what exactly is rain-x

polarisboy385 · 08-30-2010, 08:39 AM

i love this stuff it helps keep me safer in rainstorms

big question is in lamans terms... what is it?

im going to assume its a liquid wax for glass?

and since i use it on my windsield and everywhere else that is glass along with my headlights, is it possibly to put it right on the paint?
i know there is wax for that but i didnt know if youd be able to use it in a pinch and if it would help keep more road grime off my car

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SleepyWeasel · 08-30-2010, 09:27 AM

I think it's a type of wax, but I'm just guessing. I like the stuff, but if your wipers aren't on the new side it does sorta smear. Rain runs off GREAT at 70+ mph though.

I would NOT put it on your car. You have a 2009 and you can't afford a $5 container of wax?

polarisboy385 · 08-30-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepyWeasel

I would NOT put it on your car. You have a 2009 and you can't afford a $5 container of wax?

haha,
hey it was just an idea,
i have yet to hard wax my car, all ive ever used on it was cleaner wax,
ive never gone too expensive, cause where i live is VERY VERY dusty so even if i spend 3-4 hours waxing it, it just gets covered in dust

mudferret · 08-30-2010, 09:33 AM

Just from watching the lustre of Rain X change as I apply it, I'm assuming it's fairly volatile, and would wreak havoc on paint.

polarisboy385 · 08-30-2010, 09:35 AM

good to know

also ive noticed, i try to apply the antifog rainx for ineterior, and for some reason it just doesnt seem to help at all, i still get fog

any ideas, or suggestions?

i apply it like it says i should on the bottle

AutoAesthetica · 08-30-2010, 01:10 PM

Rain-X i believe is either just denatured or methyl alcohol. It is not a good thing for paint because if you have ever seen vehicles that have never been cared for there is often ghosting left on the doors where the windwshield wiper fluid(which contains this in lighter concentrations) has run and it has stained and etched the paint.

Smoke · 08-30-2010, 01:11 PM

Rain-X isn't the best for wax.

They do have specific Rain-X waxes, but figuring most OTC waxes are under $10, why?

There are many better waxes out there.
If the store has Rain-X, they have Meguiar's Gold Class or NXT 2.0. Those are better, IMO.

2:43AM · 08-30-2010, 01:36 PM

Doesn't it say right on the bottle to avoid getting it on painted surfaces?

If so, then Duh!

polarisboy385 · 08-30-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2:43AM

Doesn't it say right on the bottle to avoid getting it on painted surfaces?

If so, then Duh!

haha im sure it does, but alas i dont have the bottle in front of me at work,
and it was just an idea thaqt popped into my head on my way to work today

stwang314 · 08-30-2010, 04:42 PM

Essentially rainx is some type of alcohol and a liquid adhesive. Its supposed to be a glass sealant . Bot a paint sealant.

parabellum9x19 · 08-30-2010, 04:45 PM

Yes its a type of sealant made to reduce the surface tension of the glass, carried in a hydrocarbon base (alcohol).

The alcohol evaporates rapidly (the colors you see are from Thin Film Interference, same thing as when you spill gas on water), leaving only the sealant behind.

I'd forget buying the stuff in bottles and just use the Rain-X brand windshield wiper fluid....so much easier and never any fog to buff off after application.

polish steve · 08-30-2010, 06:09 PM

I applied some to my car after a night of drinking. Needless to say i gagged at the smell since it reminded me of cheap vodka.

CGMDan · 08-30-2010, 08:06 PM

Aqua-pel is a MUCH better product. When I used rainx it seemed I was alway needing to reapply it every other month or so. Aqua-pel I put on at the start of the rainy season and it lasts all winter.

sniper1rfa · 08-30-2010, 08:53 PM

Rain-x is silicone dissolved in some sort of solvent. Supposedly the silicone polymerizes when the solvent evaporates, but i have no idea how.

vms150 · 08-31-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper1rfa

Rain-x is silicone dissolved in some sort of solvent. Supposedly the silicone polymerizes when the solvent evaporates, but i have no idea how.

I am pretty sure this the correct answer. liquid silicone and alcohol.

WHAT · 08-31-2010, 01:25 PM

Pledge works just as good as rain-x... but you have to reapply off and on.

MyOtherRideIsUrMom · 08-31-2010, 05:20 PM

I have been using it for years now, and it works great. Sometimes if its raining at night and im on the highway, I dont even know it; the water just flys off. Also works great in the winter for ice and snow. I usually reapply it every month or bi-monthly.

08-30-2010, 08:39 AM	#1
polarisboy385 Scooby Specialist Member#: 222041 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Biloxi MS Vehicle: 2009 Impreza 2.5i PRP	what exactly is rain-x i love this stuff it helps keep me safer in rainstorms big question is in lamans terms... what is it? im going to assume its a liquid wax for glass? and since i use it on my windsield and everywhere else that is glass along with my headlights, is it possibly to put it right on the paint? i know there is wax for that but i didnt know if youd be able to use it in a pinch and if it would help keep more road grime off my car * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

08-30-2010, 09:33 AM	#4
mudferret Scooby Newbie Member#: 240688 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Calgary, Alberta Vehicle: 06 WRX	Just from watching the lustre of Rain X change as I apply it, I'm assuming it's fairly volatile, and would wreak havoc on paint. Last edited by mudferret; 08-30-2010 at 01:50 PM. Reason: spelling...

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08-30-2010, 09:27 AM	#2
SleepyWeasel Scooby Newbie Member#: 192060 Join Date: Oct 2008 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Boston Suburbs Vehicle: 2004 WRX PSM	I think it's a type of wax, but I'm just guessing. I like the stuff, but if your wipers aren't on the new side it does sorta smear. Rain runs off GREAT at 70+ mph though. I would NOT put it on your car. You have a 2009 and you can't afford a $5 container of wax?

08-30-2010, 09:35 AM	#5
polarisboy385 Scooby Specialist Member#: 222041 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Biloxi MS Vehicle: 2009 Impreza 2.5i PRP	good to know also ive noticed, i try to apply the antifog rainx for ineterior, and for some reason it just doesnt seem to help at all, i still get fog any ideas, or suggestions? i apply it like it says i should on the bottle

08-30-2010, 01:10 PM	#6
AutoAesthetica Former Vendor Member#: 246785 Join Date: May 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: WNY and www.autoaesthetica.com	Rain-X i believe is either just denatured or methyl alcohol. It is not a good thing for paint because if you have ever seen vehicles that have never been cared for there is often ghosting left on the doors where the windwshield wiper fluid(which contains this in lighter concentrations) has run and it has stained and etched the paint.

08-30-2010, 01:11 PM	#7
Smoke Scooby Guru Member#: 172486 Join Date: Feb 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Cheney, WA Vehicle: 95 V4 STi-RA swap Stage 49.8	Rain-X isn't the best for wax. They do have specific Rain-X waxes, but figuring most OTC waxes are under $10, why? There are many better waxes out there. If the store has Rain-X, they have Meguiar's Gold Class or NXT 2.0. Those are better, IMO.

08-30-2010, 01:36 PM	#8
2:43AM Scooby Specialist Member#: 190273 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NW-IN Vehicle: 05 WRX evoIII-16G WRB	Doesn't it say right on the bottle to avoid getting it on painted surfaces? If so, then Duh!

08-30-2010, 04:42 PM	#10
stwang314 Scooby Newbie Member#: 170474 Join Date: Jan 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Saint Louis Vehicle: 2002 wrx white	Essentially rainx is some type of alcohol and a liquid adhesive. Its supposed to be a glass sealant . Bot a paint sealant.

08-30-2010, 04:45 PM	#11
parabellum9x19 Scooby Specialist Member#: 255720 Join Date: Aug 2010 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Central Illinois Vehicle: 2008 Impreza WRX silver	Yes its a type of sealant made to reduce the surface tension of the glass, carried in a hydrocarbon base (alcohol). The alcohol evaporates rapidly (the colors you see are from Thin Film Interference, same thing as when you spill gas on water), leaving only the sealant behind. I'd forget buying the stuff in bottles and just use the Rain-X brand windshield wiper fluid....so much easier and never any fog to buff off after application.

08-30-2010, 06:09 PM	#12
polish steve Scooby Newbie Member#: 193861 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: chester county, pa Vehicle: 2006 impreza 2.5i sd obp	I applied some to my car after a night of drinking. Needless to say i gagged at the smell since it reminded me of cheap vodka.

08-30-2010, 08:06 PM	#13
CGMDan Scooby Specialist Member#: 127883 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PDX Vehicle: '99 RSTi '05 CGM STi - RIP	Aqua-pel is a MUCH better product. When I used rainx it seemed I was alway needing to reapply it every other month or so. Aqua-pel I put on at the start of the rainy season and it lasts all winter.

08-30-2010, 08:53 PM	#14
sniper1rfa Scooby Specialist Member#: 141040 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Designing things Vehicle: 07 2.5i wagon UGM	Rain-x is silicone dissolved in some sort of solvent. Supposedly the silicone polymerizes when the solvent evaporates, but i have no idea how.

08-31-2010, 01:25 PM	#16
WHAT Scooby Specialist Member#: 19399 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Lansdale Vehicle: 2013 LRPE M3/Touareg Orange/Black	Pledge works just as good as rain-x... but you have to reapply off and on.

08-31-2010, 05:20 PM	#17
MyOtherRideIsUrMom Scooby Newbie Member#: 159636 Join Date: Sep 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: NYC/WV Vehicle: 2007 WRX -18G EWG WRB	I have been using it for years now, and it works great. Sometimes if its raining at night and im on the highway, I dont even know it; the water just flys off. Also works great in the winter for ice and snow. I usually reapply it every month or bi-monthly.