Just came across this post while loking for other subjects.You guys crack me up, these home brewed methodes are great.

I use Rain-X alot but once my trucks hit approx 50k I tend to stop. (way to many highway miles in fast / heavy traffic) The problem is that the windshield, by that time has been pretty well "sandblasted" by dust / debri / small gravel that gets kicked up buy other traffic leaving it pitted to the point I can't see the point in going the extra mile. From then I bide my time untill a stone chip becomes a crack so I can replace the glass and start the process all over again. I typically replace the windshield three times, the I just replace the whole truck (aren't company vehicals great)of course by then I have about 150k on them. come to think of it, had my oil changed again yesterday, 147,500 miles. Humm . . . how much is that new F-150 Harley-Davidson Supercrew with the Supercharged 5.4L what might the boss think of having our company name on the side of that?????

Petrol

 

I've been using RainX since about '87 when the wiper motor went out on my old '57 F100. It worked really well on that windshield. I've used it religiouly since then. (on a ranger since 94 and my f150 since last October)

The formulation has changed in the past few years. It is now much easier to apply. It doesn't last quite as long though.

This past Saturday I applied RainX to 1/2 the windshield and waxed the other half with Maguires cleaner wax. Sunday I drove, from the SF Bay Area to Kirkwood, for a day of skiing(about 187 miles one way). It was lightly raining when I left. Both products made the water bead up. However the rainX ran off sooner. When I hit Tracy, CA, about 60 miles out, it started raining so hard I was hydroplaning at just over 60 miles per hour(speed limit is 70 on this stretch). It rained that hard for about 1/2 an hour. I took a break around 6:00 am and was very pleased with the superior shine that was on my truck. It's amazing how clean Mother Nature can get a vehicle. In the heavy downpour I would have to say both products worked. Again rainX ran off the windshield faster.

About an hour later I hit the snow line(about 4,000' on this day). In the snow again both products worked similarly. RainX did perform a bit better. It shed the snow a bit better and thus did not build up quite so much on the window.

I would say the wax worked as well as another product called "Accuvision". Both the wax and accuvision are quite simple to apply but do not work quite as well as RainX.

If you are having trouble getting the haze off the windshield when you apply rainX simply wipe the windshield with a damp cloth on your final wipe and the windshield will be crystal clear.

Tim

 

I use wax on my headlights as well as on my windows. I have found that the wax repels bugs and also makes them easier to get off at the gas station. To clean in the engine bay I use castrol super clean, I also use it in my windshield washer ( on teaspoon to a tank full of water). And on my interior in the bissel rug shampooer (I use it at half of the strength of the bissel cleaner) I also spray it on straight for the white letters on my tires ( let it sit for a minute and then hit it with your rag when you clean the wheels.)

Hope this helps

djb

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-May-02 AT 02:36 PM (EST)]I simply use my windshield wipers. And when they are worn out, I buy new ones...

 

Rain-X is great! At night is when it works the best. Except for the heaviest downpours, you really don't need to use your wipers. At night you can't even see the rain on your windshield. I apply it every couple of months. I have never had any streaking at all. If you haven't used it lately, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

I live in central Texas and dilute the blue stuff 50 - 50 year 'round. I was thinking about using the Rain-X washer fluid. Do you think it would work well if it was also diluted 50%?

 

Here is something else you can use the Rain-x on is your sunglass if you do any kind of watersport like jetskiing, it makes the water run right off of them and doesnt water spot them so you can see after you go thru a big water splash, I had a big problems with this a couple of years ago and started using the rain-x, its great!!

 

I'm pretty sure Rain-X was developed for military use on aircraft. In any case, there's a military equivalent that works OK, the squared away crew-chiefs (like me )always made sure the aircraft have absolutely clean winders' since the glare on a dirty screen is a lot worse. The extra-mile is to apply rain-x, it works excellent at 125 knots. Chopper Pilots don't seem to like using the wipers if they can help it so they really like Rain-X. It does haze if you apply too much -- but can be polished out, just takes a while. I bet it's just alcohol and some kind of wax, maybe somebody can dig up the MSDS.




Keep 'er between the ditches.

 

I don't keep her between the ditches, but I do keep the rubber side down...

I fly 737s for an outfit that has a lot of them, and we LOVE Rain-X. Boeings windsheild wipers are so noisy you can't hear the tower on the radio, but that Rain-X keeps the windows clear in a Florida thunderstorm at 140 knots, with no wipers.

 

I bet
>it's just alcohol and some kind of wax, maybe somebody can
>dig up the MSDS.
Try www.msdssearch.com by manufacturer. Which is Penzoil. By the way, this is a great site to keep in your favorites. It never hurts to check and work safely.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Sep-02 AT 11:59 PM (EST)] I was looking through some of the older posts when I ran across this one. it kinda caught my eye because I was a chemical operator for 10 years and I actually made Rain-X, 30,000 lbs at a time. I know what's in it and how to make it as well. I will tell you, don't get it on your paint. We had to drum it out of the reactor with special grounding equipment. That was just one of about 1800 products we made at our facility.
The ingredients in Rain-X are Denatured alcohol (So no one would steal it for moonshine) Sulfuric Acid, (yes you read that right) and a low viscosity silicone fluid . Again I tell you not to get it on your paint and not too much on the skin as well

 

WOW
JIm
CYWG

 

Im scared it will be rubbed off during the wiper working and eat the clear coat/ paint off truck, think I will try wax.

Ben in humid, moist Florida

 

 

I've used it on both my car and truck and think it is really great. Head the warnings about your paint, especially clear coats. Had a buddy, don't we all... nuff said.

Another thing NOT to put it on... or wax or rubbing compound for that matter, is ANY of the newer polycarbonite headlight housing. IT WILL in short order cause crazing. I had this happen on my 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT and I was fortunate that my warranty and the dealer replaced them... I haven't checked them for my 1999 Ranger but they ran $179.00 a piece for my car! I have since stopped allowing anyone to detail my car... only have one more year left on the warranty.