RainX
- Thread starter mez
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Not sure. But I swing by Aquapel's... well.. you know...
Try it
Try it
Apparently it has changed, but I'm not sure exactly when.
I have also heard it changed when the original makes sold it out. I have some product called "Rain Clear" made by "Glass Science" which has worked amazingly for me. Literally lasts a year. Hard to find, I wonder if its been discontinued, though.
Interesting that you think your old bottle was more effective. The wikipedia page seems to indicate that the original formula still exists. Do you think that maybe the solvent evaporated enough to concentrate it?
I've been using Rain X regularly from the mid 1970's, and don't notice that it's worse than in past years.
From Wiki: "Due to its general water repellent properties, the original Rain-X formulation is used in a wide variety of consumer, commercial and industrial settings. The primary use of Rain-X is for automotive applications. Commercially sold "Original Glass Treatment" is the original and most well known Rain-X branded product. It is a hydrophobic silicone polymer[5] that forces water to bead and roll off of the car, often without needing wipers. It is sold in 3.5 or 7 oz. bottles, or as wipes or towelettes"
I've been using Rain X regularly from the mid 1970's, and don't notice that it's worse than in past years.
From Wiki: "Due to its general water repellent properties, the original Rain-X formulation is used in a wide variety of consumer, commercial and industrial settings. The primary use of Rain-X is for automotive applications. Commercially sold "Original Glass Treatment" is the original and most well known Rain-X branded product. It is a hydrophobic silicone polymer[5] that forces water to bead and roll off of the car, often without needing wipers. It is sold in 3.5 or 7 oz. bottles, or as wipes or towelettes"
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When I seal the paint on my car yearly I do the headlights, taillights and windshield. Then I use a wash/wax soap product on the car the rest of the year. It always leaves enough of a coating on the glass to cause the water to bead all year long. No need for Rain-X. Also helps the ice from sticking to the windshield in the winter too.
Originally Posted by Cujet
Interesting that you think your old bottle was more effective. The wikipedia page seems to indicate that the original formula still exists. Do you think that maybe the solvent evaporated enough to concentrate it?
I've been using Rain X regularly from the mid 1970's, and don't notice that it's worse than in past years.
I've heard it told several times here that it isn't the same formula it used to be. Now, we all know the value of anecdotal evidence. I have been using it since the 1980s, and can't say I've noticed a difference in performance. The only thing I've noticed, and I brought it up here before, is that I have always used J-cloths to apply it, and now, after a use or two, they become brittle and turn to dust, whereas in the past, they wouldn't. I have no idea if that's a Rain-X thing or a J-cloth thing.
Interesting that you think your old bottle was more effective. The wikipedia page seems to indicate that the original formula still exists. Do you think that maybe the solvent evaporated enough to concentrate it?
I've been using Rain X regularly from the mid 1970's, and don't notice that it's worse than in past years.
I've heard it told several times here that it isn't the same formula it used to be. Now, we all know the value of anecdotal evidence. I have been using it since the 1980s, and can't say I've noticed a difference in performance. The only thing I've noticed, and I brought it up here before, is that I have always used J-cloths to apply it, and now, after a use or two, they become brittle and turn to dust, whereas in the past, they wouldn't. I have no idea if that's a Rain-X thing or a J-cloth thing.
Here in Spain Rain-X has started to eb sold recently, but it's made by Krafft.
I tried that one, too, but wasn't as impressed, at least for me. Wasn't that made by Gunk or something?
It seems to me that it's changed as well (maybe just diluted more = more $$ for the company). The liquid just seems thinner or closer to water in consistency and I find that I have to apply 'more' as well. Many, many years ago I would apply it like the instructions say - squirt it on a towel and then rub the windshield with the towel. I find that it is so 'light' I end up carefully squirting it directly on the windshield and then quickly spreading it.
I've tried the larger bottles as well as the spray-on kind and they don't work anywhere as well as the small, 4 oz (?) squeeze bottle.
I've tried the larger bottles as well as the spray-on kind and they don't work anywhere as well as the small, 4 oz (?) squeeze bottle.
I've got a question about Rain-X or Aquapel.
Does the stuff help with external fogging due to humidity? For 8-10 months of the year in this foul climate, the air outside the car is not only warm to hot, it's soul-sappingly humid. When I drive at night or before dawn (when the humidity is worst), running the A/C, my windshield fogs. Not on the inside, the defogger handles that, but on the outside, so that I continually have to use the wipers. This was true on my previous cars driven here as well. Would a regular application of Rain-X help keep that fog from forming?
Does the stuff help with external fogging due to humidity? For 8-10 months of the year in this foul climate, the air outside the car is not only warm to hot, it's soul-sappingly humid. When I drive at night or before dawn (when the humidity is worst), running the A/C, my windshield fogs. Not on the inside, the defogger handles that, but on the outside, so that I continually have to use the wipers. This was true on my previous cars driven here as well. Would a regular application of Rain-X help keep that fog from forming?
Originally Posted by mez
I recently completed a 30 year old bottle of RainX. I purchase a new one and find that it's not as effective as my old one, Has the formula changed for the worst?
RainX's odor has changed, so something has changed. I never found it very effective, but my dad says it was effective back in the 1980s.
I recently completed a 30 year old bottle of RainX. I purchase a new one and find that it's not as effective as my old one, Has the formula changed for the worst?
RainX's odor has changed, so something has changed. I never found it very effective, but my dad says it was effective back in the 1980s.
I know what you're talking about; we get it here on occasion, but not that commonly. I haven't noticed it helping that, but you might have better luck being able to test it reliably than I could with this climate.
Originally Posted by Benzadmiral
I've got a question about Rain-X or Aquapel.
Does the stuff help with external fogging due to humidity? For 8-10 months of the year in this foul climate, the air outside the car is not only warm to hot, it's soul-sappingly humid. When I drive at night or before dawn (when the humidity is worst), running the A/C, my windshield fogs. Not on the inside, the defogger handles that, but on the outside, so that I continually have to use the wipers. This was true on my previous cars driven here as well. Would a regular application of Rain-X help keep that fog from forming?
Having used both and having the same problem living near lake Ontario where I encounter the same conditions at this time of year I can tell you that the Aquapel will drastically cut down on this but the Rain-X will not.
If you set the heat controls to highest heat setting on the window defogger with the fan on medium to high setting for the first couple of minutes until it warms the windshield and then lower the temperature to where you want it in the car and change over to the vents and not the defogger, it will fix your problem without these products.
I stopped using the products because it's too costly for me to keep re-applying and I do so much driving that they wear off sooner than they would for the average driver so I have compensated using the defogger set to heat initially and then change to vents and then lower the temperature to what I want the cabin at.
I've got a question about Rain-X or Aquapel.
Does the stuff help with external fogging due to humidity? For 8-10 months of the year in this foul climate, the air outside the car is not only warm to hot, it's soul-sappingly humid. When I drive at night or before dawn (when the humidity is worst), running the A/C, my windshield fogs. Not on the inside, the defogger handles that, but on the outside, so that I continually have to use the wipers. This was true on my previous cars driven here as well. Would a regular application of Rain-X help keep that fog from forming?
Having used both and having the same problem living near lake Ontario where I encounter the same conditions at this time of year I can tell you that the Aquapel will drastically cut down on this but the Rain-X will not.
If you set the heat controls to highest heat setting on the window defogger with the fan on medium to high setting for the first couple of minutes until it warms the windshield and then lower the temperature to where you want it in the car and change over to the vents and not the defogger, it will fix your problem without these products.
I stopped using the products because it's too costly for me to keep re-applying and I do so much driving that they wear off sooner than they would for the average driver so I have compensated using the defogger set to heat initially and then change to vents and then lower the temperature to what I want the cabin at.
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I should have been clearer on my post above Stevie's. I've only tried Rain-X, and have never had the opportunity to try Aquapel yet for any purpose.
I've been using Rain-X pretty much since the late 70's or early 80's and honestly, I don't think it's changed much over the years. If it has, I can't really tell the difference. Last time I bought it was maybe a year ago. The big spray bottle of the "Original Formula" stuff lasts a long time. I wax the cars about 2x a year and apply it directly to the windows while detailing. When I fill my wiper fluid, I usually squirt a 3-4 shots into the reservoir bottle. Been doing that since the 80's. That keeps the windshield good all year round.
Ray
Ray
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