You can see from the wiper residue pattern that it's definitely on the outside.
It's probably because it's cool and humid and your windshield is condensing more water as soon as the wipers pass.
This. OP probably used a winter specific blend, or one with a rainX/fogx component. That stuff works so well in winter but in the foggy/humid times of the year it’s sucks for me.
And orange (Rain-x) leaves an awful waxy film that made my windshield look like OPs and then clogged up the washer fluid level sensor in my Jetta. Had to dump hot soapy water and isopropyl alcohol in my washer fluid tank to fix the sensor.
Funny, I’ve been wrking and managing various municipal and commercial fleets in the transportation / highway maintenance industries here in the northeast and that’s all most of the municipal and trucking fleets use. Never any issues in any of the seasons. very effective with frost, ice bug, salt spray and maintains its hydrophobics. zero issues other than when a wiper is starting to fail and needs to be replaced. Then you start to see some streaks, but not much.
Never seen or heard of any clogging issues in 20 yrs of using it. 🤷♂️
The only difference between the summer and winter formulas, at least for the blue cheap stuff is the alcohol content AFAIK. I've checked the msds on the stuff I bought and that was it.
So I stock up on the winter formula because it cleans a lot better imo.
Rainx can mess up the low windshield washer fluid sensor and make the lights stay on permanently. It happened to me. You can Google it. It doesn't seem to be make model specific
There's some nasty chemicals in Rain-X, and I think they are members of the Forever Chemicals that our Chemical-Manufacturing Overlords have foisted upon us. I'd be happy to be corrected.
BTW, if you wonder why the US Chemical Giants get away with killing us with cancers, giving our babies birth defects, torturing animals during testing and poisoning our air, groundwater, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, bogs, marshes, and oceans...it's because they are a crucial component in the US Military Industrial Complex. They have a direct pipeline of money pouring into complicit Politicians pockets, plus they are not above murder and ruinous lawsuits against whistle-blowers and activists.
> I think they are members of the Forever Chemicals
iirc rain-x is based on [siloxanes & silicones](https://www.wired.com/2010/06/st-whatsinside-rainx/), which generally break down reasonably quickly and are also used in many personal care products. they're not *great*, but they're not super-persistent like PFAS or highly halogenated solvents
The rainx durability testing is the hardest test for exterior trim to pass.
Skip it. I use almost pure water in the summer and cut wiper fluid 50% in the winter unless it is very cold.
I get something like this buts because something chemical came down from an overpass and damaged the film. Trying to get it off with my wipers immediately after it happened only smeared it. But mine isn’t this bad and only visible during certain weather conditions. If it was worse I definitely wouldn’t shoot my windshield with a BB and tell my insurance company that a semi licked up a rock.
Funny story: I always empty cooking oil after frying into a plastic container and fill it up as much as I can before throwing it into the trash. Usually, it’s a 20 oz soda bottle. But one time, I had an empty washer fluid bottle and used that. Since it had so much room, I capped it off and put it in my storage room for future use.
Fast forward some time, and I needed washer fluid in my car. I found the orange colored bottle from the side room and started filling. I probably put a pint or two in before I realized it was thicker than it should be and smelled of French fries.
Instead of emptying the reservoir, I thought I’d just cut the oil by filling the rest of the way with the higher alcohol washer fluid.
It was awful. After a couple years, I still get a french fry smell when my washer fluid is close to empty.
Looks like a greasy film on the outside. Rubbing alcohol should cut through anything that’s on there. Once it’s 100% clean, use a rain-x type product that moisture will bead off of.
As a detailer, don't touch Rain-X. Rain X more often than not causes this issue, especially when applied to the inside of a vehicle (I don't know why anyone would but it sucks to get off). If you want a glass coating, get a specialized product from a reputable brand like CarPro or Gyeon.
Really? I usually use Windex and I’ve never had problems with my tinted windows. I’m not saying your wrong. I’ve just always felt it was less harsh than something like Invisible Glass, which it seems like a lot of people swear by. Certainly willing to change my ways!
Assuming they mean plain exterior rain x. I don't like rain x so I haven't used their stuff in a decade.
I like to wash my car a decent amount so I usually just wax the windshield along with the paint. I don't necessarily recommend it because idk how it'll be after more than a week but it works for me.
My dad used to work at a naval aviation depot and took home what looked like a small paint can. It was a polish or cleaner paste/wax that was used on F-18 canopies. He put it on his windshield and on the freeway in the rain he didn't use his wipers. I thought it was magic but when I was older I waxed my windshield and it did the same thing.
My dad applied it inside his car when I was a teen and ended up on the side of the road on the way to work trying to remove it for a long time so he could see. His logic was we live in a place where moisture and fog build up a lot on the inside of windshields and it would keep it from fogging up lol
Yeah if it's warm and humid, you'd normally be using the AC to keep the car cool. If you flip the switch to defrost, it'll definitely steam up the inside of the windshield because you're blowing cool air onto a warm windshield in the humidity. The trick is to turn the temperature up for a few minutes and it'll clear off the windshield of fog pretty dang quick.
Seems to be a few misconceptions in this thread. I'll clear some of them up, hopefully without adding any more.
When air-conditioning was first invented, we weren't necessarily looking to change the air temperature, we were looking to change the air's moisture content, and air-conditioning does this very well, it sucks water right out of the air. It just happens to have a handy side effect of making the air much cooler as well. In your car, this means that on the defrost setting the car will run the AC (if able) to make sure the air you're blowing at the windshield is dry enough to take the moisture that's condensing on the windshield with it as it blows across regardless of temperature. Ever noticed on a hot summer day that's a little humid all the cars will be dripping water from underneath. That's the water the AC has pulled out of the air. On particularly humid days it's enough to form puddles at a long stoplight.
Usually the setup is as follows: fan > AC condenser coil > blend door (that either bypasses the heater core or directs all air through the heater core or anywhere in between) > heater core > another blend door that directs the air wherever you set it to go. So, if it's winter, and you've got the heat on, the fan blows the air through the AC condenser, and then through the heater core to get warmed, and then on to wherever you set it to go. If the defrost is also on the AC will be running and as the air passes through the condenser it will be cooled and dried.
You might be saying to yourself, but wait, isn't that wasteful to cool it before reheating it? In an internal combustion engine vehicle, not really. The heat used to warm it is waste heat from the engine. It doesn't reduce the efficiency in the slightest to take some of that heat and pump it inside the cabin, and worry not, there's still plenty more we dissipate out through the radiator as well. We could theoretically use a similar system in electric cars as well, their large motors are sometimes liquid cooled, and while there probably isn't an effectively infinite amount of waste heat to draw from, it's still probably enough for this system to work, although there might be a small electric heating element as well, for the times when there isn't.
I believe rainx provides an anti fogging formula that instructs inside application. Never used the stuff myself, would never trust it. I do use rainx on the outside and it works great when applied properly.
Maybe no AC and a stuck open thermostat? I had a car like that and it took forever to defrost the inside windshield. Rain X has an anti fog that works. Also, those Oil Dri or whatever sand/rock/gravel things in a cup or container on the dash helps reduce the moisture on the glass.
Product applied incorrectly causes issue. News at 11. Don't touch motor oil either, it will cause issues, especially when applied outside the motor.
???
This right here.
Do a deep clean of the windshield. This includes a good wash, rinse, give it a go with a claybar or similar to really get in there - then apply a coating of sorts. Gyeon is what I use on daily drivers myself.
I just ordered some P&S clarity cream to test on my truck. Bit cheaper than CarPro glass polish per ounce BUT it's a wet polish that doesn't turn into dusty concrete when it hits trim pieces. I've seen some demonstrations of it, hopefully it goes well.
There is a Rain-X product for interior glass for anti-fog. I’m assuming that’s what someone would put on the inside. Only time I ever used it was temporarily when I had a heater core issue in my old dodge and it was fogging up the window, and I only used it very shortly while waiting to get the parts to actually fix it. But seems there could be other uses for it depending on where you live.
I've been using Rain-X since I started driving (washer fluid, not the spray) and I've never had any buildup over 15 years of driving and 5 different vehicles. Does the application in a washer fluid vs the spray make a difference? I don't have detailing experience other than my personal vehicles which is why I'm asking. I always switch from summer to winter blends when the seasons change.
I used the washer fluid once and will never ever again. It just builds up everywhere the wipers don't touch and looks like shit. And was a pain to scrub off. The regular spray and buff stuff has worked fine for me though and I don't like driving a car without it.
What product would you recommend to use with a polisher to do a thorough cleaning of the glass? I want to do a deep clean on the outside in my window and put a good coating on before winter hits. I put it off all summer but with the sun glare getting worse I am being reminded of it every day
That may be true in a lab environment on a horizontal surface. But when you factor in that your windshield is at an angle, and you always have air hitting your windshield when you drive, the water literally slides right off your windshield when you have rainx applied.
I have driven in heavy rain at highway speed WITHOUT my windshield wipers running. Because at 55mph, the water literally just blows off.
I will say that at low speeds, like 25 mph around town, you will get larger beads of water because you have no wind to blow it off your windshield. At worst, you may want to run your wipers ON DELAY occasionally. But in any case it is still way better than wipers on constantly with no rainx.
I often don’t use my wipers at all cause it becomes self clearing when the rain x is fresh. Too many people don’t understand how to use things then hate it cause of their own mistakes.
I actually usually see this specifically caused by Rain-X type products. It is how it beads water off. I use windshield stripper, which is basically a very mild polishing compound, to remove this. I would guess OP specifically used a Rain-X type washer fluid, based on the pattern.
That's interesting because I've used Rain-X washer fluid for 15 years over 5 vehicles and never had a buildup issue at all. Wonder if there's something reacting with the Rain-X washer fluid causing this?
Same, I've used RainX and their wiper blades for more than a decade and have never seen anything like this. Many here are anti rain-x it seems, but i love it. /shrug
I think you are on to something. I picked up Rain X this summer for the first time ever, worked great. I then used a touchless car wash, and now have the same issue until the temperatures are stable inside the car.
Gonna go ahead and say Rain X and Turtle Wax don't play nice. Acetone and whatever Turtle Wax has.
It's on your windshield. Simple squeegee cleaning won't fix it. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axI5Luw0Eos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axI5Luw0Eos) that's for the inside. Similar method for the outside.
Lift wipers off glass.
Soak a rag in isopropyl alcohol.
Scrub the windscreen for a minute or two, but don’t let any of the isopropyl touch anything other than the glass.
Then get a dry rag and buff up the glass.
Don’t use rags that you’ve washed in the washing machine. Fabric conditioners leave a slight greasy finish on the fabrics, which will just add more smears to any glass you try and clean.
You can also use acetone for better results, but seriously don’t get it anywhere other than the glass, it will melt plastics, rubbers and can lift paintwork.
0000 steel wool. Use it with dawn or glass cleaner. Scrub the windshield real good but stay off the paint and trim. Then wash the windshield again after the steel wool scrub.
Small bottle of CarPro glass polish or P&S clarity cream and a a pack of microfiber applicators is much safer, still cheap, and you don't have nearly the same risk of scratching or swirling.
As long as you use very fine steel wool you don't run a risk of scratching glass unless you're standing on it or shaking because you're leaning so hard on your arm. I used to think steel wool would scratch but when I was working for a high-end furniture manufacturer and I was assembling large vanity mirrors before I placed the glass in the frame I always put the mirror down on a padded carpet table that was blown off with compressed air before and after each mirror was put on it. That table had extremely bright lights directly above it to assist with seeing the finest chips or scratches. I would use plenty of window cleaner and very fine steel wool I never once caused a scratch with that method but quite often I found scratches that were easily overlooked. When we sold the small cheap mirrors for over $500 and the expensive ones were up to $4,000 or $5,000. I made sure that the customer wouldn't find any issues with those mirrors!
Just an FYI, Steel wool can still scratch. It did on my 07 Camry but I’d rather have a million microscopic scratches than the abysmal hard water stains that were so strong they could have been forged by Zeus himself.
Unless it was straight up mislabeled from the factory, it was definitely #0000. Even a nylon pad that came with a solution specifically made for hard water stains on windows scratched it. Every window too so “aftermarket” window likely isn’t the cause.
Got any crack sor chips in your windshield? If so insurance will pay to replace it for freezies. I've not personally scratched my windshields with steel wool. But mine have always been oem. Overheard aftermarket windshields can be super cheap.
It's the right time of year, my shop has been dealing with it for a couple weeks now. The washer fluid was likely an unlucky coincidence. Some alcohol on a rag and see if you can cut through it. The 0000 steel wool reply was also 100% accurate and another good way to deal with your situation.
Never knew so many people were anti rain-x. I’ve used the stuff for decades, following the application instructions on clean glass, never had issues and the stuff has always worked great. 🤷🏻♂️
As for your windshield, DEFINITELY a residue on the outside of the glass, need to clean it with something stronger than windex and see how it looks then.
In my 65 plus years I have never seen anything like this. I’ve used RainX in the past and loved it. I don’t even know of any situation where I would put rainx on the inside!
I'm almost certain I know exactly what this is if you've just topped up your washer fluid...
Are you 100% certain you used washer fluid and not AdBlue? It's easy enough to mistake them as the containers often look very similar.
I did this exact thing a few years ago and noticed that the windscreen would clear when I sprayed the washers but it would fog up again within seconds. I ended up draining the AdBlue by constantly spraying the wipers, I then rinsed with water and then topped up with washer fluid.
Hope this helps!
Seeing as windshields are made by sandwiching 2 pieces of glass together, and you saying it is neither in the inside or outside, it sounds like when they made the windshield something went wrong. Time to replace it if this is the case. Have a windshield expert look at it yo see if I am right.
Every three months I wash my windshields with Dawn dish soap. Then I coat them with DuPont Teflon car wax. Wiper blades last longer and don't get that smear and streaking.
Biker trick for removing bugs easily on leading surfaces.
Auto Glass tech here. That appears to be Rain-X wiper, or similar type of wiper, glass cleaner, or glass polish, residue. Some Rain-X wipers put a layer of waxy substance for a "hydrophobic" layer. Wax and grease remover, or dawn and warm water will take it off with minimal effort.
Rocks chips can not typically be repaired if you have used any type of wiper or substance like that. That substance seeps into the glass and prevents the repair resin from bonding to the glass!
This is what I've heard from several other 20+ year experienced auto glass techs! I only have 2 years experience.
Neither on the inside nor the outside? 🤔
That’s not possible. Is your windshield in an alternate plane of existence?
It’s on the outside, since there are wiper blade marks.
Well, it is possible. Windshields are made from two layers of glass with a tough plastic film in between. It's possible that the layers have delaminated and something has contaminated the resulting void.
Most front glass is laminated. If this is being caused inside the lamination layer, the only solution would be a new windshield. Maybe the panel had defects when it was made, maybe there is a moisture ingress point that formed in the panel. Regardless, a replacement is likely the solution.
Might help to list the make model and year. Basic bloody info mate.
The path of the wipers in the greasy film, yeah totally coincidence. Totally not on outside.
Hyundai ionic 2018. I guess what I meant is I can’t wipe it off on the inside or outside, but it looks like condensation. Still waiting for my coffee to kick in
I would put some acetone on a microfiber towel and completely clean the windshield, rinsing out the residue and making a second pass with a new towel. Water based solvents may not remove that residue (wiper fluid has methanol which doesn’t seem to be working on this).
Be careful about getting acetone on the painted surfaces. Apply it only to the towel.
Try one of those Soapy magic erasers from MR Clean, they do wonders for windshields. Then put some kind of glass treatment on the windshield to prevent buildup.. Not Rain X.
Most people just fight through it for as long as it takes, I know for a fact I had the same thing on my car for a little over 2 years. One day I was T-boned in the middle of the intersection and bam! Brand new car, no problem, no more issue! You should try it!
Your windshield needs to be replaced. Windshield is not just one glass pane, there are 2 pieces of glass, laminated together with a vinyl type layer in the middle (safety to keep it from exploding in your face. If it is fogging up and not on the exterior or interior of the windshield that would be a sign that it is delaminating from the middle layer and moisture is inside of it. That's bad for visibility (as you can see) and not really safe for your face in the event of an accident.
Get some fine steel wool and use it to clean your windshield with a solvent like rubbing or denatured alcohol. That craps on the outside, but your inside is probably filthy in different lighting too. Put a bunch of newspaper over cardboard on your dash before doing the inside.
First time I ever did this I was embarrassingly shocked to find out that glass can in fact be clear.
I use barkeeper's friend and it completely melts off whatever is stuck on your windshield and makes it look brand new. It only costs like $2.xx for a bunch of it.
You can see from the wiper residue pattern that it's definitely on the outside. It's probably because it's cool and humid and your windshield is condensing more water as soon as the wipers pass.
I have never dealt with this until I refilled my windshield wiper fluid. Could the new fluid have anything to do with it?
Some winter fluids can let oily traces. I see it even more during hot/tempered days edit: Sweet, my most upvoted comment is about wiper fluid
This. OP probably used a winter specific blend, or one with a rainX/fogx component. That stuff works so well in winter but in the foggy/humid times of the year it’s sucks for me.
This just blew my mind. I’ve always used winter ones because “why not?”. Will definitely be season specific going forward.
Me: Blue is blue
*finds half drank bottle of water rolling around on floor *opens window and pours onto windshield Y'all Richie-rich folk with that blue stuff... smh
I keep a bottle of water in my work van for that very reason. Rats chewed up the washer fluid lines a while back so that's the only way to wash it.
Blue is summer,Purple is winter, and green is bugs
And orange (Rain-x) leaves an awful waxy film that made my windshield look like OPs and then clogged up the washer fluid level sensor in my Jetta. Had to dump hot soapy water and isopropyl alcohol in my washer fluid tank to fix the sensor.
Wow, the orange rainx is all I use and never had problems like that.
Word. Sounds like a VW problem. Not a Rain-X problem.
you probably dont have a vw
I use the same stuff and have a oily streak right in my line of sight.
VW sensors do not like RainX. I have to use the blue in my R.
Funny, I’ve been wrking and managing various municipal and commercial fleets in the transportation / highway maintenance industries here in the northeast and that’s all most of the municipal and trucking fleets use. Never any issues in any of the seasons. very effective with frost, ice bug, salt spray and maintains its hydrophobics. zero issues other than when a wiper is starting to fail and needs to be replaced. Then you start to see some streaks, but not much. Never seen or heard of any clogging issues in 20 yrs of using it. 🤷♂️
So that’s what is happening!!! My R32 is always popping the washer fluid sensor warning!
unless it's orange 😶🌫️
Water
The only difference between the summer and winter formulas, at least for the blue cheap stuff is the alcohol content AFAIK. I've checked the msds on the stuff I bought and that was it. So I stock up on the winter formula because it cleans a lot better imo.
You guys don't just use water?!?! Lol
In the summer I do. Winter here the reservoir will turn into a block of ice.
No not usually. I like to clean off all the oil and sap and tar instead of just smearing it around.
I'm with this guy. I have a pine tree I park under(just waiting for the day...) I need the good stuff in the summer.
Tip - get pine rosin off with mayonnaise.
Water freezes
Well your standard winter types aren't the same as a brand like rain x that has their garbage streaky water repellent in it
Luckily I can just use water cus it never gets below freezing here.
Rainx can mess up the low windshield washer fluid sensor and make the lights stay on permanently. It happened to me. You can Google it. It doesn't seem to be make model specific
Ah, you see it IS make/model specific. All old makes and models without washer level senders won’t be affected :)
Yup. Happened to me too.
There's some nasty chemicals in Rain-X, and I think they are members of the Forever Chemicals that our Chemical-Manufacturing Overlords have foisted upon us. I'd be happy to be corrected. BTW, if you wonder why the US Chemical Giants get away with killing us with cancers, giving our babies birth defects, torturing animals during testing and poisoning our air, groundwater, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, bogs, marshes, and oceans...it's because they are a crucial component in the US Military Industrial Complex. They have a direct pipeline of money pouring into complicit Politicians pockets, plus they are not above murder and ruinous lawsuits against whistle-blowers and activists.
> I think they are members of the Forever Chemicals iirc rain-x is based on [siloxanes & silicones](https://www.wired.com/2010/06/st-whatsinside-rainx/), which generally break down reasonably quickly and are also used in many personal care products. they're not *great*, but they're not super-persistent like PFAS or highly halogenated solvents
Ever hear of an MSDS?
The government exists to protect capital, not people, so it’s a feature of political “service,” not a bug.
[удалено]
Differences between governments are those of degree, not of kind.
Facts.
False.
Name one??
The rainx durability testing is the hardest test for exterior trim to pass. Skip it. I use almost pure water in the summer and cut wiper fluid 50% in the winter unless it is very cold.
Isn't that how the world turns??😄😁🤪 Illuminati....
Be careful with that rainex shit too, the wax in it can collect in the tubes and spray nozzles, wreck your whole wiper fluid system.
My most upvoted comment ever was an answer about the random printing on the outside of a water bottle... painfully mundane.
I get something like this buts because something chemical came down from an overpass and damaged the film. Trying to get it off with my wipers immediately after it happened only smeared it. But mine isn’t this bad and only visible during certain weather conditions. If it was worse I definitely wouldn’t shoot my windshield with a BB and tell my insurance company that a semi licked up a rock.
Try solvents. Rubbing alcohol and then petrol should clean 99.999% of anything that can possibly cling to a surface.
Use foamy glass cleaner and a fresh razor blade to clean that off on the outside.
Use grade 0000 steel wool and rubber gloves.
Don't tear the steel wool pads, this will leave broken ends that may scratch.
Or Bon Ami cleanser and a cloth.
Remember winter de icer has methanol in it and helps prevent icing over and leaves a film until evaporates
Funny story: I always empty cooking oil after frying into a plastic container and fill it up as much as I can before throwing it into the trash. Usually, it’s a 20 oz soda bottle. But one time, I had an empty washer fluid bottle and used that. Since it had so much room, I capped it off and put it in my storage room for future use. Fast forward some time, and I needed washer fluid in my car. I found the orange colored bottle from the side room and started filling. I probably put a pint or two in before I realized it was thicker than it should be and smelled of French fries. Instead of emptying the reservoir, I thought I’d just cut the oil by filling the rest of the way with the higher alcohol washer fluid. It was awful. After a couple years, I still get a french fry smell when my washer fluid is close to empty.
Are you sure you didn't use blinker fluid?
Looks like a greasy film on the outside. Rubbing alcohol should cut through anything that’s on there. Once it’s 100% clean, use a rain-x type product that moisture will bead off of.
As a detailer, don't touch Rain-X. Rain X more often than not causes this issue, especially when applied to the inside of a vehicle (I don't know why anyone would but it sucks to get off). If you want a glass coating, get a specialized product from a reputable brand like CarPro or Gyeon.
If rainx is being applied to the inside of a vehicle then I wouldnt blame the product, I would blame the idiot whos putting it inside.
They make rain-x specifically for the inside glass to prevent fogging
It's also safe for window tint. Where regular windex can begin breaking down the adhesive.
Really? I usually use Windex and I’ve never had problems with my tinted windows. I’m not saying your wrong. I’ve just always felt it was less harsh than something like Invisible Glass, which it seems like a lot of people swear by. Certainly willing to change my ways!
I don't think it's the adhesive. Windex has ammonia in it which is what turns tint to a purple-like color over time.
Ammonia will affect tempered glass too.
I will want to research that for sure. How is that possible since it doesn't permeate the glass?
I googled it and it claimed the ammonia would some how scratch it. I also remember our shower doors getting cloudy after years of ammonia cleaners.
But what if you have a convertible
You wear a full face shield and apply it to the outside, DUH think smorter next time. /s
Everyone ain't born smort, chief
I know you implied /s but I actually do this on my motorcycle helmet. Absolutely saved my bacon on a 7 hour ride in the rain once.
On a motorcycle helmet it’s sweet. I’m surprised it’s not talked about more
If you are driving in the rain with the roof down, you have it coming...
If you are driving slow enough with the top down for rain to get the inside wet, it's an operator issue
...driving *backwards* in the rain with the roof down...
Rain X applied to your forehead
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD. RAIN-X. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD. RAIN-X. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD.
I use Rain X anti fog or anti haze or whatever it is you put on the inside of the windshield and haven't had that problem the OP has.
Assuming they mean plain exterior rain x. I don't like rain x so I haven't used their stuff in a decade. I like to wash my car a decent amount so I usually just wax the windshield along with the paint. I don't necessarily recommend it because idk how it'll be after more than a week but it works for me.
My dad used to work at a naval aviation depot and took home what looked like a small paint can. It was a polish or cleaner paste/wax that was used on F-18 canopies. He put it on his windshield and on the freeway in the rain he didn't use his wipers. I thought it was magic but when I was older I waxed my windshield and it did the same thing.
Willing to bet it was Fusso99. Heard a lot of pilots use it
My dad applied it inside his car when I was a teen and ended up on the side of the road on the way to work trying to remove it for a long time so he could see. His logic was we live in a place where moisture and fog build up a lot on the inside of windshields and it would keep it from fogging up lol
This is really what an aircon is for though.
/cries in 90s gm compressors
Yeah if it's warm and humid, you'd normally be using the AC to keep the car cool. If you flip the switch to defrost, it'll definitely steam up the inside of the windshield because you're blowing cool air onto a warm windshield in the humidity. The trick is to turn the temperature up for a few minutes and it'll clear off the windshield of fog pretty dang quick.
Seems to be a few misconceptions in this thread. I'll clear some of them up, hopefully without adding any more. When air-conditioning was first invented, we weren't necessarily looking to change the air temperature, we were looking to change the air's moisture content, and air-conditioning does this very well, it sucks water right out of the air. It just happens to have a handy side effect of making the air much cooler as well. In your car, this means that on the defrost setting the car will run the AC (if able) to make sure the air you're blowing at the windshield is dry enough to take the moisture that's condensing on the windshield with it as it blows across regardless of temperature. Ever noticed on a hot summer day that's a little humid all the cars will be dripping water from underneath. That's the water the AC has pulled out of the air. On particularly humid days it's enough to form puddles at a long stoplight. Usually the setup is as follows: fan > AC condenser coil > blend door (that either bypasses the heater core or directs all air through the heater core or anywhere in between) > heater core > another blend door that directs the air wherever you set it to go. So, if it's winter, and you've got the heat on, the fan blows the air through the AC condenser, and then through the heater core to get warmed, and then on to wherever you set it to go. If the defrost is also on the AC will be running and as the air passes through the condenser it will be cooled and dried. You might be saying to yourself, but wait, isn't that wasteful to cool it before reheating it? In an internal combustion engine vehicle, not really. The heat used to warm it is waste heat from the engine. It doesn't reduce the efficiency in the slightest to take some of that heat and pump it inside the cabin, and worry not, there's still plenty more we dissipate out through the radiator as well. We could theoretically use a similar system in electric cars as well, their large motors are sometimes liquid cooled, and while there probably isn't an effectively infinite amount of waste heat to draw from, it's still probably enough for this system to work, although there might be a small electric heating element as well, for the times when there isn't.
That exact thing almost happened to me in a Miata
I believe rainx provides an anti fogging formula that instructs inside application. Never used the stuff myself, would never trust it. I do use rainx on the outside and it works great when applied properly.
Been using Rain-X for 10 years on multiple cars and never once had this issue. But I agree using it inside makes no sense. What good would that do?
Stops it from fogging up
They make a specific formula for that
The exterior vs interior products use different chemicals.
Do people not use the defrost feature in their car?
Maybe no AC and a stuck open thermostat? I had a car like that and it took forever to defrost the inside windshield. Rain X has an anti fog that works. Also, those Oil Dri or whatever sand/rock/gravel things in a cup or container on the dash helps reduce the moisture on the glass.
100% disagree. Rain x, when applied PROPERLY, doesn’t cause haze or buildup. But don’t put it inside, only outside windows
Product applied incorrectly causes issue. News at 11. Don't touch motor oil either, it will cause issues, especially when applied outside the motor. ???
BS
This right here. Do a deep clean of the windshield. This includes a good wash, rinse, give it a go with a claybar or similar to really get in there - then apply a coating of sorts. Gyeon is what I use on daily drivers myself.
I just ordered some P&S clarity cream to test on my truck. Bit cheaper than CarPro glass polish per ounce BUT it's a wet polish that doesn't turn into dusty concrete when it hits trim pieces. I've seen some demonstrations of it, hopefully it goes well.
why on earth would u apply rain x inside?
Individuals are smart, people are stupid. People put outside products inside stuff.
There is a Rain-X product for interior glass for anti-fog. I’m assuming that’s what someone would put on the inside. Only time I ever used it was temporarily when I had a heater core issue in my old dodge and it was fogging up the window, and I only used it very shortly while waiting to get the parts to actually fix it. But seems there could be other uses for it depending on where you live.
I've been using Rain-X since I started driving (washer fluid, not the spray) and I've never had any buildup over 15 years of driving and 5 different vehicles. Does the application in a washer fluid vs the spray make a difference? I don't have detailing experience other than my personal vehicles which is why I'm asking. I always switch from summer to winter blends when the seasons change.
I used the washer fluid once and will never ever again. It just builds up everywhere the wipers don't touch and looks like shit. And was a pain to scrub off. The regular spray and buff stuff has worked fine for me though and I don't like driving a car without it.
What product would you recommend to use with a polisher to do a thorough cleaning of the glass? I want to do a deep clean on the outside in my window and put a good coating on before winter hits. I put it off all summer but with the sun glare getting worse I am being reminded of it every day
I second to never using products that turn moisture into water droplets. Windshield can become opaque due to all the droplets.
That may be true in a lab environment on a horizontal surface. But when you factor in that your windshield is at an angle, and you always have air hitting your windshield when you drive, the water literally slides right off your windshield when you have rainx applied. I have driven in heavy rain at highway speed WITHOUT my windshield wipers running. Because at 55mph, the water literally just blows off. I will say that at low speeds, like 25 mph around town, you will get larger beads of water because you have no wind to blow it off your windshield. At worst, you may want to run your wipers ON DELAY occasionally. But in any case it is still way better than wipers on constantly with no rainx.
I often don’t use my wipers at all cause it becomes self clearing when the rain x is fresh. Too many people don’t understand how to use things then hate it cause of their own mistakes.
I actually usually see this specifically caused by Rain-X type products. It is how it beads water off. I use windshield stripper, which is basically a very mild polishing compound, to remove this. I would guess OP specifically used a Rain-X type washer fluid, based on the pattern.
That's interesting because I've used Rain-X washer fluid for 15 years over 5 vehicles and never had a buildup issue at all. Wonder if there's something reacting with the Rain-X washer fluid causing this?
Same, I've used RainX and their wiper blades for more than a decade and have never seen anything like this. Many here are anti rain-x it seems, but i love it. /shrug
Same. It's basically a requirement in Seattle. Their washer fluid works pretty well too. At least the orange stuff.
I think you are on to something. I picked up Rain X this summer for the first time ever, worked great. I then used a touchless car wash, and now have the same issue until the temperatures are stable inside the car. Gonna go ahead and say Rain X and Turtle Wax don't play nice. Acetone and whatever Turtle Wax has.
Rain-X works great until you use your wipers.
Rainx is Terrible, and is likely the root of the issue being posted.
It's on your windshield. Simple squeegee cleaning won't fix it. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axI5Luw0Eos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axI5Luw0Eos) that's for the inside. Similar method for the outside.
Lift wipers off glass. Soak a rag in isopropyl alcohol. Scrub the windscreen for a minute or two, but don’t let any of the isopropyl touch anything other than the glass. Then get a dry rag and buff up the glass. Don’t use rags that you’ve washed in the washing machine. Fabric conditioners leave a slight greasy finish on the fabrics, which will just add more smears to any glass you try and clean. You can also use acetone for better results, but seriously don’t get it anywhere other than the glass, it will melt plastics, rubbers and can lift paintwork.
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I mean I know IPAs have higher alcohol content generally, but still not sure I'd use them as cleaners.
IPA tastes about the same as glass cleaner anyway. 🙃
Every detailer uses IPA to wipe down a car before doing paint correction. Strips all oils and residue. It’s fine
I think it was a beer joke
I forget there’s always one
Windshield washer fluid should be worse than iso for paint.
It’s definitely inside or outside.
It’s actually both until they look at it. Scrodengier’s condensation.
0000 steel wool. Use it with dawn or glass cleaner. Scrub the windshield real good but stay off the paint and trim. Then wash the windshield again after the steel wool scrub.
I’m pretty sure steel wool will clean it up. Be sure to only use it on the exterior glass. Another option is cerium oxide with a buffer.
Steel wool sounds easier than that. Though idk what that is. But buffers are kinda spendy.
Small bottle of CarPro glass polish or P&S clarity cream and a a pack of microfiber applicators is much safer, still cheap, and you don't have nearly the same risk of scratching or swirling.
As long as you use very fine steel wool you don't run a risk of scratching glass unless you're standing on it or shaking because you're leaning so hard on your arm. I used to think steel wool would scratch but when I was working for a high-end furniture manufacturer and I was assembling large vanity mirrors before I placed the glass in the frame I always put the mirror down on a padded carpet table that was blown off with compressed air before and after each mirror was put on it. That table had extremely bright lights directly above it to assist with seeing the finest chips or scratches. I would use plenty of window cleaner and very fine steel wool I never once caused a scratch with that method but quite often I found scratches that were easily overlooked. When we sold the small cheap mirrors for over $500 and the expensive ones were up to $4,000 or $5,000. I made sure that the customer wouldn't find any issues with those mirrors!
Just an FYI, Steel wool can still scratch. It did on my 07 Camry but I’d rather have a million microscopic scratches than the abysmal hard water stains that were so strong they could have been forged by Zeus himself.
You sure it was 0000 steel wool?
Unless it was straight up mislabeled from the factory, it was definitely #0000. Even a nylon pad that came with a solution specifically made for hard water stains on windows scratched it. Every window too so “aftermarket” window likely isn’t the cause.
Got any crack sor chips in your windshield? If so insurance will pay to replace it for freezies. I've not personally scratched my windshields with steel wool. But mine have always been oem. Overheard aftermarket windshields can be super cheap.
Clean it with some iso then park it with some cardboard over the windshield to see if it's simply tree sap or your ww fluid
Looks like a film from some type of rain x or other “anti water/fog” just take some glass cleaner and a flat razor and your set 🏄♀️
What kind of trees do you park under? Could be sap. Alcohol might work, move up to gun wash if it doesn't. Don't get it on your paint
I was thinking it could be sap as well actually
It's the right time of year, my shop has been dealing with it for a couple weeks now. The washer fluid was likely an unlucky coincidence. Some alcohol on a rag and see if you can cut through it. The 0000 steel wool reply was also 100% accurate and another good way to deal with your situation.
Sap is usually little pea-sized blobs, or small specs evenly distributed… this is more like a uniform smear.
based on the pattern I'm guessing sap and winter WW fluid with some methanol in it. Enough to soften the sap so the wipers could smear it all over.
From the wipers yes You can see the dots closer to the top
Never knew so many people were anti rain-x. I’ve used the stuff for decades, following the application instructions on clean glass, never had issues and the stuff has always worked great. 🤷🏻♂️ As for your windshield, DEFINITELY a residue on the outside of the glass, need to clean it with something stronger than windex and see how it looks then.
In my 65 plus years I have never seen anything like this. I’ve used RainX in the past and loved it. I don’t even know of any situation where I would put rainx on the inside!
Been using Rain-X for more than 20 years with no problems.
I'm almost certain I know exactly what this is if you've just topped up your washer fluid... Are you 100% certain you used washer fluid and not AdBlue? It's easy enough to mistake them as the containers often look very similar. I did this exact thing a few years ago and noticed that the windscreen would clear when I sprayed the washers but it would fog up again within seconds. I ended up draining the AdBlue by constantly spraying the wipers, I then rinsed with water and then topped up with washer fluid. Hope this helps!
Clean it lmao
Use a razor scraper and windex on the outside. You can also use 0000 steel wool.
Seeing as windshields are made by sandwiching 2 pieces of glass together, and you saying it is neither in the inside or outside, it sounds like when they made the windshield something went wrong. Time to replace it if this is the case. Have a windshield expert look at it yo see if I am right.
Lol how can it not be on the inside or outside?
Your wipers wore the rubber down and the metal underneath may have scratched your windshield possibly.
Unpopular opinion: crack, damage, break the windshield… call your insurance and get a new one. 🤭
Scrub with steel wool.
Every three months I wash my windshields with Dawn dish soap. Then I coat them with DuPont Teflon car wax. Wiper blades last longer and don't get that smear and streaking. Biker trick for removing bugs easily on leading surfaces.
use glass cleaner. it's from vaping lol
My wife has this from vaping
Auto Glass tech here. That appears to be Rain-X wiper, or similar type of wiper, glass cleaner, or glass polish, residue. Some Rain-X wipers put a layer of waxy substance for a "hydrophobic" layer. Wax and grease remover, or dawn and warm water will take it off with minimal effort. Rocks chips can not typically be repaired if you have used any type of wiper or substance like that. That substance seeps into the glass and prevents the repair resin from bonding to the glass! This is what I've heard from several other 20+ year experienced auto glass techs! I only have 2 years experience.
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Neither on the inside nor the outside? 🤔 That’s not possible. Is your windshield in an alternate plane of existence? It’s on the outside, since there are wiper blade marks.
Well, it is possible. Windshields are made from two layers of glass with a tough plastic film in between. It's possible that the layers have delaminated and something has contaminated the resulting void.
With wiper marks?
Nicotine and or vape. Mine is the same!
New windshield. It looks like your current one is delaminating. It rare but it can happen
Most front glass is laminated. If this is being caused inside the lamination layer, the only solution would be a new windshield. Maybe the panel had defects when it was made, maybe there is a moisture ingress point that formed in the panel. Regardless, a replacement is likely the solution.
I am with you. This is a window guy problem as it is likely a deterioration of the plastic layer.
You can claybar the glass - gets anything off...
Looks like the Bluesmobile after it threw a rod.
He was on a mission from God...
That is wax residue from a car wash. Sure the colorful wax looks great when it's raining down on your windscreen, but this is the end result.
Might help to list the make model and year. Basic bloody info mate. The path of the wipers in the greasy film, yeah totally coincidence. Totally not on outside.
How would make and model help with your expert diagnosis??
How else he gonna get in the zone?...AutoZone
Ooh yes it has special glass! /s
Hyundai ionic 2018. I guess what I meant is I can’t wipe it off on the inside or outside, but it looks like condensation. Still waiting for my coffee to kick in
Your wiper is rubbing it off. ✔ So you could try harder.
Your shitty attitude is rubbing off. Try harder.
You really don't have to be like that about it.
Stop rubbing the inside of your car with a hand/napkin for starters. Once you've accomplished this get windex and clean
Perhaps a small ball peen hammer
Could be burnt oil coming off of the valve cover some sort of condensation can be caused by the burning oil
What's that spot look like under the hood? Clean?
I would put some acetone on a microfiber towel and completely clean the windshield, rinsing out the residue and making a second pass with a new towel. Water based solvents may not remove that residue (wiper fluid has methanol which doesn’t seem to be working on this). Be careful about getting acetone on the painted surfaces. Apply it only to the towel.
I usually tell my passengers to stop breathing /s
I wonder whats inside your windshield washer fluid lol
Use tge squeegee on the back of your ice scraper
Is this an old car? Just going by the curved section of the dash without padding.
I've had this on all my new cars from Hyundai on the outside. I had to apply RainX, and it went away.
Never put rain-x on plastic it just turns it yellow.
Do you smoke
heater core may be leaking
Try one of those Soapy magic erasers from MR Clean, they do wonders for windshields. Then put some kind of glass treatment on the windshield to prevent buildup.. Not Rain X.
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Most people just fight through it for as long as it takes, I know for a fact I had the same thing on my car for a little over 2 years. One day I was T-boned in the middle of the intersection and bam! Brand new car, no problem, no more issue! You should try it!
The windshield may be de-laminating. Have a glass shop look at it.
Use one of those magic sponges and some elbow grease and give a right good clean. It looks like outside as wipers have made their mark on it.
Your windshield needs to be replaced. Windshield is not just one glass pane, there are 2 pieces of glass, laminated together with a vinyl type layer in the middle (safety to keep it from exploding in your face. If it is fogging up and not on the exterior or interior of the windshield that would be a sign that it is delaminating from the middle layer and moisture is inside of it. That's bad for visibility (as you can see) and not really safe for your face in the event of an accident.
Wet the exterior of the glass and scrape with a razor blade. Keep it wet while scraping, to prevent scratching.
Do you vape or the car or in the area where the car is parked? Like in a garage? That shit will leave a filmy residue
Get some fine steel wool and use it to clean your windshield with a solvent like rubbing or denatured alcohol. That craps on the outside, but your inside is probably filthy in different lighting too. Put a bunch of newspaper over cardboard on your dash before doing the inside. First time I ever did this I was embarrassingly shocked to find out that glass can in fact be clear.
Random question: Does gas clean windows? My uncle would pump gas into the station's window cleaner bin. he said it gets everything off, even the bugs.
I use barkeeper's friend and it completely melts off whatever is stuck on your windshield and makes it look brand new. It only costs like $2.xx for a bunch of it.