Wiper blades and fluid

[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?

The other day I put some Rain-X Weatherbeater blades on the Focus. Unlike some other Rain-X blades, the Weatherbeaters do NOT have the Rain-X solution applied to them; thank goodness, as I hate the stuff. These are traditional metal-frame blades, but are very aerodynamic and nicely shaped. So far, they are working very nicely.

The Fusion still has the OEM blades after more than a year and a half, including two winters, and still work nearly perfectly.

As for fluid, I take a jug of the plain old blue 'winter' fluid, but add a big squirt of Palmolive dish soap and a couple of teaspoons of 50% isopropyl alcohol to the mix. It clears the windshield nicely, and the IPA cleans the blades at the same time.

 

[SteveHarper]

Wiper blades: Anco 31 series if they are pretty similar to the OEM. They are near the top of Consumer Reports, $5 for 2 after a rebate available very often, and they appear to be OEM on many vehicles.

Otherwise I get OEM inserts if they are not too expensive. On some cars you take a risk if you change the entire wiper as it could affect the effectiveness of any blade.

Fluid: Haven't really thought about it but I wouldn't risk alcohol getting near my paint!

 

[Klutch9]

IIRC, the washer fluid itself is more harmful on paint than IPA.

 

[thescreensavers]

Use 303 washer fluid tabs

 

[Nick R]

Still have the OE wipers on both the nox and the cruze, the nox are starting to get iffy, lthe ones on the cruze generally work really well still, not really looking to replace them just yet. I usually use the RainX orange stuff.

 

[hardcore302]

rain-x wipers and cheapo fluid with rain-x additive.

 

[01rangerxl]

Anco blades and the cheapest blue washer fluid at Wal-Mart.

 

[joaks]

I'm using Bosch Icon blades and the orange rain-x fluid. I also have rain-x on the windows. I am happy with this setup so far. Always looking for better though!

 

[yonyon]

I like Anco blades for metal frames, Bosch or Trico for beams. Cheap blue washer fluid with a pinch of Cascade powder in the summer. Come winter I add a bottle of the $0.58 methanol type gas line antifreeze from Target.

 

[barlowc]

Similar to joaks, I have Bosch ICON blades on both of our vehicles and find that they work very well. They were a good upgrade from the traditional frame-style blades that came on our Saturn and were a good replacement for the OE Mitsuba blades that were on the Nissan.

I have pairs of Trico NeoForm blades ready for when the current blades need to be replaced. But unlike some folks who have to replace blades every year or more frequently, blades last a long time for me here in Michigan. I can usually use a set for 2.5 to 3 years.

For fluid, I just use the standard blue stuff that costs a couple bucks a gallon. When I run out I may try the orange Rain-X all-season fluid, but wiper fluid seems to last forever in my vehicles. To this day, I have never put fluid in the Nissan. It must get topped off during periodic visits to the dealer.

And I'm a big fan of Rain-X glass treatment on the windshield. If you've never tried it, you really should. During full rain, I can drive at highway speeds without the wipers on or just on an intermittent setting. The water beads up and streams right off all by itself.

 

[Errtt]

Previous winter I used the Rain-X beam style (can't recall the name at the moment)and they worked well into the the start of this last winter. Then I changed them to the Bosch Micro-Edge with the traditional frame style and have been happy with them too.
Fluid now is some kind of rain-x stuff since I had bought a few gallons of the stuff to try

 

[SEMI_287]

I have Anco blades and Rain-X orange fluid.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
I like Anco blades for metal frames, Bosch or Trico for beams. Cheap blue washer fluid with a pinch of Cascade powder in the summer. Come winter I add a bottle of the $0.58 methanol type gas line antifreeze from Target.


Washer fluid already has methanol in it. I would not want to add anymore, especially a whole bottle of gas line antifreeze.

Menthanol is a VERY deadly substance. So bad, that some countries we export our vehicles to have gov't requirements to ONLY fill the washer bottles with 100% water. We considered iso-p alcohol but the cost is very high.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: SteveHarper
Wiper blades: Anco 31 series if they are pretty similar to the OEM. They are near the top of Consumer Reports, $5 for 2 after a rebate available very often, and they appear to be OEM on many vehicles.



TRICO is also an OEM supplier to most vehicle manufacturers. I, personally do not like Annco wipers based on some short lived experiences with them, but the walmart price is right.

I've had great luck with Bosch micro edge as well. I will use either Trico exact fit or Bosch micro edge except on my 2008 CTS which I go to the dealer since the wiper blade is unique in appearance...a regular replacement would not look as good. The dealer price is actually pretty reasonable and they last about 2 years.

 

[cutter]

$5 Ancos and orange rain x.

 

[mechtech2]

Any new blade is OK to great.

 

[NateDN10]

I've been using the beam style Rain-X Latitude & orange Rain-X fluid. Works great.

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Washer fluid already has methanol in it. I would not want to add anymore, especially a whole bottle of gas line antifreeze.

Menthanol is a VERY deadly substance. So bad, that some countries we export our vehicles to have gov't requirements to ONLY fill the washer bottles with 100% water. We considered iso-p alcohol but the cost is very high.

The cheap blue stuff usually has around 30% methanol to keep it from freezing. It's usually enough to keep from freezing up in the bottle, but come wintertime I want 50% to 60% so I know it won't freeze as soon as it hits the glass. If I catch someone licking my windshield while I'm driving they'll have other problems to deal with along with being poisoned.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
The cheap blue stuff usually has around 30% methanol to keep it from freezing. It's usually enough to keep from freezing up in the bottle, but come wintertime I want 50% to 60% so I know it won't freeze as soon as it hits the glass. If I catch someone licking my windshield while I'm driving they'll have other problems to deal with along with being poisoned.

Well that's true! LOL! I've never had washer fluid (as long as it's the winter formula) freeze in the bottle - BUT it sure has froze up in the wiper arms before and on the glass.

 

[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.