A Problem and A Dilemma

"Taylor Martin" (tjmartin)
07/31/2020 at 14:14 • Filed to: None

A Purple Kia, Rims And All, For Your Troubles.

Howdy Oppo, I’m tired, so I ’ll make this quick:

I have a single problem and a single dilemma, both when it comes to my car.

The Problem: m y wipers are squeaking. It’s very faint right when they reach the top of their trajectory, but it’s enough. Getting new wipers is not the correct answer, I literally put them on a week ago. Do new wipers have a breaking in period I don’t know about? Is there some way I can treat my windscreen so it doesn’t squeak? It’s not a hu ge deal, it’s just really annoying.

The Dilemma: My oil is semi-sorta due to be changed. Firestone says I should’ve had it changed on the 16th of July, but since I literally hadn’t driven for a whole month there was still plenty of unused oil in there. The issue is that by the time I get back to FL I’ll be over the recommended mileage (79,000). I leave the 6th and return the 7th, making a 1000 mile drive with the oil past due both in terms of date and miles , so the way I see it I have two options:

Option 1: Get my oil changed in MD before my drive. This would mean taking it to F irestone, which I’ve done before, and just knocking it out. I’d have plenty of time to peruse Oppo that’s for sure. However, after recent conversations on here I wanted to try changing my own oil.

This leads me to Option 2: Drive back to FL and then get everything I need to change it myself, from j ack to tools, with no real time constraints. My classes are all online next month, I have literally nowhere I’ll have to go and won’t drive , I’ll have time to get my stuff together and do this myself, and I really do want to take a crack at it.

There is a couple unusual third options, like trying to get everything I need in MD and doing it in the next 5 days or doing it halfway through the trip or something like that, but I’m not sure. I’m open to people suggestions, and while I am leaning towards driving back to FL then doing it myself, getting it done quick at Firestone is a logical answer to this particular conundrum.

That’s all for now, I’ll be posting about my recent trip soon (I just got home from it and am quite tired).

Take care folks!

DISCUSSION (41)

VincentMalamute-Kim > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:24

ooh, I’ll take these easy questions.

1. Thorough windshield cleaning. And then Rain-X. I take the easy way out with the Rain-X windshield wiper fluid.

2. Do the oil change yourself. Take your time and do it when it is most convenient to you. Especially don’t let chain stores (Firestone) touch your car. Although I’d assume they’re better than a quick lube place.

One month and 1000 miles overdue will make absolutely no difference to the oil or your engine.

It’s not like a credit card payment deadline - one day late and they foreclose on your life.

razorbeamteam > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:25

Problem: They may need some time to break-in. You can also try some rain-x or similar glass coating. That usually helps them glide nicely.

Dilemna: If I were you, I would check the oil level before leaving on your trip, and top it off if it looks low. Then tackle the full change after your trip when you have the time and space.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:26

I would clay bar the windshield, and then follow chrisfix’s guide to cleaning windshield.

Oil not only wears out from mileage, but also time. I would just get it changed so that I didn’t have to worry about it.

TheRealBicycleBuck > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 14:31

I’ll agree with the windshield cleaning, but I hate Rain-X. Ban that crap. Besides, he just put Rain-X infused wipers on the car.

As for the oil, we are in agreement.

Taylor Martin > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 14:32

The funny thing is they are Rain-X wipers. Seems like fighting fire with fire but I’ll give it a shot. Thanks for easing my mind a bit on the oil change. I don’t even think I’ll be 1000 over, but it was something to consider.

Taylor Martin > razorbeamteam
07/31/2020 at 14:33

I checked it before I left today and it was in a good spot, but after the drive home I’m not sure. The oil life indicator says 50%, which has certainly been lower in this car (I think it got down to 20... never again).

TheRealBicycleBuck > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:33

Clean your windshield. Really clean your windshield. S eriously, really, really clean your windshield. A proper cleaning should get rid of whatever sticky stuff is causing the squeak.

I’d also get rid of those crappy Rain-X wipers, but you already know I have opinions on Rain-X.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:35

Changing your oil really isn’t that hard. You can do it, we believe in you.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:37

You also should apply windshield lubricant as well. I sometimes have fresh wipers squeak during their first few heavy rains but then it goes away.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:39

I was intimidated the first time I did it myself. If you have an hour and the tools already, do it. No substitute for doing. Make sure to bring some paper towels with you under the car. Just pop off the plug, let it drain, change the filter, pop the plug back in, and pour in the fresh stuff.

BigBlock440 > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 14:48

50% means the manufacturer thinks you don’t have to change it for another however many thousand miles you already drove it on that oil. Take the mileage from your last oil change, double it, and that’s when the manufacture thinks you need to change it. I’m sure that number is more than 1,000 miles.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 15:02

Your oil is fine is you have 50% left according to the readout. I let that thing hit 0 before I change my oil.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 16:22

Like Bicycle Buck says, number one is to really clean the windshield. Rain-X windshield wash fluid can’t hurt despite the Rain-X wipers. And no extra effort. I hadn’t heard of windshield lubricant( ?) espoused by Who is the Leader.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 16:25

“It’s very faint right when they reach the top of their trajectory, but it’s enough.”

Get new wipers from a different brand or put up with the squeaking.

“Getting new wipers is not the correct answer,”

Yes it is.

“I literally put them on a week ago.”

Irrelevant.

“Do new wipers have a breaking in period I don’t know about?”

No.

“Is there some way I can treat my windscreen so it doesn’t squeak?”

Not that I know of.

“The issue is that by the time I get back to FL I’ll be over the recommended mileage (79,000). I leave the 6th and return the 7th, making a 1000 mile drive with the oil past due both in terms of date and miles, so the way I see it I have two options:”

There is a 3rd option... just do the oil change after the trip. As long as the oil is topped up to the correct level, going 1000 over the recommended change interval once isn’t gonna kill it... especially if it’s mostly highway driving and you’re not beating the hell out of it.

VincentMalamute-Kim > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/31/2020 at 16:25

I find the regular Rain-X way too labor intensive for the benefit. A few bucks extra for their windshield wash fluid is worth it to me and isn’t any extra labor.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 16:27

“The oil life indicator says 50%,”

That means you are NOT due for an oil change any time soon. Hold off on doing the oil change until the indicator actually tells you to change it soon.

Ignore what the goofballs at Firestone are telling you.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/31/2020 at 16:29

“I let that thing hit 0 before I change my oil.”

On my Fit, given it’s now 12 years old, I change it when it gives me the ‘change oil soon’ message... which means it’s down to 15%. Sometimes I’ll let it go down to 10%.

Older/ higher mileage cars tend to dirty up the oil faster. So my thought is to change the oil a little sooner than required.

TheRealBicycleBuck > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 16:36

I’ve never liked the results from Rain-X. The stuff works great when it’s really raining, but in misty conditions or when cars are kicking up a lot of spray from the road, the windshield becomes a haze, especially at night . I want to like it, but I drive in those conditions too frequently to put up with that compromised view.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 16:40

It’s like a silicone film. I once got a set of BOasche that came with a little wipe

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Taylor Martin
07/31/2020 at 16:42

I would go by the indicator. If the level is up, you should be fine. Personally I always wait till hits 20% just to have a bit more FoS.

VincentMalamute-Kim > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/31/2020 at 16:46

huh. I have not noticed what you complain of. Maybe their windshield wash fluid acts different? Or I am just not observant. And I am not very observant .

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 16:48

Maybe windshield rake/aero is different? Idk

VincentMalamute-Kim > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
07/31/2020 at 16:49

Yes he can. He can do the ting. Just needs a little help from Positive Affirmation Samoyed:

VincentMalamute-Kim > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
07/31/2020 at 16:51

Good points. Everything gets more complex the more you know about them.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/31/2020 at 16:54

That makes sense. Both my cars are pretty new. Plus I do my own with the “extended mileage” oil and filters. It’s not so bad when it hits zero and then gets done the following Saturday.

Although I tow quite a bit and I probably should change the Tacoma’s more often but......yeah.

TheRealBicycleBuck > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 16:56

This is a picture of a car in a parking lot with Rain-X on half the windshield under misty conditions.

Kinja'd!!!

That microbeading at the bottom is what I don’t like. It acts like a million lenses, causing headlight glare. When you turn on the wipers to clear it, most of it goes away, but it’s immediately replaced by a fresh layer of micro droplets. The bigger droplets that have accumulated at the top of the windshield are big enough to get blown off as you’re driving. But those fine droplets aren’t.

I’ve tried Rain-X in a bottle, the Rain-X windshield washer fluid, and even the Rain-X wipers. I always get the same results.

VincentMalamute-Kim > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/31/2020 at 17:03

I’ll have to pay attention next time it’s misty. Although driving in misty conditions is rare for me in Colorado.

TheRealBicycleBuck > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 17:06

I can see that place would make a difference. We get, on average, 63" of rain per year. It’s wet all the time, so it’s not unusual to be driving in the rain.

VincentMalamute-Kim > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/31/2020 at 17:17

Although I’ve used their washer fluid in Milwaukee for years and had no complaints. It could also be differences between persnicketiness or what triggers us individually. My windshields may do have exactly what you don’t like but it just never bothered me.

More importantly for @Taylor Martin; we agree that he doesn’t need to stress about the oil.

TheRealBicycleBuck > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 17:19

My eyes have always been particularly light sensitive, so perhaps it’s just me.

Taylor Martin > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/31/2020 at 23:28

Oil indicator represents my oil life, not my oil amount. I’ve never been sure what oil life even means, perhaps the quality of the oil, but how can the car tell?

That being said, I’ve always been hesitant about the things Firestone says about my car, but I’ve never known enough to refute it.

Taylor Martin > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/31/2020 at 23:29

Alright, good to know. I think my oil life specified like the quality of it but truth be told I’m not too sure. But I trust the car not to lead me astray... just don’t want that to one day change.

Taylor Martin > VincentMalamute-Kim
07/31/2020 at 23:57

I’ve never felt more motivated... thank you...

Taylor Martin > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
08/01/2020 at 00:58

Yep, everyone is saying the same thing about the oil, but I’ve gotten a few tricks in regards to my wipers. Just cleaning it seems to be the real solution, which it is due for.

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
08/01/2020 at 00:59

Yep! The issue wasn’t if I wanted to (I do), it was whether or not it made sense to drive home and do it even though the car would be over its recommended mileage or if I should just buy a Firestone oil change. Seems to me like making the trip then doing the job is the best way to go about it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin
08/01/2020 at 01:00

Yes, I would think so.

Taylor Martin > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/01/2020 at 01:01

I mean, they’ve been working just fine for me these past few days, but for the price I paid I’m certainly using them for a while at least but I certainly won’t go back. It was a name I knew people trusted but they’re expensive, 28 bucks a pop. T hat’s mainly because they’re 22 inch wipers... in other words, they’re big.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Taylor Martin
08/01/2020 at 01:52

Get your money’s worth out of them. Or return them because they won’t stop squeaking.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
08/01/2020 at 07:47

There is another option... keep the wipers and replace the car!

:-p

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
08/01/2020 at 08:03

How can the car tell? Basically if it’s like my Honda, it knows based on how the car was driven, cold starts and the outside temp and maybe some other factors.

And it’s fine as long as you’re using the correct oil and keep it topped up.

Taylor Martin > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
08/01/2020 at 12:37

Problem solved. You’re a saint.