Warning about Rain-X products

John_Dennis

John_Dennis

Active User
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
399
I was on my way to work a few days ago and as I turned to go east facing the sunrise, the windshield suddenly became completely opaque, the windshield wipers, microfiber cloth etc had absolutely no effect. I got the truck turned around and went back home to clean the RainX off the windshield. I tried Windex, Ammonia, Alcohol, Acetone, MEK, and Laquer Thinner with absolutely no improvement. I finally had some minor improvement with Driveway Cleaner and White Vinegar. RainX customer support does not respond to voicemail or email. I have also discovered that some of the RainX Washer Fluid products can destroy the washer fluid pump and hoses as well as cause the windshield to be obscured. I talked to a couple of fleet Managers, they both told me the have a policy against using RainX products on company vehicles because of similar experiences and that the only way to get the RainX off the windshield was a special Glass Stripper made by Stoner. Apparently there is no way to know if you have succeeded in removing the RainX so cleaning the windshield multiple times seems to be the best solution.

I would discourage people from using any rainX windshield and glass products

JD
 
I've been using both the small bottle and the washer fluid, and no problems. Any chance you had a lot of road oil on it before using it?
 
A year ago I had the wind shield washer reservoir low alarm go off randomly on my car. Despite it being full of fluid. Then to now the alarm continues to go on/off randomly. I went on reddit, and sure enough the people there say the same about RainX brand washer fluid. I thought that paying an extra dollar or two per gallon jug would get better results. Not break the fluid level sensor.

I mean I was told not to get the cheap washer fluid as the -35 below cheap jugs would freeze on occasion. Here in quebec at least. So you must buy -45 below jugs for that little extra methonal.
 
Just out of curiosity, what brand and model are experiencing these problems. Maybe we can nail down a pattern.
 
I used Rain-X quite a few years ago, with good success. At the time it almost was a miracle product for what it did. But I had a problem when I tried using some that had been sitting around awhile. After using it, my hands started to burn. Examination of the ingredient list showed that it had some organo-sulfate compounds. I figured that they started to decompose and released sulfuric acid, which is what caused the "burn".

I didn't like the fact that the stuff could convert to an acidic form, which might cause body corrosion. So I stopped using it.

Caveat: Rain-X could well have changed their product since then, so my comments in this regard may not be accurate regarding their current product. I DO recommend reading the product label. Carefully. Generally speaking, this is a good practice for any cleaning or surface-preparation product. Some contain some very powerful chemicals.
 
OT (but humorous I hope):
In the summer of 1966 I was driving a Dodge D-400 stake side flat bed delivery truck on a SoCal Freeway. I was 18 YOA, so probably not under the speed limit. The truck body style had a fairly pronounced brow over the windshield and the hood was wall to wall (not between the fenders, but was the top of the fenders). Just like the picture but white in color.

btgreen[1].jpg

Wham !!!
The hood flew up and smacked that brow (which seriously creased the hood, but protected the windshield). Fast, hard and loud doesn't really explain it, but talk about suddenly opaque.
I safely got to the shoulder, tied the hood down securely and finished my deliveries.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top