"cure for Rain-X"

[65-to-00]

I let my 16 year old have his first drive of a Vette a few days ago; he has had a learners permit now for about two months.

this is good!

Started to pour while he was driving and the prior owner had applied Rain-X, which has "deteriorated" and caused the windshield to smear so bad we could both hardly see.

:ugh this is not good!

My personal "jury" is still out on Rain-X .... I am tempted to strip it off since I think it tends to smear and cause reduced vision especially at night in the rain.

Any comments on what to use as a solvent .... or pro/cons???

 

[kdlp]

The local Chrysler/Dodge dealer is pushing a product called "Aquapel." Basically it is an industrial stength "Rain-X". I allowed them to put some on my pickup windows and 5 months later it's still good as gold. (I should mention that I live in a rain forest... so the fact that it's still working is remarkable in my book).

As for getting the old Rain-X off... I haven't a clue other than the usual (various) ammonia based cleaners..... and time.

kdlp

 

[Evolution1980]

I don't know about taking it off... Rain-X makes a glass polisher with the repellent in it. I suppose heacy duty glass cleaner might take it off. Or what about something like Dow Scrubbing Bubbles?

I use Rain-X windshield wiper fluid all year round. I love the stuff! All my friends who use it now (because of me) love it to!

 

[Patrick]

(Mental note: send PM to Andre about his Mug Shot avatar.) :ugh

The quickest way to remove Rain-X from a windshield would be the same use you use when to start with the process of striping wax off the body of a car: rinse it with a solution of water and Dawn liquid soap, and while still damp, apply a clay bar to it. Then wash it after the clay bar treatment.

I personally use Rain-X religiously. I apply it twice a year in multiple coats, so as to ensure the entire surface of the windshield is covered. When I have to wash the windows, I make sure I use something like Meguiar's glass cleaner, since it doesn't have ammonia in it.

I have never had an issue with visibility in rain, be it day or night. The Rain-X causes the water to almost instantly bead-up and blow off the front of the window. I even use it on my side windows.

-Patrick

 

[BigMike5]

Rain-X

I tried the stuff a couple of times about 10 years ago, and was really disappointed in how hard it was to get a clear finish on the glass at the outset, itseemed to always smear. It seemed to work OK after a lot of elbow grease, but I just did not think it was worth the effort. I still have the yellow plastic bottle in my garage, and I was wondering if they improved the formula over the years so as to make it worthwhile to try it again. Guess not.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

The trick to applying RainX is to apply it fast, before the droplets evaporate. Then wipe it to smear it all over the windshield in a continuous coating.
Afterward wipe all of the coating off and polish the glass until it is completely removed. It will take several paper towels to do it.
The chemical Polydioxisilizane bonds to the silica in the windshield and increases the surface tension on the water.
It is not a coating, rather, it bonds to the glass. So if there is any residual RainX left on the glass it will smear and make visibilty very difficult.

To remove the old residue, use a citrus based window spray and re-apply the RainX as described above.
It really works and is worth using.

 

[65-to-00]

I'll give it a shot cleaning and applying a fresh coat.

The streaking and haze the other day was an outright hazard .... it was almost like flying IFR! My kid and I were lucky there was one "sweet spot" down low on the windshield and no traffic.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Just squirt a line of it along the top of the windshield and wipe it around fast, before it can form droplets. Do it a few times if you can't apply it fast enough on the whole thing at once. Don't be afraid to use a lot of it. You will wipe it all off anyway. 1 paper towel to apply, and 7-8 to remove and polish.
Mine's still working from last August.

 

[jrose7004]

I've never had any problem with Rain-X. It always goes on clear and streak free for me.

 

[sgtrjs]

The secret to removing the haze after application is a few drops of water and a final wipedown, or just use a slightly damp cloth.

My procedure is as follows (for my Saturns, my Corvette doesn't go out in the rain):
1. Fold up paper towel, squirt it with Rain-X, apply to driver side of windshield.
2. Squirt more Rain-X, apply to passenger side of windshield.
3. Squirt more Rain-X, apply to driver side again.
4. Squirt more Rain-X, apply to passenger side again.
5. Optionally do side/back windows, dispose of paper towel.
6. Using clean paper towel, wipe down entire windshield.
7. Go in house, wash hands, dry with paper towel. Take the damp paper towel out to the car and do final wipedown of Rain-X.
8. Enjoy the 95% streak free Rain-X application.

I've been Rain-X'ing for 12 years, I won't drive without it.

 

[vett boy]

Never had a problem with rain X.

 

[Darth Vetter]

You must first clean the glass surface completly before appling Rain-X or it will be a smeary mess. I have used it and loved it for years. BTW-my first post!

 

[DRTH VTR]

You must first clean the glass surface completly before appling Rain-X or it will be a smeary mess. I have used it and loved it for years. BTW-my first post!

Welcome to the CAC!

Your user name had me confused for a moment!
DRTH VTR

 

[Dirtfarmer]

I've used Rain X for years and never had a problem. Come to think of it, I've never needed a ritual to apply it, the stuff has always gone on clean for me.

Fog X was another product they had that was made for the inside of the windshield. Horrible! Pitched it after the first application and spent the next 6 months trying to get it off.

 

[Darth Vetter]

Sorry about the close user name DRTH, I thought it would be original.

 

[Darth Vetter]

Fog-X also needs the surface to be completly clean before putting it on, or it will smear real bad. It is hard to get the inside of the windshield perfectly clean. For this reason I wont use it....any more.

 

[65-to-00]

I have been using the Rain-X on my truck and other vehicles. I always started with a Windex cleaning and then hit it heavy with the Rain-X and took time to polish with clean cloths till streak free.

This was after the Rain-X sat for a few months ... under car cover ... and wham .... out of nowhere .... came the streaks and smearing.

I had just damp ragged the windshield (clean water), the day before to get some dust from the car cover off?

I'll give it a refresher coat ..... but it sounds like I should just apply it more often. On my truck, I do it something like once a month.

 

[Evolution1980]

*In best best southern drawl* "If ahs was you gahs..."

I wouldn't even bother with the application Rain-X (the polish or whatever...)
Just use the Rain-X windshield wiper fluid. It works year round. (In the winter, ice doesn't even adhere, which is really a time saver!)

IF you are going to do this, just know that you need to empty out your current stuff as much as possible. If you mix the Rain-X washer fluid and regular stuff, yes, it will streak really bad.
Once the resevoir is empty of the old stuff, run a bit of plain water through it as well just to make sure.
Fill the resevoir with the Rain-X fluid.

First start with a clean window.
Then give just a couple quick shots of fluid to let it coat your windows. I do this maybe 2-3 times. And that's it!
The trick to using the Rain-X washer fluid is to use it when it's warm and dry out, not when it's raining. So like today for example, I may go out and just give the window a couple quick shots and let the wipers clear it off. (I don't flood the window with it. It's not necessary as a very light coating is all ya need to apply.) And that's it...I'm done and it's good to go! As soon as the rain comes...whhhhhish! Rolls right off the window!
No muss, no fuss, no polishing, no streaks...

Rain-X really works the best when it rains the hardest. I love it when it downpours and I'm on the highway. Everyone has their wipers on superfast speed and I'm just rolling along with a clearwindshield...wipers tucked nicely under the cowl the entire time. :L

 

[DRTH VTR]

Sorry about the close user name DRTH, I thought it would be original.

It is a great name. I like it myself! It was my license plate on my black '97. When I traded for my current blue '02 Z06, I gave up the plate, but not the user name. Welcome again to the CAC!

 

[DRTH VTR]

Andre-
Which jail took that mug shot/avatar? Are you out yet?
Jim