Quick question

"Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager" (Nighthawkwill7) 01/18/2014 at 12:19 • Filed to: None

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Can anyone here comment on the effectiveness of Rain-X? I've been curious about it but I've never really heard about how well it works.

Sn210 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:22

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I love it, I rainX all my glass. I like the actual stuff better than the glass cleaner combo. It took me a few tries to apply it correctly, but once I got it right it makes a huge difference in the rain. Buff it on, let it haze, then buff it off. Make sure you get it all off

rad_mike > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:22

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Great stuff. Be sure to take your time when applying. When done right (patience, clean cloths, and elbow grease) it's invisible and lasts a while.

daender > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:23

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Awesome stuff, just make sure not to use your wipers for a while.

 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:24

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Works awesome at highway speeds. I can drive without using windshield wipers as the water just flies off. A Thumbs up from me.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Sn210 01/18/2014 at 12:24

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I'll pick some up soon then. Sounds like something handy to have alongside new wipers.

PRBot II > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:24

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This is the way to go right here. Tried it once, and never bought anything else ever again. The water just beads right off. On dark roads in the rain, I don't even need to use my wipers. I still do , I just don't need to.

No application necessary. Just spray your washer fluid once, and it lasts for weeks.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:25

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I had Rain-X on my Wrangler when I picked it up from the dealership. A few months later and the Rain-X wore off, I realized how shitty the windshield wipers really are! Now I use it all the time. I love the stuff. I'd say it's worth the $8 or whatever it is for the 7oz bottle.

awe46m3zcp > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:25

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You can get the same effect by waxing your glass, and its a lot easier to buff off. Everytime I've used rain-x I regret it on sunny days. No matter how well I buffed it theres always streaks.

jovimon7 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:27

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Works great, only drawback is driving slowly in a light mist when passing under streetlights the very small droplets on the windshield reflect the light causing momentary blind spot. At highway speeds I turn the wipers off.

AM3R > PRBot II 01/18/2014 at 12:32

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Tell me more about this, you got me interested! I just put new rain x wipers on my car and they work wonderfully.

PRBot II > AM3R 01/18/2014 at 12:52

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This is your basic windshield washer fluid with rain-x added in. Basically, there's a few different ways to apply the stuff, the most well-known being the spray bottle Nighthawk used for the original post. That requires application where you have to spray it on, let it dry, and buff it off (or something). Kind of a pain in the ass in my opinion, but I'm also a lazy bastard.

Next time you run out of washer fluid, just pick this stuff up. Most places like Autozone, or even Walmart or your supermarket should have it. Fill up the reservoir, turn on the windshield washer motor, and it'll do all the work. It stays on for a long time, so you don't have to constantly reapply. It's the hottest shit since sliced bread. Highly recommended.

Zoom > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 12:59

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The same as waxing your glass. Reduces the effectiveness of wiper blades because it reduces friction and causes the blades to slip over the glass rather than contact the glass and clean it. Will cause a build up of waxy crap on the blade if used regularly also reducing effectiveness of blades. Waxing from a carwash produces simliar results.

Cleaning requires almost a very light abrasive (I always used steel wool .. spot test in a corner first!) and glass cleaner on the glass and wiper blade edges.

M54B30 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 13:02

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I like the pure Rain-X in the small bottle (8 oz or so?). Once you use it you'll never go back to not using it. I use it on all the windows and mirrors.

Zoom > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 01/18/2014 at 13:03

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It can cause a waxy build up on the blade. Clean the edge of the blade with a light abrasive.

McMike > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 13:04

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I think it's fucking brilliant. Water just streaks off the glass at speed. Love it.

However...

It doesn't last a very long time and it's not spray an wipe (you need to let it dry and polish the glass, sometimes takes a few times to get all the streaks out)

If I'm getting ready to take a road trip I'll do the glass, but otherwise it's not worth it to me.

I also tried the washer fluid, and it streaked like crazy with with the wipers.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Zoom 01/18/2014 at 13:13

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Yes, that is very true. Unfortunately it's not that. I just replaced the wipers last week and I think it has to do with the wiper arm not applying enough pressure. I could be way off, but the wipers just kind of suck. I'l be looking into replacing the spring in the wiper arm and frameless blades eventually, but until them the Rain-X makes it a non-issue.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > McMike 01/18/2014 at 13:19

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Do you need to reapply it every couple of weeks?

Textured Soy Protein > AM3R 01/18/2014 at 13:28

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I also use the Rain-X washer fluid. They make a few different kinds (anti-freeze, bug & tar remover, combo anti-freeze and bug&tar remover) all of which give you the basic Rain-X effect of water beading up on your windshield. Plus you don't have to bother with the spraying and polishing stuff on your glass all the time.

As for wipers, I've had Rain-X wipers and they were fine but not particularly better than any other wipers. I like the one-piece style wipers that don't have the metal frames, like Anco Contour, Bosch Icon and Rain-X Fusion. I usually buy whichever of those 3 is on sale, but to be honest I find the Anco and Bosch last longer than Rain-X so usually stick with those.

I'm not a huge fan of Michelin wiper blades. They're actually made by some other company that licenses Michelin's name and they were probably the shortest-lasting wiper blades I've ever tried.

Textured Soy Protein > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 13:30

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This is why I prefer the Rain-X washer fluid over doing the whole buff Rain-X into your glass song and dance. Water still beads up on your windshield and you don't have to do any extra work since you're refilling your washer fluid anyways.

McMike > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 13:32

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Yeah, I'm not sure EXACTLY how long it lasts, but I always notice that the OMG THIS IS AMAZING! part of it is short lived.

Maybe it's because it only rains once when I use it. By the time it rains again two weeks later, I can't even tell it was on there.

I'm impressed with it, but it's not worth the effort for me. I save it for road trips.

Roberto G. > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 13:34

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When it rains, I just use my wipers: with a five-speed intermittence and a two-speed continuous operation, that's what they're for. And no one will ever convince me to spoil the transparence of my windshield with some waxy stuff... there's one thing I hate more than licorice, and are the halos on my windshield on a bright, sunny day.

Zoom > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 01/18/2014 at 13:41

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Sure. I just hate the streaking that comes with it sometimes. And it is worthless at low speeds. If your arms are older, lube the pivots and spring ends with wd40. 2 or 3 times in a row. I have to do my rear wiper once a week in the salt belt.

AM3R > PRBot II 01/18/2014 at 14:23

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Nice. I too am a lazy bastard when it comes to adding stuff like this to my car. Mods and maintenance are pretty enjoyable for me, but this kind of stuff just doesn't do it. I'll definitely pick some up, thanks man.

Agrajag > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 14:24

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It works really well, but as other people mentioned it doesn't last a terribly long time. If you have a hatchback don't use the washer fluid one. Anything but the blue stuff has left streaks on my hatch, which are a pain in the ass to get off.

AM3R > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2014 at 14:25

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The blades on my E90 were pretty close to dying when I bought the car last summer, so they were loud/not very effective but the Rain x work really good. I guess I can't compare them to the OEM rebranded bmw Valeos.

RotaryLover > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 19:34

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Everyone seems to like it...but for me, it left a terrible TERRIBLE bad experience. At first it was really, REALLY awesome watching the water fly away...but then I had to change wipers 3-4 times because they wore faster and made streaks since I've put the product. It doesn't last long, and when it wore off, the water was sticking on my windows, like if there was a fine film that was keeping it from sliding. Me and my friend took a day to remove the damn thing from the windows with some glass stripper AND lighter fluid right after. Never again I will use rain-x! Same for the damn windsheild washer fluid that made the wipers of my ex car streak. I use Aquapel instead now, and I never had any issues with it or my wipers!!!

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > RotaryLover 01/18/2014 at 19:43

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I'll look into that Aquapel. Thanks!

Sunray09 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 01/18/2014 at 21:32

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It works like a hot dam if you have a clean windshield to start with. I have used it and another product to clean the glass and then I sprayed the glass with Rain X it works well really well Chemistry is Science baby