....

Must be the ozone in the air or something.......

 

[JDgreen227]

I sort of remember back when I was a kid and my dad never replaced the wipers on his cars and they seemed to last a good long time, unlike wipers today....

Must be the ozone in the air or something.......

Would be interesting to compare a wiper blade made in the sixties to one made today, the ones we buy now are probably half the weight and thickness.

 

[creekbend]

Our truck stays parked under the carport when not in use and the blades seem to wear better than when subjected to sunlight and the elements regularly. I usually change the blades yearly and I normally use Bosch. I don't have a cab on the tractor.