| hondacuraworld |
Since we here in Buffalo are expecting 1-3" of snow within 24 hours, I wanted to touch base for just a moment on winter blades and my experiences with them. Here's what to look for when you purchase:
1. Make sure that the mountings are sturdy and not easily taken apart by twisting them with your hand
2. Take your fingers and stretch the rubber coating. It should snap back like a rubber inner tube.
3. Never ever buy a winter blade that feels like the skeleton is made of plastic. Rubber coated plastic blades WILL NOT hold up under heavy snow.
The best and only blades I would install are Trico. Anco also makes an excellent blade.
Never ever ever buy a Tridon wiper blade! Tridon blades are the worst pieces of crap that I have ever seen in 15 years of selling parts. They are cheap plastic and the mountings are easily broken. I worked for 5 years at a local parts chain (Hutchins Automotive, recently bought out by Carquest). We used to replace customers blades by the dozen, and every broken blade I ever replaced was a Tridon it seems.
One other note, make sure you replace wipers before the snow falls if your vehicle (Toyota and Isuzu products most notably) has two Phillips head screws that hold the blade to the arm. It's nearly impossible to get those switched over with a hard coat of ice over them. I used to keep a fireplace lighter under the counter to heat up the screws and melt the ice on them, and most times I could get them free with a pair of vise grips.
Another friendly winter driving tip from your buddy at Hondacuraworld :) |
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| remydog |
Tim,
When I picked up my car, my wife asked if the blades on the car were winter blades. He said they were not and strongly recommended against using them. If memory serves me, he was concerned that they put an extra load on the motors that could damage them.
Any thoughts?
MSK |
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| hondacuraworld |
That used to be very true years ago......we used to say the same thing about many import vehicles 15 years ago, because we were told that the wiper motors couldn't handle the "undue strain" of the winter blade. But, pragmatically, the winter wiper isn't any heavier than a standard blade. Now the only downside to a winter blade is that sometimes it won't curve as tightly to the windshield because of the limited curvature movement of the blade because of the rubber sheath.
Remember that the only reason that you want to switch to the winter blade is because of ice. When the wipers park in the down position, the heat of the windshield from when you drive turns the snow falling on the blades at rest to ice. Because there's no rubber coating on the blade, the ice gets into the blade skeleton and expands, making the blads skip on the windshield unless the ice is chopped away or melts.
So are winter wipers necessary for all situations? No. Do I think they represent a problem to use? No, because swiping away 6" of snow on the windshield represents far more strain than any wiper could. |
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| dbauchat |
I agree with Tim's recommendations ( I just installed new Anco winter blades on all the family vehicles).
The only problem I have ever experienced with winter blades is that they have more tendency to wind lift on "some" vehicles. The rubber cover can cause the blades to sail depending on the aerodynamics of your particular vehicle. I have had no problems using winter blades on my MDX.
The MDX OEM (summer) blades are particularly susceptable to icing (typically the bigger the blade the worse the problem is...), so here in Buffalo winter blades are a must.
There is at least one company out there that offers "heated" blades, does anyone in the group have any experience with those? It could be a slick option for those of us who routinely drive in icy conditions. |
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| dbauchat |
One other thing to upgrade is the windshield anti-freeze in your X for winter driving. You can get away with most anything all summer but for driving in the cold you need to pay attention to what you buy.
Most of the stuff out there is only rated to -20F which is really marginal when the temps drop into the teens. I shop around to find stuff rated at -30 to -35F. It really makes a difference. (the best I've found is from Shell Canada, it's their heavy duty winter juice).
There is nothing worse than having your windshield spray freeze up in the nozzles or on the windshield. |
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| JeffK |
I agree: Change your windshield wiper fluid now!
Another trick we skiers use (and I spent three winters in Syracuse in Law School):
Before you go to bed LIFT YOUR BLADES OFF THE WINDSHIELD!. This prevents them from freezing to the windshield! |
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| remydog |
| I first saw that when I was skiing in France one year. I do it routinely, especially when snow is predicted and assuming I don't forget. Makes a big difference. |
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| XStatic |
quote:
Originally posted by dbauchat
There is at least one company out there that offers "heated" blades, does anyone in the group have any experience with those? It could be a slick option for those of us who routinely drive in icy conditions.
Seems like you could wire this up to the heated mirror circuit....
blizzardblade
I always thought it would be useful to have the windshield washer fluid pass through a heat exchanger so when you sprayed it to clear the snow it wouldn't form a thin layer of ice instead. |
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| sgtglok |
quote:
Originally posted by JeffK
Before you go to bed LIFT YOUR BLADES OFF THE WINDSHIELD!. This prevents them from freezing to the windshield!
Learned that trick on a trip to Germany. Seems to me european drivers in general take greater care preparing for winter driving - chains and winter tires are almost a must. Saw many parked cars with their wipers lifted, but seems a little inpractical, if the wind is strong. |
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| MaDaX |
quote:
Do I think they represent a problem to use? No, because swiping away 6" of snow on the windshield represents far more strain than any wiper could.
Please, PLEASE tell me you're not one of those drivers who jumps into a car covered with 6" of snow, only to clear the glass with the wiper blades and then drive around with the rest of the windows shrouded in snow! ;) |
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