Back to all

Change Your Wiper Blades Twice Yearly at Tuffy Chicago (Diversey Pkwy)

June 19, 2022

Because 90% of our driving decisions are based on visual information, unobscured vision is paramount. Which brings us to the topic of today's Tuffy Chicago (Diversey Pkwy) article: wiper blades. While this isn't the most exciting automotive subject, it's important. You wouldn't drive at night in Chicago with your headlights off, but a dirty or streaked vehicle windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it just as difficult to see.

Most of us in Chicago replace our wiper blades when they no longer do the job. They are so worn, hard or brittle that they can't clean the windshield. They may even be falling apart. In other words, we deal with our wiper blades from a failure perspective. We address them when they no longer function. The theory, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," doesn't apply here. Instead, we should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that we should maintain rather than repair.

Illinois automotive experts recommend that we change our wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those Chicago spring showers and winter storms.

When we use our wipers a lot, they get worn from the Chicago road grime and bug juice. Even if we don't use them very often, they're exposed to the sun, heat and cold, and air which cause them to dry out, become brittle and break.

And of course, you need a good windshield washer fluid in your vehicle to help the wipers do their job. Always use washer fluid because plain water doesn't work as well and it can freeze in the reservoir. If you're driving where there are a lot of bugs in Illinois, you can pay a little more and get fluid that does a better job of clearing them. If you live where you have extremely cold winters, you can get fluid that resists freezing.

Like everything else in the automotive world, there've been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. If you are a local Chicago driver that has a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper. And if you live where there's a lot of snow and ice in Illinois, they make special winter blades that don't clog up and freeze like standard blades.

At one of your fall and spring oil changes, ask your Tuffy Chicago (Diversey Pkwy) service advisor which is best wiper blade for your driving conditions. Replace your blades on schedule so you never have to struggle with your vision when you switch on your wipers.

Tuffy Chicago (Diversey Pkwy)
1400 West Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, Illinois 60614
773-929-3622

More articles from Tuffy Chicago

The Little Valve that Could (PCV Valve Replacement)

May 5, 2024

It's easy to get letters like PVC and PCV mixed up. PVC is a plastic that's used in a lot of things, especially plumbing pipes. And PCV is a valve that helps your engine burn off excess fumes rather than having them pollute our atmosphere. PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation. When y... More

Alternator Facts (Failing Alternator)

April 28, 2024

If you notice that your headlights are flickering at night, that's something to pay attention to. While there could be many different things that could cause that problem, one possibility is your vehicle's alternator. The alternator takes mechanical energy from the engine and turns it into electr... More

Wiper Blades in Illinois

April 21, 2024

If you're gonna drive around the Chicago area, you've got to be able to see! So having a good set of windshield wipers is extremely important. We've all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm or when our windshield is just dirty.It seems like your wi... More