Wiper blades and fluid

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I've been happy with the Anco Contour blades. They're on all three of my trucks, and I pick up a new set when they are on sale, so they're ready to go when I need a replacement.

For washer fluid, I use the cheap blue stuff (rated to -20F) for the summer and switch to Zecol Purple Power for the winter, rated at -35F. I'd rather not have any non-freeze proofed windshield washer fluid, given some past experience with summer fills still being in the tank when it gets cold... (And I keep all the fluids in my locked cabinet in the garage to keep the little ones out).
 
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Well, this is BITOG, so I thought that some of you might be weirdly obsessed like I am about these things. What kind of wiper blades and fluid does everyone use?


I'm weirdly obsessed, too. Wipers must be changed every six months. For the G, I'm using the Anco Profile beam time blades, which work well for it. The F-150 can use any quality blade without complaint (I have a set of Bosch beams waiting to be installed). The old Audi needed the old style, or it would miss and/or chatter. For fluids, I like the all season type stuff that's good for summer and down to -45 C, usually from Esso or Petro-Canada, or the Rain-X stuff.
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Originally Posted By: Garak
Wipers must be changed every six months.

I'm curious, but why? Do they really wear out on you that fast?


confused2.gif


Yeah, why?

My beam type wipers have got to be two years old.

I just used them in the rain that delayed the Angels/Rangers game. I was still on interval when others around me were on high. whipwhipwhipwhip

Back wiper has always been noisy with the beam type. Still is but I only use it when I am stopped.
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
I'm curious, but why? Do they really wear out on you that fast?

That's often a general recommendation, but certainly no hard and fast rule, whatsoever; I meant it more tongue in cheek, particularly the "must" part. It's my rule, though. I've definitely had wipers last much, much longer than that.

Up here, the wipers do get a bit of a beating. The sun in the summer isn't kind to them.

I could (and have) let them go much longer, but as soon as I notice diminished performance, I just replace them. That's usually around six months or so. I'm just overly picky, and I get the Anco Profiles for around $10 a piece.
 
For the Pilot, I get the Honda inserts. The Frontier I like the Bosch Steel Techs from Wally. RainX orange for the fluid in both.
 
I have used many different wipers, but Rain-X beam blades are the best.

I use green windshield washer fluid because it has more additives than the blue stuff, and I don't need any freeze protection where I live.
 
Rain-X Weather Beater blades on my truck and wife's Honda. I change mine out about every year or so. Her car has had the same set of Weather Beaters for 3 years now and they are still in great shape, no streaking or chattering. My theory on that is we have a one car garage, and she is the one who gets to park her car in it. My truck is out in the sun a lot more than her car is, so I think the blades take more abuse from the sun and heat. I tried a set of cheaper Autozone Duralast branded blades on my truck a couple of summers ago, they were worn out in two months. The Weather Beaters work great and usually last a long time.

I treat our blades with spray silicone on a rag every so often, it keeps them supple and in good shape. I just buy the cheap blue washer fluid, $1.39 a gallon at Publix, it does a pretty good job. We have no need for the sub-freezing washer fluid here in Florida. The blades are cheap at Walmart and sometimes AAP or AZ may run a sale. My last set were on sale at AAP, I think they were $4.00 off a pair.
 
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Menthanol is a VERY deadly substance.

I wouldn't get too dramatic about it. Methanol is a cumulative toxin. I worked with it long before I learned it's dangers. I woudn't call it "very deadly" unless you gulped a good quantity of it.

You are correct, I was a bit over the top there, Lol!
 
You should not be treating the rubber with anything. You can use rubbing alcohol if there's something very stubborn, but you risk damaging the rubber and that will severely reduce wipe quality.

My father worked at Bosch in the wiper division for 25 years.
 
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
I treat our blades with spray silicone on a rag every so often, it keeps them supple and in good shape.


This makes a big difference and it's what I do as well.
 
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
I'm sure most people don't put much thought into wiper blades and fluid. As long as they are simply there, most people are satisfied. Well, this is BITOG, so I thought that some of you might be weirdly obsessed like I am about these things. What kind of wiper blades and fluid does everyone use?


I'd say you guessed right.

I have no preference for fluid, except that I insist that it does NOT have any "bug remover" in it, no "Rain X" in it, no nothing. I buy the cheapest blue jug on the shelf.

Blades. I've used a TON, and now buy only OEM blade inserts. These have performed better for me than any other brand of rubber, and they're also about the cheapest option.
 
You know since I started driving at 18 I've used nothing but beam style blades, this past wiper blade change I decided I'd save $15-$20 this time around and give traditional blades a shot. I've got to tell you, I can notice a difference on the Charger. It seems like with traditional blades any little debris (leaf, bug, etc.) that happens to be on the windshield will cause the blade to streak whereas with the beam style blades it would either get rid of the debris or it would stick to the glass go over the debris and stick right back onto the window creating no streaks. Anyone else have experience like this or is it just my OCD?

For fluid I use Rain-X orange in Winter and green in Summer.
Blades: I had Bosch Icon blades and loved them, switched to Michelin standard blades and I'm not a fan.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: dparm
You should not be treating the rubber with anything. You can use rubbing alcohol if there's something very stubborn, but you risk damaging the rubber and that will severely reduce wipe quality.


what is the best way to clean the blades then? i usually wipe mine down with alcohol when they start streaking. i then wash the alcohol off with a wet cotton ball. i find this gets the blades performing good as new again.
 
I use the factory GM blades for both the Sunfire and the S10. They work fine, and get changed every year. Washer fluid is the cheapest blue stuff I can find.
 
I change the blades every 6 months (spring/fall). Usually use regular anco blades with the blue washer solvent in the warm months and a winter blade with de-icer fluid in the winter.
 
I'm very pick about wipe blades and have used most brands/types over the years. I jumped on the new-style beam blades when they came out a few years back. I didn't care for them. I didn't think they were as sturdy or wiped the window as well as they claimed. While I like the aero design, I went back to the old-school blades.

Someone recommended to me the old-school Michelin blades so I gave them a shot. I thought they were great. Better than the new style blades. But then Michelin came out with the new Stealth blade last year. It combines the old-school and new-school designs so you get the best of both worlds. I've put a set on both our vehicles and they are definitely the best blades I've ever put on any cars that I've owned. I would highly recommend them.

http://www.michelinstealth.com/

As far as washer fluid is concerned, I used to be a Rain-X washer fluid customer. However, when I went to re-fill the reservoir, I started noticing what I would call orange "globules". It looked like a mixture of oil & water. I wasn't real thrilled about it so I switched to Prestone washer fluid and I no longer have the problem. And, the Prestone seems to clean the windshield better.

So, I'm a Michelin blade and Prestone washer fluid man these days!
 
Originally Posted By: mshu7
So, I'm a Michelin blade and Prestone washer fluid man these days!


Thanks for the link on those Stealth blades. Before I started using OEM inserts, I was using the older Michelin blades pretty regularly, and agree that those were about the best of the blades that I've tried. Maybe one of these days I'll try those Stealth blades. Where do you buy them? I've not seen them before, even at stores that carry the older Michelin blades (both made by Pylon).
 
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