Aquapel vs. Rain-X: What the SDS information reveals.

Discussion in 'Wrenchin' Secrets' started by elagache, Jan 2, 2017.

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  1. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear V-8 Buick all-weather drivers,

    My attempt to find a reasonable lubricant for windshield wipers got deflected into an investigation of the chemical differences between Rain-X and Aquapel. As Ive done in the past, I turned to the Safety Data Sheets to peek under the hood of how these products actually work. I started by looking at the Rain-X product sold to remove Rain-X: Rain-X X-treme clean. This is the only product that can be used to reliably remove Rain-X build-up. Here is a link to the SDS:

    https://www.rainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rain-X-Xtreme-Clean.pdf

    I got a shock when I looked at the ingredients. Only three are listed: water, 2-Amino-2-Methylpropanol (a pH stabilizer,) and Aluminum Oxide. Aluminum Oxide is one of the hardest abrasives known to man. So much so that is used as an alternative to diamonds in some industrial applications:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxide#Abrasive

    So that makes it clear there is exactly one way to remove Rain-X and that literally to grind it off. Even the manufacturer of Rain-X has no chemical process to remove it. Using hard abrasives on glass should be done with caution and your windshield might have some softer coatings that could also be stripped away. In short, using Rain-X X-treme Clean should be minimized as much as possible.

    At this point I turned to original Rain-X water repellent. Here is the SDS:

    https://www.rainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rain-X-Original-Glass-Treatment.pdf

    I was in for an even nastier shock. The main ingredients listed in the SDS are: Ethanol, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Sulfuric acid! Given those ingredients, I cant imagine how Rain-X is applying some sort of a silicone-based water repellent surface. Rain-X is using some other sort of unknown chemistry. Rain-X is considered a carcinogenic under OHSA and Californias prop-65 regulations. Now obviously these chemicals are in small enough concentration that they are unlikely to do any harm, still this is a nastier product than I had imagined it to be.

    In contrast here is the SDS for Aquapel:

    http://www.aquapel.com/PDF/SDS/Aquapel_Glass Treatment-SDS_US-English.pdf

    The only listed ingredient is: Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated light. According to Toxipedia (Didnt know there was such a thing? Me neither!) these are simple another sort of product distilled from crude oil. While this stuff isnt exactly innocent either, it isnt the cocktail of nasty chemicals that Rain-X turns out to be. Unlike Rain-X, Aquapel not regulated as potentially carcinogenic

    While Aquapel is significantly more expensive, it appears to be a better choice on a number of grounds: easier to apply, lasts longer, and no problems of excessive build up. At this point, my mind is made up. Im going to use Rain-X X-treme clean once to get all the old Rain-X off (applying it with extreme caution mind you.) Then Ill switch to Aquapel for good!

    Some food for thought! :idea2:

    Cheers, Edouard :beer
     
  2. My3Buicks

    My3Buicks Buick Guru

  3. LouV

    LouV Silver Level contributor

    Instead of using the extreme stuff to clean the window get some Bon-Ami cleanser. I will get all the stuff off and not leave scratches. It is recommended by GM to clean windshields when you have smearing type problems that new blades don't fix.

    Lou
     
  4. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Also recommended by BWM!

    There are several versions of Bon-Ami. The one recommended for glass is the '1886 original formula' in the red can.
    http://www.bonami.com/index.php/products/powder_cleanser/#original-1886-formula-p
     
  5. bostoncat68

    bostoncat68 Platinum Level Contributor

    I have started to use Turtle Wax's ICE Spray Wax (NOT the detailer) for my everyday cars - instead of RainX. I love it because I can use it on the paint, plastic AND glass. (Turtle Wax suggests it). It seems to act just like RainX without the extra step. Traditionally, I've not been a fan of Turtle Wax products but someone I know convinced me to try it; I could not be happier. My SUV has so much black plastic trim that it would be a total pain to paste wax more than once a year. This spray wax seals the paint, darkens all the plastic trim and repels water from the glass. And it's like $8 a bottle at Walmart....

    https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-477R-ICE-Spray/dp/B007KTINWQ

    Read the reviews...
     
  6. My3Buicks

    My3Buicks Buick Guru


    I agree 100% Lou
     
  7. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Search engines are your friend!! (Re: Aquapel vs. Rain-X)

    Dear Keith, Lou, Walt, and V-8 Buick fans of "made in the USA!"

    Well, I'll be the first to admit that I was extremely suspicious of your suggestion. However, I typed the following search string into Google:

    Remove Rain-X with Bon Ami

    Would you believe I got lots of hits confirming not only that it works but that Rain-X recommended it for a time. So that should work. I would like to check out Bon Ami's SDS though. Also I'm curious to know what is the difference between Bon Ami and Bartender's friend which is another mild abrasive.

    [​IMG] . . . . . Awe shucks Walt! You mean you would actually trust the advice of a German auto marker when it comes to taking care of your Buick? Don't you know that the Germans only understand force![​IMG]

    Cheers, Edouard :beer
     
  8. My3Buicks

    My3Buicks Buick Guru

    Having used both those products over the years there is no usable difference between the two, could be different formulas but I would be surprised if there is much difference in makeup
     
  9. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Knowledge is power (Re: Aquapel vs. Rain-X: What the SDS information reveals.)

    Dear Keith and V-8 Buick seekers of understanding over opinions,

    The reason I decided to try Aquapel was this video on You-Tube:

    <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-qhq_AigpM" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>

    It was compelling enough that - contrary to your experiences - Aquapel is a different sort of product and does last longer at least under some circumstances. My own experiences also verify that Aquapel does last longer in at least some cases. In my case the conditions are cars that are garage kept and are exposed to the comparatively limited rainfall of Northern California.

    Your experience could have been caused by nothing more than having failed to remove the Rain-X before applying the Aquapel. Aquapel is clearly a product that is intended to be applied to the glass surface itself. So failing to remove the Rain-X basically meant that you have never tried Aquapel. What you applied never had a chance to adhere to the glass and was lost.

    Finally, let us be clear on this. The Safety Data Sheets referenced at the beginning of this thread make it absolutely plain that these are fundamentally different products. Rain-X contains chemicals that regulated as potentially carcinogenic. Aquapel in a petroleum distillate and has no chemicals that are considered carcinogenic. I don't know what else needs to be said to confirm that these are fundamentally different products using a different chemistry.

    This thread is a attempt to "raise the bar" on what is commonly known about the car product choices we have. There are lots of opinions out there, but very little attempt to collect actual objective data on how these products actually perform. Unless we make a serious attempt to actually understand what choices we really have, we simply become suckers for all the marketing hype associated with all consumer products.

    Edouard
     
  10. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Re: Search engines are your friend!! (Re: Aquapel vs. Rain-X)

    My ancestors are German..... what are you implying??


    And read the Aquapel SDS again.... It may not contain carcinogens, but Aquapel can kill you!:

    >>Ingestion
    May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Droplets of the product aspirated into the lungs
    through ingestion or vomiting may cause a serious chemical pneumonia.
    .... Be aware that symptoms of chemical pneumonia (shortness of breath) may occur
    several hours after exposure<<<

    Be sure to keep it away from pets and small children!!

    You also imply that abrasives are a poor choice for cleaning glass. Well, abrasives are used to polish optical components to produce a smooth surface. Abrasives are also used to polish a paint surface before applying a protective overcoat (wax). Cleaning and protecting your glass can be cared for in a similar way.
     
  11. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Hogan's heroes gag - No offense intended (Re: Aquapel vs. Rain-X)

    Dear Walt and V-8 Buick owners who are old enough to remember Hogan's Heroes,

    Well first . . . in the voice of Foghorn Leghorn . . . .

    That's was a joke son! Gag that is!

    Seriously, no offense intended. Somehow your reference to BMW reminded me of a Hogan's Heroes episode where his crew had stolen a engine that supposedly was completely silent so that they could take it apart and photograph it for the allies. After they had taken the engine apart, they had to put it back together before the Germans realized it was missing. However, they weren't too terribly concerned about putting it back together exactly as they had found it. After all, if the inventors engine didn't work, the generals who were about to see it demonstrated would conclude the engine didn't work and pass over a potentially valuable breakthrough that would hurt the allies.

    In one scene, one of Hogan's crew the question: "Were does this part go?" Hogan replies: "Doesn't matter, put it anywhere!" He then proceeds to hammer it in place. The crew member protests: "I think you forced it" Hogan replies: "It is a German engine! The only thing it understands is force!"

    That's what I was thinking about when I wrote that - definitely just fun as I tried to indicate with the font and emoticons.

    Point well taken. None of these products should be taken lightly. However Aquapel has an applicator that makes contact the actual chemicals difficult. Relatively speaking, Aquapel is much safer than a Rain-X bottle that you can easily get all over your hands.

    No that isn't what I meant. There are times when abrasives are the appropriate choice. I simply prefer to clean things through chemical reaction over mechanical abrasion if such a choice exists. In this particular situation it seems to me this is another disadvantage of Rain-X. There is a lot of complaints about Rain-X build up on various forums, so it appears to be common problem (as I've also noticed.)

    Using abrasives infrequently is a very good strategy to renew the clarity of glass surfaces. Where I start feeling uncomfortable is if one were forced every season to use abrasive cleansers because there was no other way to remove a product like Rain-X. Over the years, this could accelerate the aging of the glass.

    Of course it matters which abrasive you choose. I have looked up the SDS data for Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend. There is some more interesting info there. Alas, I'm out of time, so that will have to wait for another day.

    Cheers, Edouard :beer
     
  12. rrbnut

    rrbnut Well-Known Member

    I have used for many years this no matter the condition (with exceptions) of the glas (all around the car):
    Good clean with soap, the use your clay bar . Fills in teeny tiny holes and otherwise takes most of your surface impurities off; then a wax.
    Wipers last longer and rain truly just runs off the windshield.
    Cheers

     
  13. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    I use windshield wipers when it rains.
     
    GranSportSedan likes this.
  14. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear Doug and V-8 Buick all weather types,

    I'm not sure what your point is here, but these windshield coatings aren't supposed to eliminate the need for using the wipers. Quite the opposite, they are supposed to improve the performance of wipers by allowing them to slide more easily over the glass.

    Edouard
     
  15. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    The point is you do not need any of this stuff.
     
  16. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear Doug and V-8 Buick types who insist upon doing it the hard way,

    On this point I will happily disagree. I have used these products for decades and even with Rain-X, it is a clear improvement over wipers alone. You may not "need" these products but using them could easily save your life by allowing you see something you might have otherwise missed in bad weather.

    Edouard
     
  17. TommyP

    TommyP Member

    I too have used Turtle Wax on my glass for many years. I've used Rain-X also but to be honest I can't tell that it does any better or lasts any longer than the Turtle Wax. If it extends the useful life of a set of wipers as I believe it does, I'll continue to use Turtle Wax. But hey, Thanks for the info on the hazards to health. I've only got so many years left I don't need to shorten the time intentionally.
    Cheers, Tommy
     
  18. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    I used the Rain-X over 20 years ago and I can tell you it does work real good. You can drive down the highway without the wipers on in a storm, especially if there are no streetlights.

    But here is the problem I noticed, the stuff gets into the window and like has been mentioned it does not come right off with washing. I started to get glare and starbursts from the streetlights. I could never get rid of that glare either. Now I might be able to since I saw this thread. Get out the Bone Ami

    If you want to compare using Rain-X as compared to not using anything, the Rain-X helps the wipers clear the rain faster since the water beads up, without the product the rain drops hit and spread out on the window then you can't see anything.

    I now use the Rain-X that goes in the windshield washer bottle and this seems to work better. But will it cause the glare as on the Buick, that I have not seen yet.
    Hopefully I can get the crap off the Buick windshield and start over with a different product.
     

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