This is just a reminder that if you haven’t inspected your windshield wipers recently, consider doing so soon. After noticing that my wipers weren’t performing all that well anymore, I took a quick look. All three of the front and rear wipers were torn and in terrible shape. So much for OEM quality.
My usual online auto supply website wasn’t showing any compatible wipers for my 2010 Chevy Equinox, so I turned to Amazon’s Part Finder. I usually prefer to use Valeo or Bosch blades, but apparently they’re not compatible with my car’s wiper arms. I ended up ordering 2 Anco and 1 RainX wiper blades, and will see how that goes.
It’s also about time to let some air out of the tires. Due to the shift in temperature, if your tire was properly inflated in the winter, it could be overinflated by 4-5 PSI or more now that it’s much warmer outside.
JML says
Get some PPG Aquapel and treat your windows, no matter what kind of wipers you get. The rain will bead up and roll off, the windows will be clearer (the nighttime difference is huge), and your wipers will work better and last longer. Think Rain-X on steroids. One treatment last 6 months, unlike Rain-X’s 3 weeks. You might get some bouncing of the wipers at first, but it’ll go away.
The glass has to be clean before you do the treatment; do it out of doors, and wear disposable gloves. You can find the stuff online for far cheaper than in brick-and-mortar stores. Buy at least a half-dozen applicator packs, though. I use at least two every time I do my car windows.
Stuart says
PPG Aquapel? I’ll have to keep that in mind, thanks! I used to use RainX treatments, but these days I just use the orange RainX washer fluid and it seems to be doing the trick by itself. I started using it because of its non-freezing properties since cheap blue washer fluid always seemed to freeze on contact every winter.
I can always go for better water displacement and will pick up the Aquapel first chance I can.
Maikeru says
Personally I’ve had issues with the flexible wiper blades like the Bosch ones that you have in your image. I’m not sure if it’s just the way that my car’s windscreen was designed or what, but the right wiper never presses hard enough to clean light dirt a the far right coverage area. That and on my car they seem not to be as good for scraping bugs and bird droppings as the rigid backed ones.
However, you’ve a newer model car, so they might be more compatible.
Stuart says
I used Valeo Ultimate blades on a ’97 Ford Taurus to great effect, so I don’t think the model year has a lot to do with it. It probably more has to do with windshield geometry, and maybe a bit of coincidence.
My wife’s 2000 Focus also used Bosch blades & now the Valeos.
I can’t say whether they clean bird droppings or bugs better or worse, but I’ve never had great performance even with rigid backed ones.
Maikeru says
Right now I’m driving a ’91 Legend, so the windshield isn’t as low sloping and flat as seems to be the trend in a lot of newer cars of its size—a ton of newer cars of its size have pretty thick A-pillars due to the lower windshield angle as a less vertical pillar means more support is needed if the car ends up on its roof.