How often to change halogen headlight bulbs?

[methusaleh]

...and what should be the determining factor?

Hours of use?

Age, regardless of hours of usage?

Perceived brightness?

Brightness measured somehow (without fancy test equipment)?

Some manufacturer recommendation somewhere?

 

[kkreit01]

When they burn out.

 

[Tree Hugger]

With non-halogen tungsten bulbs, the degradation from tungsten deposits on the envelope was fairly linear and quite significant (upt to 60%) until failure. It made sense to replace them on number of hours, as performance was significantly degraded.
With halogen tungsten bulbs, the degradation is still linear, but there's a much flatter slope, followed by sudden failure. The dgradation isn't very severe even just before it fails (about 15%, I believe), so it actually makes sense to replace them only when they fail.

 

[Jet]

Can't say I have ever noticed any halaogen bulb degradation unless moisture got inside a sealed one.
Unless that happens or your upgrading you change them when they burn out.

 

[moribundman]

While higher quality bulbs will age better than cheap bulbs, all halogen lights get weaker and light output gets more yellow with age. I replace my halogen bulbs every 3 years. I keep a set of old bulbs as spares in the car.

 

[eljefino]

My Dad had non halogen sealed beams in his 1980 Ford Fairmont when I got my permit in 1992.

I offered I'd buy some new halogens as the old ones were dim and yellow. I'd pay for it out of my paper route.

No dice.

He junked the car in 1993 with the original dim bulbs. Should have seen the thing in winter, with salt all over the lenses further ruining vision.

Remember in 1982 when "Halogen headlights" were all over the car ads? Something the same shape and connection as the old sealed beams you could switch out in 10 minutes? What, we ran out of Corinthian Leather?

 

[RacerE7773]

"NEW HALOGEN HEADLIGHT TECHNOLOGY!!!!!!" is what I remember the adverts screaming as well.

I change bulbs of any sort on a car when they burn out, but change both as I don't want to risk losing the extra bulb. I once had a relative ask why I replaced all the bulbs on the car we got from the dealer last year (it's an '03). I said I'd looked at the lights one night and the left taillight was dim, and another side marker was out. I have to replace a signal bulb up front yet, as well as brights and dims. The headlights mainly to upgrade. Either Nighthawks or Xtravisions. Plus, I don't want to have red and blue lights in the mirror.

 

[PW01]

Quote:

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When they burn out.

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Exactly

 

[Ken42]

I change when the cops pull me over.

 

[fillitup]

I have Hella H4 headlights on 84 S-15 for 20 years now have only replaced one bulb. Headlights are bright as the day I bought them.

 

[Mitch]

I can beat that. My 78 landcruiser with Hella h4 lamps(that I installed in 78) finally burned one out this year. I replaced both

 

[Quest]

Quote:

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My Dad had non halogen sealed beams in his 1980 Ford Fairmont when I got my permit in 1992.

I offered I'd buy some new halogens as the old ones were dim and yellow. I'd pay for it out of my paper route.

No dice.

He junked the car in 1993 with the original dim bulbs. Should have seen the thing in winter, with salt all over the lenses further ruining vision.

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The trouble most likely stands from the fact that your Fairmount doesn't put out enough voltage to begin with (less than 12VDC, or better yet: with alternator charging/running, it should be at least 12.6V ~13.4VDC).

filament type lightbulbs can only get it's max. light output under the rated voltage. As soon as the voltage drops even just a wee little bit, light output drops significantly.

 

[InvalidUserID]

My higher wattage 9006 lamps seem to last 6-8 months. I think I'll try some Nighthawks and see how long they last and compare in output.

In comparison, OEM Sylvania sealed beam units usually lasted about a year.

 

[Jet]

Quote:

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My higher wattage 9006 lamps seem to last 6-8 months. I think I'll try some Nighthawks and see how long they last and compare in output.

In comparison, OEM Sylvania sealed beam units usually lasted about a year.

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There is something going on there and it's not the brand of headlight your using.

 

[hominid7]

Quote:

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While higher quality bulbs will age better than cheap bulbs, all halogen lights get weaker and light output gets more yellow with age. I replace my halogen bulbs every 3 years. I keep a set of old bulbs as spares in the car.

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[1sttruck]

"While higher quality bulbs will age better than cheap bulbs, all halogen lights get weaker and light output gets more yellow with age."

That's what I see too. I replaced the bulbs in the 99 Taurus about a month ago as they seemed kind of dim, and they were the original issue bulbs. I guess the long life bulbs are rated for lower output, as the higher output bulbs all provide shorter life. I put in some XtraVision even though the life will be shorter, and they are noticeably brighter.

 

[TheTanSedan]

Just replaced all [14] exterior lamps this past week. 6.5 years and 120,000 miles. Long enough.

 

[paulo57509]

I change them when they burn out. In pairs. I figure if one blows, the other one can't be too far behind.

 

[Master ACiD]

change em when they blow. anything less is a waste.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Quote:

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change em when they blow. anything less is a waste.

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Yeah, I'm trying to follow that too, but the ones from the factory are going dim on me. I run em on brights all day, and then the usual at night. With mileage in the 38,000 mile range, they have a lot of hours on them. Can't find the Nighthawks around here, but the Xtra-Visions will do. I'm running a 1000CCA battery in this dinky little car, I'm doing as much for the electrical load as I can without going to a relay harness. After warranty is up, it'll get that.