Wiper blades?

[ccw]

Bosch Icon wiper blades picked up and installed today! As expected (they are wiper blades, after all) install was easy. Now to see how they work over time, particularly this winter.

Well, I’m not impressed right now with these. They are still wiping perfectly (barring one tiny line right now, but almost certainly that’s debris).

The problem is they’re already squeaking in light rain whenever they change direction. Really irritating in light rain in traffic (slow speed so no road noise), which is a pretty common situation in the Seattle area.

We’ll see if that squeak goes away with some more use. But if it doesn’t, these will be in for a short life and I’ll go back to PIAA Super Silicone.

 

[Modman]

Well, I’m not impressed right now with these. They are still wiping perfectly (barring one tiny line right now, but almost certainly that’s debris).

The problem is they’re already squeaking in light rain whenever they change direction. Really irritating in light rain in traffic (slow speed so no road noise), which is a pretty common situation in the Seattle area.

We’ll see if that squeak goes away with some more use. But if it doesn’t, these will be in for a short life and I’ll go back to PIAA Super Silicone.

Interesting... We replaced the ones on our Ranger with Bosch Icons about 1 month after you and they are performing well thus far.

Since we haven't had them on as long as you it will be interesting to see if we get the same phenomenon over time...

Did yours do this from day one or did it recently start??

 

[ccw]

Interesting... We replaced the ones on our Ranger with Bosch Icons about 1 month after you and they are performing well thus far.

Since we haven't had them on as long as you it will be interesting to see if we get the same phenomenon over time...

Did yours do this from day one or did it recently start??

It will indeed be interesting! Definitely started recently, and was not the case from the beginning. Sort of thing I can’t put an exact date on, though.

I have no idea if winter conditions contributed or not. Over the holidays the truck saw temperatures as low as -20F. Also saw plenty of ice and snow.

It truly isn’t noticeable at even 25mph, it’s just when stopped or moving very slowly. But it’s repetitive, so it’s quite annoying.

 

[Explorerinil]

I just put a set set of Michelin xl silicone wipers on my wife’s Tahoe. So far they have been great.

 

[blumhagen]

Well, I’m not impressed right now with these. They are still wiping perfectly (barring one tiny line right now, but almost certainly that’s debris).

The problem is they’re already squeaking in light rain whenever they change direction. Really irritating in light rain in traffic (slow speed so no road noise), which is a pretty common situation in the Seattle area.

We’ll see if that squeak goes away with some more use. But if it doesn’t, these will be in for a short life and I’ll go back to PIAA Super Silicone.

I don't like them either. Only had a few weeks and from the start I'm using more washer fluid to get them lubed up to avoid smearing. They also leave trails of fluid when they return to rest position.

 

[Vermonster]

Fwiw I have drank the Kool-aid on BOSCH Icon and each time - I’m left feeling like I over paid for subpar performance. This was on my BMW, mind you, but it’s a fact.

 

[Modman]

Fwiw I have drank the Kool-aid on BOSCH Icon and each time - I’m left feeling like I over paid for subpar performance. This was on my BMW, mind you, but it’s a fact.

Well, my better half is driving the Ranger until our new vehicle is built so if there is an annoying noise or otherwise functional issue I will be quickly advised

 

[Gus]

Well, I’m not impressed right now with these. They are still wiping perfectly (barring one tiny line right now, but almost certainly that’s debris).

The problem is they’re already squeaking in light rain whenever they change direction. Really irritating in light rain in traffic (slow speed so no road noise), which is a pretty common situation in the Seattle area.

We’ll see if that squeak goes away with some more use. But if it doesn’t, these will be in for a short life and I’ll go back to PIAA Super Silicone.

Confession time, got busy and forgot all about getting new wipers till now

Factory ones squeak and streak but nothing bad, wonder who makes the factory wipers?

 

[ccw]

I don't like them either. Only had a few weeks and from the start I'm using more washer fluid to get them lubed up to avoid smearing. They also leave trails of fluid when they return to rest position.

Oh good point! I have noticed in heavier rains that they don’t bring all the water with them on the return stroke. It’s not streaking, just “puddles” of water behind the wiper.

Can’t remember ever experiencing that with the PIAA Super Silicone wipers. I can’t help but wonder if that’s partly caused by the lack of a traditional frame supporting the blade.

Fwiw I have drank the Kool-aid on BOSCH Icon and each time - I’m left feeling like I over paid for subpar performance. This was on my BMW, mind you, but it’s a fact.

Gotcha. Ya I’m still open to being impressed over the long haul, but at the moment I wouldn’t recommend Bosch Icon as a premium product.

 

[Cuervo]

I use Optimum Hyper Seal on my windshield, it allows me to pretty much not use wiper blades. That being said, I bought the Icons as I normally do for my vehicles. I change blades 3 times a year in Washington state

 

[2020Tremor]

Fwiw I have drank the Kool-aid on BOSCH Icon and each time - I’m left feeling like I over paid for subpar performance. This was on my BMW, mind you, but it’s a fact.

My experience has been similar when running them on my wife’s old Yukon. When they were new worked fine but barely made it 6 months and needed replacement. Was a lot of money for something that didn’t last that long. Got cheap and went with the cheapest Rainex beams from Wally World. Those actually worked pretty good and way outlasted the Bosh Icons. Lasted over 3 times as long.

 

[ccw]

I use Optimum Hyper Seal on my windshield, it allows me to pretty much not use wiper blades. That being said, I bought the Icons as I normally do for my vehicles. I change blades 3 times a year in Washington state

Change blades 3 times a year?! Yet you say you pretty much don’t need to use wipers? Are they regularly (every weekend or more) wiping mud off or something??

Here I am being somewhat disappointed if my wipers don’t last more than a year.

 

[Vermonster]

My experience has been similar when running them on my wife’s old Yukon. When they were new worked fine but barely made it 6 months and needed replacement. Was a lot of money for something that didn’t last that long. Got cheap and went with the cheapest Rainex beams from Wally World. Those actually worked pretty good and way outlasted the Bosh Icons. Lasted over 3 times as long.

This x100. I completely agree.

 

[Vermonster]

Change blades 3 times a year?! Yet you say you pretty much don’t need to use wipers? Are they regularly (every weekend or more) wiping mud off or something??

Here I am being somewhat disappointed if my wipers don’t last more than a year.

@ccw You should be able to get a year out of them, IMO. I’m still rocking the factory oem ones - and that’s dealing snow, salt, and rain. They are just now beginning to show some signs of wear.

My wife, who sounds a bit different than @Modman ‘s wife, ends up running wipers down to metal without saying anything. Lol. Each time I drive her car I feel like a mechanic on a road test. “what? They still work - they are fine.”

Ot: @Modman whatcha getting built? *eyebrow flutter*

 

[Grabber]

I have Rain x Repellency premium on my work truck. They actually put rain x on your windshield as they wipe and definetely works as the water repels off the windshield where the wipers wipe now without even putting the wipers on.

 

[Explorerinil]

Confession time, got busy and forgot all about getting new wipers till now

Factory ones squeak and streak but nothing bad, wonder who makes the factory wipers?

My factory wipers are still working great after 2 years. This is odd! No streaks or squeaks, but I keep my truck inside so the UV rays are not degrading them as fast.

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

I've been pretty happy with the RainX silicone series blades. In CA, I replaced them about every couple of years and they're lasting at least a year in TX. They're usually around $24 - $26 at Walmart so I don't think much of it if I have to replace them in less than a year.

 

[Modman]

You should be able to get a year out of them, IMO. I’m still rocking the factory oem ones - and that’s dealing snow, salt, and rain.

My factory wipers are still working great after 2 years. This is odd! No streaks or squeaks, but I keep my truck inside so the UV rays are not degrading them as fast.

Still using the OEM blades as well... Truck sits outside and exposed to the same elements as @Vermonster . The risk with sticking with OEM is they may not be from the same source as production, but I am tempted. Bosch Icons weren't exactly inexpensive for the Ranger... Here is the price for the SuperDuty:

 

[Oscar_iuec18]

I generally change wipers once a year as annual maintenance since the truck is always outside.

I've noticed I go through alot more washer fluid on the Super Duty than the old F150. Must be the angle of windshield and being higher up, as I'm hitting bugs way more often compared to the old truck. There was a washer fluid shortage so I stocked up on 6 gallons last week.

Washer fluid shortage? Really? how about some Windex? Not ford approved

 

[cavecreekgoat]

Washer fluid shortage? Really? how about some Windex? Not ford approved

Nice idea, but Windex is not a good idea.

https://info.glass.com/think-twice-before-adding-windex-to-your-windshield-wiper-fluid/#:~:text=So%20wouldn't%20it%20be,your%20vehicle%E2%80%94including%20the%20glass.