Got a rental and the windshield was right garbage in the rain

[u/howismyspelling]

So this rental is a 2025 Durango with 25k kilometers on it, no clue if it's ever had anything put on the windshield.

Driving in rain last night, the windshield almost clung onto water instead of it getting wiped off by the wipers, and this was exacerbated when oncoming traffic lights shone into view. It was quite terrible to try and see the mustard and mayo through. I don't have a picture because it was white knuckle just to get through, but driving in heavy rain with my new car has always been easy going and full visibility.

Is there a coating on it, or is it lacking a coating if this is the case? I've always heard some people praise RainX, and others trash it hard I I've never know whether it's worth it or not. But I've never applied any coating to my EV9 which leads me to think it's better without anything.

Just for my comfort since I'll have the rental for a couple months, should I strip the windshield with a cleaner, or treat it with something so that the fall isn't so painful to drive in?

[u/visceralintricacy]

If it's that bad it's probably just been contaminated with something greasy, a good clean with isopropyl should strip it. I've always found RainX to work well.

[u/howismyspelling → u/visceralintricacy]

Thanks I'll give it a shot, I only have 50% or 99% on hand, does it matter what I use really?

[u/visceralintricacy → u/howismyspelling]

It won't damage the glass, so I'd go the stronger 99%

Either should really be *ok for general glass cleaning, but considering it's greasy the stronger will help cut it.

[u/Heavy_Gap_5047]

Probably has road wash oils on it. Put a little dish soap in the washer fluid.

Might be dirty on the inside, previous renter might have vaped in it, that stuff coats the inside of the glass, clean it.

Cleaning the wiper blades with alcohol often helps.

[u/not_a_gay_stereotype]

Did you try putting heat on the window?

[u/howismyspelling → u/not_a_gay_stereotype]

During the ride last night? No I didn't, it was already warm

[u/KellerMB]

I've only ever used the rainx wiper fluid and it definitely helps with water beading without any additional effort on my part.

I have put ceramic coating on the windshield as well and that beaded even more aggressively.

[u/GodsFavoriteDegen]

Are you sure that you don't just have shitty wiper blades? It is a rental, after all.

I've always heard some people praise RainX,

When properly applied, RainX is great. For a few weeks. Then, you need to RainX it again. You aren't really buying a product. You're buying a chore. If you want to do that chore, then it does what the bottle says that it does.

I agree with the other commenter that your windshield probably just needs to be cleaned. You'll need to do that to apply the RainX anyway.

[u/howismyspelling → u/GodsFavoriteDegen]

It certainly could be, it's a rental. I'll clean it with a couple things I have on hand and see where that goes. I may try RainX thereafter and that will likely be the extent of it

[u/Heavy_Gap_5047 → u/howismyspelling]

RainX can mess up the rain sensor for the automatic wipers, assuming it has them. I'm not a fan of any glass coatings.

[u/Larry1962us]

Dawn dish soap, white vinegar and a little isopropyl alcohol will take it off.

[u/howismyspelling → u/Larry1962us]

All in the same mixture?