I'm a wiper blade frantic! I change our wiper blades twice a year. Once in late spring, after snow/ice season and then late fall, getting ready for ice/snow season.Wifey is hard on her blades. She thinks they have magical ice scraper ability? And they're Usally fried at the end of snow/ice season.

I buy only Quaility blades and use quality (pink) deicer in the washer tanks on all our vehicles. I take a turkey baster (if there's not a built in screen) and pull all the summer washer fluid out. Except in wifeys RAV4, she uses the heck out of washers (front & rear) all year long! She's probably already low and I checked and topped it off a couple weeks ago. I've never seen no body use the washers as much as she does. Almost every time she starts the damn thing!

So it's getting that time of the year. And with 4 of the 6 of our main driving vehicles (2 barely get driven and NEVER in bad weather) it's kinda costly.

So it's getting time to double check the anti freeze, flush if needed, change all the oil and filters (I use ONLY factory oem oil filters and Toyota pink anti freeze in our toyota's), change wiper blades and add deicer and get ready for winter. And check the air filters (all K&N air filters, clean and re oil if necessary) and replace cabin air filters once a year in the fall.

Dang, it gets expensive, I may need to start me a Go Fund Me Page! LOL

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Live From Music City USA

It has been my experience that weather I buy the cheap ones or the top of the line ones, they both seem to need to be replaced at the same age.


Art

I'm on a budget:

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I live in the desert and whether I use the wipers or not they have to be changed once a year due to the sun. After about a year they literally fall apart, cheap ones or expensive ones.

Gee - I usually go about three years between blade changes. Don't need wipers too much here, and I only change them if splits show up in the rubber. I usually just buy the rubber refills off eBay, as most of the auto parts stores sell complete assemblies instead of refills. Far cheaper that way. Regarding oil filters and air filters, I just buy whatever's on sale at the time. Works for me.

What is this ANTI-FREEZE you speak of???

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Hey, you're a Moderator, don't be snarky...........

I change wiper blades when they cease to do a good job of wiping. I usually find out when I turn them on during mostly infrequent times of moisture on my windshield. The sun is hard on the wiper blades here, and I haven't found any brand to be particularly longer lasting than any other. I have found that some conform to the windshield across their length better than others. I try not to use the wipers when we have freezing moisture on the glass, and I try to gently lift the blades to make sure they are not frozen in place before operating the wipers in cold weather. But I seriously do not like it when the blades do not wipe the glass cleanly and only smear the moisture. Sometimes the problem is caused by dried bug guts left when a bug hits the glass just underneath the wiper and gets fully dried out in place. I try to give the blades a good wipe and cleaning during bug season which lasts about 9 or 10 months of the year here!

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So long ... Ken

We call it coolant.

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Dum vivo cano

Since you're an expert. Riddle me this, Batman......

Why is it when I buy a new car the wipers seem to last 3 or 4 years -- perfectly fine. Then, forever after, the replacements last 6 months or less, or NEVER work right.

Confused.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Careful!!!

Next thing you know he'll be showing off his pool and BBQs.

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Dum vivo cano

I don't remember when I changed my wiper blades. Maybe I wrote it in my maintenance log.

I usually change them twice a year. I run the washers a fair bit and I hate to be out on a misty day with bad wipers.

About a year or so ago I ordered (off eBay) some wiper blade refills made someplace in Europe which were not rubber, but some soft translucent and sort of amber-colored plastic. So far they seem to be working very well. Don't remember the name.

I get my wife to take the vehicles to the auto parts store and look pitiful so they change them for her.

After years of ending up with inferior blades or refills from auto parts stores, cheap or expensive, i was never satisfied with any of them, i started buying factory blades or refills from the dealership and i clearly see that they are better quality and do a better job.
there's your answer, buy original factory wipers.

Since I had to go on disability and my wife walks to work, we just don't put that many miles on our vehicles anymore.

We have two and keep up with maintenance on both.

The little Blue Yaris gets driven mostly and the 4wd Dodge takes us on the mountain roads.

In the winter, the Yaris gets parked.


I'll usually change the wipers when they start acting up.

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Keep on Chooglin'

When your car is new, so is the windshield. Windshield glass picks up micro grit and pits. Over time this wares harder on the rubber blades and reduces their life.

And Guys, don't forget the cabin air filters on your late model vehicles. It's the most over looked maintenance item there is. You wouldn't believe what I've seen fall out of one while changing it. Everything from leaves, pine needles, to bugs and bug guts. And if your using the the AC or vent, your breathing garbage.

Average price is about $15-16. A cheap price to pay to breath in your car!!

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Live From Music City USA

I change the oil/filter in my vehicles about every 4000 mi.......I use Mobil 1 and Fram filters.....Never had a problem.....Wiper blades ..as needed.

I do keep a maintenance log on everything I own that burns fuel.

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S&W Accumulator

I've noticed that to, the blades that come with a new truck or car seem to last the longest, I have tried all brands of blades but I always go back to Anco.

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Don

OEM at the dealer are about the same price as the higher end auto parts store models. OEM always seem to work better and last longer for me. Be careful, dealers sell cheaper quality blades also so they can be competitive, make sure you ask for OEM.

That makes sense. The windshield on my 2001 Pathfinder with 200,000+ miles, at this point, looks like it's been sandblasted.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

You guys ever hear of cleaning your windshield at the gas station when you fill up?

Do you mind giving me your old blades, since I only change mine once every 3 years.

When I was real young in the early 1960's the attendants would bum rush your car. They'd automatically open the hood, check the fluids, check your tire pressure, wash the windshield ECT. They had a hose station at the pumps with washer fluid in one and water in another, but by the late 60's that all started to fade away. By the early 1970's you were lucky to find a station that would pump your gas for you.

My mother would sit there and let em do their thing. My dad would always stop them, because he maintained his own cars and probably thought it wasn't manly, To have a teenager or young man, service his car while he sit there and watched. Some would even vacuum the ashtrays or at least offer to empty them for you. Because everyone smoked back them.

Darn, I'm old! I can still remember all that stuff.

Now The meliniums go to the quickly mart, pump their own gas and grab a snack. And rate the Mart on the quality of their coffee not they're gas or service, And they never check their air pressure, unless the sensor light is on, then they go to a major Discount Tire Store.

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Live From Music City USA

Here on the wet side blades are a big deal.
After one midnight trip from hell our car always carries a spare set of blades as well as window cleaner and towels.
3 inches of rain today. MUCH more to follow.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

My 2010 Silverado, I only buy OEM blades for it. These Chevys and GMC's (if you own a 2007 new body style and up, you know what I'm talking about) those years have a goofy arm design. I've bought aftermarket name brands for it, but the fit to the arm isn't quite the same. And the OEM are only a few bucks more, $21 each versus $16-$18 for aftermarket.

We have three Toyota's (wifeys 2010 RAV4 and our winter 4x4 a 2009 4Runner and a 97 Camry) I only buy OEM rear wiper blades for the SUV's, otherwise I'd have to buy just the refills for them and it's just as easy to change the whole unit. But on the front, I use name brand such as RainX or Anco. On Our beater 97 Camry, I use what ever that is reasonable (AKA cheap) at Wally World.

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Live From Music City USA

When I was in HS I worked in a Alantic station, when someone came in for gas, if you didn't wash their windshield they got their gas for free and it came out of your pay.

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Don

Use RainX on your windshield and you'll use your wipers a lot less often.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I tried RainX several years ago. It worked fine until whatever coating it deposits on the glass starts to scratch. Then it is almost impossible to remove....

Being from Western Washington the wipers get a good workout. Last time I replaced them on our main car I splurged and bought a set of "top-of-the-line" blades. I was not impressed with the first time I used them as they did a ****** job.
It wasn't until later I discovered that the expensive blades come with a removable "protective" sleeve that covers the blade edge......

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

So I'm at Toyota getting a routine oil change. The service guy (known him for 20 years) finds me wandering around the lot looking at new vehicles.

Hey Phil, the tech says you need new wipers.
Ok Donnie, put em on.

Truck is ready.... I go to pay the cashier... $50 for the wipers!
I tell the cashier I'll be right back.

Hey Donnie, I don't remember asking for gold plated wipers.
Whatcha mean, Phil?
Uh... $50 wipers.
Is that what the tech installed?
So says the invoice... with free install too.
I'll fix that.


Magically the price of the wipers was $20 with a $5 install.

All that said, they have worked real well for several years. Maybe I was out of place to gripe. I duknow... but I ain't paying $50 for wiper blades if for no other reason than just being old and grumpy!

" By the early 1970's you were lucky to find a station that would pump your gas for you."

At one time, many state laws prevented car owners from pumping their own gas (I guess it was considered a fire hazard), so attendant service was a requirement. I think a lot of those laws went away in the 1970s, and self-service became the norm. Except for some smaller mom and pop convenience stores, the larger self-service locations do provide water and squeegies for windshield washing, which I normally use. But my main gripe is air. Most places now charge $1.50 to turn on the air, and it lasts about long enough to fill two tires. I usually get air at the golf course, as there is usually free air at the area where the rental golf carts are garaged.

I really wanted to buy OE for my 2015 Colorado. Can't get the good original blades which were made in Germany, just the cheap, Chinese AC Delco. The OE blades can be found on the internet, except the shipping charges are outlandish. I tried the AC Delco's from the stealership and they only lasted about five months. I just ordered Trico high tension beam blades from Amazon, so we will see how they hold up. None of the new style blades can be refilled, which really irks me, since I used to refill the blades on my old Toyota and Honda twice a year.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Just got back from the Toyota Dealer. I bought two of each of three Toyota oil filters, 2 cabin air filters and two rear wiper blades for the SUV's. Remind you I buy wholesale and I'm tax exempt, all only came to $49.

One reason I still buy OEM oil filters. Many years ago even Fram and Puralator didn't have check valves to retain oil in the filters, on start ups, most all do now. But the el cheapo's still don't. So I got in the habit of buying OEM and paying $1.50 more, to insure I was protecting my engine. I buy only AC Delco Oil filters or sometimes K&N oil filters when I feel like spending $13 for an oil filter for my Silverado. But I change it so often (5000 miles or less with full synthetic) I just buy the AC Delco.

Like I said. I'm a fanatic about my vehicles. I was in the car buissness for over 35 years. And still wholesale a few. In my younger days, I was a pretty darn good mechanic. I buy OEM when possible. I also only use top of the line ceramic brake pads (EBC) on my personal vehicles and on my Hot Rod's. I found out early, it pays to spend a little more up front, than to have to spend allot later. I never liked replacing the same part twice, so I buy the best the first time.

Like I tell people, I'd sell their mother one of my cars! Because it was done to the best of my ability and knowledge.

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Live From Music City USA

They DO catch an amazing amount of junk!

I use a regular house HVAC panel air filter. Cut it to size with tin snips for the metal mesh, dress the edges with duct tape. Depending on size filter you buy, you can cut at least four replacements.

And if you run out of RainX, use rubbing alcohol. I can't tell the difference!

My Wife hates the fact that I only ever change the Driver side Wiper,I tell Her The Driver needs to see and the Passenger doesn't.

I think there are a couple of states that requires that gas to be pumped by a gas station technician? If I remember correctly, they're in the North East?

I have a big air compressor in my home shop with a 75' hose and do my own tires some times. But if I'm in a hurry or feeling lazy, we have a discount tire 2 miles down the road and they know me, from buying a ton of tires there in the 3 or so years that store has been operating. So I just whip in, if they don't look busy and get them to do it. Takes them 3 minutes and takes me allot longer to drag out my hose and put it back up. I had them do the 4Runner and my Silverado just this week.

And all of our vehicles are covered under they're road hazard and lifetime rotate and balance. Even when I buy my tires wholesale from another source. I like using them to balance my wheels and tires, because they use road force balancing, versus just standard spin balance and their machines are calibrated monthly under contract. Unlike most mom and pop tire shops that NEVER have they're machines calibrated! I had a guy once to mount and balance a set of tires for me on a Sunday, when Discount Tire wasn't open. I asked him when the last time his common spin balance machine was calibrated, you'd thought I had smacked him in the face! You've heard of the deer in the headlights look, he looked beyond that. Needless to say I never went back. I also trust Discount Tire with high dollar custom wheels. They're mounting machines are also state of the art.

I stay on top of our vehicle maintenance. Cars are just too expensive, not too!

I've always LOVED cars and guns since I was little and take care of both.

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Live From Music City USA

I know of one gas station in a tonier part of town (I don't drive through that area very often, so I don't know if it's still there) that still uses service attendants. The only problem is that their gas prices were about a quarter per gallon more than the nearby self-service stations. I suppose that didn't bother most of their customer base, as for the most part, they would never stoop to the level of performing anything resembling manual labor.

Closest thing I ever had to a nervous breakdown was trying to change wiper blades in a snowstorm in the K-Mart parking lot in Gallup, New Mexico.

Yep. New Jersey, to the best of my memory.

I also never seem to get more than a year's worth of service out of even factory wiper blades. Go figure...

I changed mine two weeks ago. Took our Rouge to get its 30k service today, everything was checked supposedly and was marked green. Green means good to go but my wipers were market yellow, yellow means needs attention in near future. I'm getting the feeling I may need to find a different service place stupid dealerships. The only reason I take it there instead of my trusted mechanic is for the warranty they have on it. Our other vehicles go to our mechanic.

I haven't been able to use the striker paper from a matchbook to touch up wiper blades in years.
The rubber separates from the spine before they wear enough to streak.

Oregon is another......

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

It shouldn't be that hard, if you keep them in their original bottles!!

I once bought a set of "permanent" wiper blades from a closeout store. That was in 1991. They are still on the truck, and still work just like new blades. They came in colors to match your car, mine were red. The color did fade, but they still do the job.

Thinking it was a scam, I only bought one pair of the blades, cost was $1.99. I should have bought every set in the store, and gone to other stores that had them and buy them out, too.

Just spent the last couple hours changing all the interior light bulbs in the 4Runner to LED's. It was the last one to change over on my list. I bought a package off eCrud and it arrived yesterday. Now all our vehicles are lit with LED's.

I just like the look of em, versus dingy yellow looking OEM Bulbs and the kit was only $15, shipped and a piece of cake to install. I only missed on 3 of the 12, and only had to turn those 3 a 180 degrees. And now they're good to go. And I think for the money and and the little effort, they update a vehicle instantly! I even swapped out the license plate lights and the vanity mirror bulbs in the sun visors (they're the fuse type bulbs)!. Now I've got to order some LED backup bulbs and it's done.

And waiting on my In-Channel AVS ventvisors. They should be here Monday or Tuesday??

It's just a Work in progress!

I'm just goofy about my vehicles!!!

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Live From Music City USA

I change my blades when they stop working well. I really should write it down in my maintenance log. In any case, I think it's usually about once a year.

As far as the refills-I was hunting for them a while back for my MG. I have old stainless steel blades on the car that I didn't want to get rid of but the rubber was completely shot. I finally got them from NAPA, but they weren't out on the floor-I had to order them. Few stores carry refills anymore as a regular stock item. Even if I'd been able to find stainless blades, I doubt I'd have bought them-the car has 3 blades(some weird US law that required a certain amount of swept area and BL found it less expensive to add a center wiper than raise the windshield height) and the wipers get used infrequently enough that I just wanted something functional.

One last thing-rather than RainX, I use regular car paste wax. I do it about once a year, but sometimes wait longer than that. It's a bit "smeary" when initially applied but after baking in the sun for a few days it works great. I forget it's there-I basically only notice when I'm in the rain in a different car and notice how terribly I can see.

I've heard others talk about paste wax on windshields, but have not tried it myself. I have waxed the plastic headlight covers. It seems to keep them from getting cloudy. I have been able to find refill blades on eBay. The auto parts stores don't seem to carry them, but NAPA may - I haven't tried there. I had a '95 Mitsubishi once, and the only place I could find such routine items as blades, filters, etc. for it was at the Mitsi dealership or NAPA. No more Mitsis for me again, ever. Nothing remains except a string of very bad memories.