Who needs windscreen wipers in a drought?

Who needs windscreen wipers in a drought? - 02/11/2007

Some words of wisdom from the world wide leaders in windscreen wiper
Technology

Its summer and Australia wide we are experiencing what many report to be the worst drought in decades. Why on earth would you need to check or replace your windscreen wipers during the hot time of the year?

We hear comments like these frequently at Trico from customers and general public
alike. On the surface it seems like a fair question. It hasn’t rained for weeks or even
months so the wipers on your car haven’t been used. Based on this they should still be in good condition because after all, things generally only wear out and need replacing when they are regularly being used. Right?

Wrong!

Whilst it may be the case that the wipers haven’t been used to clear rain very much of recent times, the vehicles wiper system is still regularly used to clear insects, bugs, dust and road grime from the windscreen. When used like this the wiper system actually works harder and is placed under more strain than it would in heavy rain.

Another factor in all this is the UV rays from the sun that progressively deteriorate the rubber wiping edge of the wiper. Although Trico wiper refills are made to withstand UV rays, eventually the sun wins out and the rubber refill will need to be replaced. On plastic backed wiper refills, the UV rays over time make the plastic hard and brittle. This can have two main effects on the wiping performance.

• The sun tends to mould the refill against the shape of the windscreen in the
‘parked’ position along the bottom of the screen. As the plastic backing hardens
it doesn’t allow the refill to follow the curve of the windscreen resulting in missed
patched on the glass and a poor wipe.

• Secondly, the plastic backing can become brittle around the claws of the wiper
blade which may result in the refill becoming detached from the wiper blade assembly causing the vehicles windscreen to be scratched.

What often happens after a long hot dry spell??

That’s right, a storm

And few things can be more dangerous on the road than sudden a summer storm.

Trico recommend:
- Wiper refills be replaced every 6 months
- Wiper Blade assemblies be replaced every 3 years or 75,000km

Picture this; it’s a hot summer’s day and you are driving home just as the sun is going down. You can feel a cool change in the air and it suddenly starts raining. Not just rain but a heavy down pour! The road is suddenly like an ice skating rink due to the oils in the road bitumen being drawn to the surface by the constant hot weather. You turn your wipers on only to find they do nothing to actually clear the water from your windscreen and succeed in only smearing it across the glass.

The glare from headlights of the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to you makes it very difficult to judge distances of other objects around you and you would rather be anywhere other than behind the wheel.

Sounds like every driver’s worst night mare!

The possibilities of disaster are many and they are now staring you right in the face!
This is the sort of instance that makes most people aware of the need to change their wipers but don’t you think it’s a little late?

The average set of windscreen wipers clears approximately 40 acres of glass each year so check your wipers regularly, perhaps have a look at them each time you wash your car.

• Is the rubber lying right over on its side?
• Is the rubber torn or perished?
• Has it been more than 6 months since your refills were last replaced?
• Are the Wiper Blade assemblies bent, worn or damaged in any way?

Windscreen wipers are one of the most important factors of vehicle safety, yet they are often the most overlooked, …. Even when you are looking right at them!
Another good idea particularly in summer is to ensure you have Trico Windscreen
Washer Additive in your washer bottle. This will make the task of clearing those dead
bugs and dust from your windscreen a lot easier and also help to reduce the wear and tear on your wiper components.

So while it may be true that windscreen wipers are used more often during winter they also form a very important part of summer driving safety as well. Replace yours today!

Remember: 95% of all driving decisions are based on VISION!

Autobarn carries a complete range of Trico windscreen wipers- ask about free fitting on your purchase of new wiper blades today.