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Best Windshield Rain Repellent for Your Car

Nothing cuts down on your visibility like heavy rain and bug guts. A recent review reveals that the least expensive car windshield product actually provides the most performance for the price.
The Best Product to Keep Your Windshield Clear During Rain

One of the simplest DIY car maintenance tasks you can do on your car is ensuring that the windshield wiper fluid reservoir is always filled so that you are prepared for when bad weather strikes, and your visibility is limited.

However, there is more to this important task than just buying the first jug of colored wiper fluid you find on the auto parts store shelf.

Namely, a good windshield wiper fluid and most importantly―a rainwater repelling windshield pretreatment product.

Related article: The Best (and the Absolute Worst) Hand Cleaner for DIY Car Mechanics

What Should I look for in a Windshield Fluid for My Car?

Not all windshield fluids are the same. For example, some are specially formulated for certain conditions such as low temperatures, bug splatter, and repelling rain.

Considerations you should have for choosing a windshield wiper fluid include:

  • Freezing Point: Choose a fluid that can withstand the lowest temperatures you expect to encounter in your area. Look for products labeled with a freezing point suitable for your climate.
  • Cleaning Power: Opt for a windshield fluid that effectively removes dirt, bugs, and other debris such as road splash from your windshield without leaving streaks or residue.
  • Visibility: Some windshield fluids come with additives like rain repellents or water-repelling polymers that improve visibility during rainy conditions.
  • Compatibility: Ensure that the windshield fluid you choose is compatible with your car's windshield washer system. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for any specific recommendations.
  • Concentration: Some windshield fluids come in concentrated forms that need to be diluted with water before use. Others are ready-to-use. Choose according to your preference and convenience.

By focusing on these considerations, you can select a windshield fluid that meets your driving needs to ensure clear visibility in all driving conditions.

How to Make Your Windshield Wiper Fluid Work Better

By itself windshield wiper fluid is good enough for most car owners. But what if it’s not enough for you and your desire―if not need―for an even cleaner windshield?

In this case, using a windshield pretreatment product that makes it easier for your windshield wipers to clear your glass from rain, insects, and road splash is the best way to make any windshield wiper fluid work better.

As with many car maintenance products, not all provide the same performance for its particular job―even one as simple as helping to keep your windshield clear during a rain rather than becoming marred by streaks and smears.

To help consumers know which products work the best for repelling rainwater and dirty water drive-by splashes while on the road, here is a recent Project Farm YouTube channel episode that puts several brands to the test and points to a clear winner for keeping your view less obstructed while driving on a rainy day.

In case you do not have the time to watch the video, a summary of the tests done and the recommended winner you should choose is provided directly below the video portion of this article.

What Is the Best Windshield Rain Repellent? Let's Find Out!

 

The Tests and Results for the Best Windshield Rain Repellent Summary

  • Windshield pretreatment tested the following products against each other: Rain-X, Invisible Glass, Gtechniq, Aquapel, GYEON, Adams, CERAKOTE, Chemical Guys, 3D, and Debaishi.
  • Windshield and regular glass planes were thoroughly precleaned to remove any contaminating residue and provide each product with a level playing field in this contest.
  • All products were subjected to identical tests that included:
  1. Ease of application.
  2. Surface slip comparisons.
  3. Hosing with water and noting the degree of water beading, water streaking and water sheeting on the windshield.
  4. Water dissipation following windshield wiper fluid spray.
  5. Effect of car wash and scrubbing on the rain repellent.
  6. Effect of bug and tar remover on the rain repellent.
  7. Effect of hot dish washer conditions on the rain repellent.
  • The top four products in order were Gtechniq ($22), Aquapel ($26), GYEON ($45), and RainX ($10).
  • The top four products were all remarkably close in performance, making the traditional RainX at $10 the preferred recommendation by the host.

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For more car product reviews, here are three useful ones for your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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