Truck Maintenance

[QuarterMillionMan]

The middle wiper blade is the OEM which I removed from my car. The left & right are new wiper blades but neither will fit. Notice the thin diameter dowel pin on the left compared to the middle OEM wiper blade. The right wiper blade's dowel pin is slightly thicker than the middle OEM wiper blade and notice the silver marking which I inscribed where I would have to notch the plastic which the middle OEM wiper blade has that notch where the wiper blade arm has a fin thing that fits into that notch. I could try and manually make that notch by cutting into the plastic but I rather just buy a new wiper blade specifically made for my vehicle. Sometimes McGyver'ing and trying to custom fit things are just not worth the time and effort.

[james.hendrickson]

Ahhh...my first reaction is that going to DIY route for wipers is a probably correct. However, what might have been an error was not selecting the wipers. Did you use AI to match the type of wipers you needed against the model of your vehicle?

[QuarterMillionMan]

No AI. I tried both Rock Auto and eBay, entered my vehicle information 2024 Trailblazer 1.3 L turbo first then all compatible parts populate. When servicing your vehicle some shops operate on commission and the shop attendant will try to sell you more than just wiper blades and will try to sell you other things to pad their commission. So I prefer DIY as much as possible.

[james.hendrickson]

No AI. I tried both Rock Auto and eBay, entered my vehicle information 2024 Trailblazer 1.3 L turbo first then all compatible parts populate. When servicing your vehicle some shops operate on commission and the shop attendant will try to sell you more than just wiper blades and will try to sell you other things to pad their commission. So I prefer DIY as much as possible.

QMM - why not check out AI and see if it tells you the correct model? Then you can just order it on line and not even have to deal with the upsell.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Noted.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I'll be ordering this 60" LED strip light for added visibility. BTW, I installed the rain deflectors which looks nice and will be functional in the rain. I haven't yet changed my engine air filter yet. Waiting on this tool in order to remove some push pins to remove the air intake duct assembly.

The LED lights works very well & impressed with it.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Last month I DIY'd changing my $12 engine air filter and $8 cabin air filter for free doing it myself and not having to waste 1/2 a day at the dealership or mechanic shop. This coupon offers $10 off an engine air filter change or $15 off a cabin air filter change. The labor alone must be close to $100 for each and they'll mark up the price of the parts to 2x or 3x from Rock Auto or Parts Geek.

[ua_guy]

Dealers run a business, you pay for a service/convenience. For the most part GM car dealers get their branded parts from GM's own distribution network and they do it cheaper than you can get them off of RockAuto. But then they sell them to you at their list prices plus marked up labor.

DIY is good but parts is one area where I will not cheap out. Proven aftermarket brands or OE only. No junk off eBay. Matters less to me for something like a cabin air filter, those don't really do a whole lot. For an air filter for your engine? Those need to use the right filter media and flow at a minimum CFM. Same thing with oil filters, they need to have the correct filter media, correct bypass pressure, anti-drain back features, and filtration efficiency that OE calls for. Oil? Needs to meet/exceed OE spec for many reasons.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I didn't think it would make a difference but next time I'll get the AC delco GM OE part.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Anyone know if K & N is worth the price. I've heard it is good but not sure if 3x the price good. Ever run a car without an air filter, it has a noticeable increase in horse power but very bad for the engine. K & N must allow freer flowing air flow.

[bjl584]

Anyone know if K & N is worth the price. I've heard it is good but not sure if 3x the price good. Ever run a car without an air filter, it has a noticeable increase in horse power but very bad for the engine. K & N must allow freer flowing air flow.

I had a K&N on my last truck and didn't notice any increase in power or MPG.
The reuseable element was nice, but regular air filters don't cost that much and have a fairly long change interval.
You'd have to have your vehicle a really long time to recoup the money

[ua_guy]

In modern vehicles, K&N filters, I don't see the benefit. Fuel efficiency requirements have basically ensured that intake efficiency is as optimized as it needs to be to achieve maximum fuel economy and power. More flow = less filtration efficiency and that just dirties up the throttle body and intake plenum which can reduce efficiency, rob power, and cause other problems.

I think a lot of people still remember when you could take a car from the 70's or early 80's and delete the smog pump and put a less restrictive air filter on it, and you'd get noticeable power increases. With newer direct injection and completely electronically controlled engines those gains just don't really exist anymore.

I don't think OE parts are needed for everything...in the example above I'd still trust a Wix filter or a Mahle. Even Rockauto puts the other brands in the "cheap" category. I've seen enough of the cheap stuff that I just don't bother.

[myrdale]

Anyone know if K & N is worth the price.

I used to have one in the Frontier. Honestly I got it just because I thought it was "cool". Every 10,000 miles I would wash and re-oil it. Having to wait for it to dry before oiling was always a pain though.

I have not purchased one for the Tacoma.

[QuarterMillionMan]

In the 1980's, I used to hot rod classic cars installing Holley carbs, Webber carbs, Mikuni carbs on mopeds, etc. Running it without an air filter had a noticeable difference with free flowing air into the intake sort of like a supercharger which forces the air down for higher performance but I've never installed a supercharger. I could overhaul engines changing piston rings, connecting rod bearings, valves, water pumps, alternators, starters, etc. But those days are over for me. Today the most complicated job that I might tackle is a serpentine belt.

[ua_guy]

Ok, funny thing about the Toyota Tacoma. It's supposedly named after the large city south of Seattle, WA.

It would be like naming it the Toyota Compton (California). Toyota Monroe (Louisiana). Toyota Baltimore (Maryland) Now I'm sure there are redeeming things to be found in those cities, but they rank high in violent crime and pollution and elicit a general "ugh..." from people who don't live there but know what kind of headlines often originate from those places.

I think Toyota's vision was to make a connection with Mount Rainier. However, Buick already has trademark on the Rainier name for use on a vehicle. Tacoma is an anglicized spelling/pronunciation of a Native American name for "Tahoma", or the large snowy mountain that pioneers renamed Mount Rainier. Tahoma is the mountain, Tacoma is the stinky, industrial city that is big on crime, traffic, and casinos. One wonders why Toyota preferred Tacoma over Tahoma, but that's the connection with the name.