Rain-X windshield washer fluid - yes or no?

[El Kabong]

There was a lawsuit settled in 2024 against Rain X for this exact problem. According to the lawsuit, the following products caused the level sensor to stop functioning.

The suit specifically names the following Rain-X products:

• Rain-X All-Season Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X Bug Remover Windshield Washer Fluid

I use Rain-X Platinum , not mentioned in the suit.

Do you know if they reformulated product for this or what the company did to alleviate the problem?

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[Pointyears]

when i was a teen, i put ammonia in my mom's reservoir. it's ruined the washer pump. off to the junkyard i went to get another.

When I was a teen I waxed a windshield. Never made THAT mistake again!

 

[Pointyears]

There was a lawsuit settled in 2024 against Rain X for this exact problem. According to the lawsuit, the following products caused the level sensor to stop functioning.

The suit specifically names the following Rain-X products:

• Rain-X All-Season Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
• Rain-X Bug Remover Windshield Washer Fluid

I use Rain-X Platinum , not mentioned in the suit.

I wonder what the other factor(s) is/are. There has to be something else or it would have affected everyone.

 

[El Kabong]

When I was a teen I waxed a windshield. Never made THAT mistake again!

My first wife did that on an old Granada that was gifted to us. She used Simoniz paste wax. I will never forget watching the wiper blades judder across the windshield the first time I drove in the rain after that.

White vinegar and elbow grease removed it, not sure it would work on modern waxes though.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Yes, it's all I ever use

 

[Darnon]

Do you know if they reformulated product for this or what the company did to alleviate the problem?

Looking at the lawsuit filing it only particularly affected continuity prong level sensors that measure the presence of fluid via two electrodes and detecting if current passes between them

These are more common on European brands (BMW, Mercedes, VW) and some post-Daimler Chryslers.

Ford has typically used reed switch magnetic sensors: the float has a magnet that's held near the switch when there's fluid which causes the switch to close.

 

[inline_five]

I use the standard rain-x bottle and wipe on the protection and honestly can't remember the last time I even used my wipers.

 

[BAScott62]

Does the OP secretly work for Rain-X? Lotta free advertising

 

[El Kabong]

work

OP is a retired househusband. Work, as they say, is for the drinking classes.

 

[SM2535]

Orange in the winter, Green in the summer. Been using those for the last 4 years without issue.

 

[Hootbro]

I avoid the Rain-X branded washer fluid stuff. Have had problems in two vehicles over the years where it either gummed up the low level sensor and/or clogged the nozzle end.

I have never seen any correlation to put my finger on why it works for some or not for others.

It really is a simple product that one just pours in a reservoir and the only statement by Rain-X about mixing with other washer fluids is that it will reduce the effectiveness of their product but no prohibition from mixing.

 

[shadow_munk]

i used it in my ND Miata, had to replace the level sensor because it got clogged

 

[Manning]

I had never heard of the potential issues. I'll have to remember this. Good to know.

 

[Kilonen]

I wonder what the other factor(s) is/are. There has to be something else or it would have affected everyone.

I think it depends on the design of sensor used in the fluid reservoir. I had a 2001 Golf GTI for 24 years. I switched to the RainX fluid when it came out. A year or two later my sensor kept telling me I was low when it was not empty. Took out the sensor - cleaned it real well - problem went away for another year then problem came back. Did some searching of forums and found that VW did not recommend using RainX fluid because it created a waxy build up on the sensor prongs. The sensor apparently used fluid to 'connect' the prongs - when the sensors got coated no 'connection' even with fluid. Cleaned the sensor - switched to non branded fluid you get anywhere and never had the problem again.

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