Customer Reviews

Aquapel 88625-47100 Glass Treatment

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have used rain-x in the past and thought it was worth the effort of application, but I got annoyed by how often it needed reapplying especially if you used your wipers in the rain. I heard that this product had more durability than rain-x so I thought I'd give it a go. The applicator made it easy to apply and there was plenty for the front & rear windshield of our SUV. it's been on for about 6 weeks now and hasn't noticeably come off. I know this to be true as we got a rock chip in the windshield about 2 days after applying it and had the chip "filled" there is a small circle around where the chip was where the Aquapel was removed by the chip repair guy when he fixed the windshield. You can clearly see the difference there (a patch about 2 inches wide where the water smears) I also note that the difference between the wiper path and outside of it is not anywhere like I would see with rain-x.
I'll be buying Aquapel again based on my experience so far.

UPDATE Mar 2009:
we have had the same Aquapel Aquapel 88625-47100 Glass Treatment on the windshield of our 2002 Sequoia for over a year now with our old OEM blades - our new driver side Bosch 419A ICON Wiper Blade - 19" and passenger side Bosch 419B ICON Wiper Blade - 19" ones are starting to take it off - so they must be a better seal ;-)
I have only used one of the 3 I purchased so although the cost is higher than Rain-X it's cost effectiveness is far higher! I'd boost this to 5 stars if I could :-D

In brief, Aquapel works just like Rain-X but lasts months instead of days.
I have a detailed review comparing the two including a video on my web site:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/2006/04/11/rain-x-vs-aquapel/

I first read about this product in The Family Handyman magazine, and so far, their analysis is correct - AWESOME!

I was concerned when I first applied it to the windshield - I expected it to coat the glass smoothly, like Windex, but instead, it beaded. To be clear, no other products had been used on the windshields of my cars with th exception of the wax cycle at the local drive-through car wash. I kept rubbing the applicator on the windshield, which resulted in more product on the glass than needed.

The instructions say to make sure you wipe it with a paper towel right away or risk a hazy covering. When I started wiping with the paper towel, the beads were smeared around the glass. I started to panic, but kept rubbing. Sure enough, it began to clear. I wish the instructions had been more explicit. So, my advice is be prepared to spend time wiping it dry. A few minutes more than you would originally expect.

I was done with the entire process - clean, dry windshield, apply product, wipe dry - in about 10 minutes. I used hot water with a couple drops of dishwashing liquid to clean the glass before application.

One of my cars is a station wagon - I treated the back glass, as well, since the wiper doesn't work that well.

It has been one month since I applied it, and it is still performing perfectly.

I definitely plan to continue using Aquapel.

This is Rain-X on steroids! It goes on without any haze and lasts about 4 months. I use this every year late November to get me through the winter. Use this and snow/frost will brush off your windows with ease.

I tried Aquapel on my SUV windshield after reading a number of glowing recommendations on some of the auto blogs and scanning the reviews here. I have to admit, I was somewhat skeptical because of a less than satisfactory experience with Rain-X years ago (I found that no matter what I did, it smeared and caused dangerous haze and glare). To be fair, I may not have applied the Rain-X properly, and I may have been using a very old version of it to boot.

However, after six weeks , I am extremely impressed with Aquapel:
-- Easy to apply, i.e. does not require skill or great care to avoid problems such as hazing
-- Virtually invisible after application
-- Long lasting and durable even after repeated windshield cleaning and frequent use of wipers
-- Cost is reasonable considering the superior results and reputed longevity of effectiveness
-- Ice and snow build-up slides off easily, without laborious scraping

Based on my experience so far, here some tips:
-- Before application, clean the windshield throughly with an appropriate non-ammoniated product designed specifically for use with motor vehicle glass. I use Eagle One 20/20 Auto Glass Cleaner.
-- Be sure the glass is absolutely dry, as per the Aquapel instructions.
-- For maximum effectiveness, use in conjunction with new(ish) or newly refilled wiper blades.

A few days ago I replaced the OE wiper blades on the Highlander Hybrid with Trico Neoform beam blades. I had just refilled the OE blades with new rubber, but found that they were still not wiping clean at the tops and bottoms due to the curve in the windshield. Caught in the continent-wide winter weather pattern while on the road, I was anxious to correct this.

What a difference the Neoforms have made! For the first time since owning the vehicle, the wipers actually clean every square centimeter in their paths in all weather, on every stroke. In conjunction with the Aquapel treatment, the clarity of vision in all driving conditions is nothing short of astounding. Under certain conditions, there is a bit of blade chatter, but I find I can reduce or eliminate this by varying wiper speed and spritzing the windshield occasionally.

Highly recommended.

I've had the opportunity to test this out a few times now in serious downpours. Works great. Makes wipers optional.

This is the most fantastic product. I have used it on all the family cars for about 6 years. IT IS GREAT. This bonds to the windshield and causes the water to bead and just roll off. Have you ever been in traffic and had a truck spray you with water?....Dont worry with aquapel.....it just rolls right off. Great for that SUV that gets rear window gunk too. It beads up and rolls off......Use this for saftey....

You -must- remove the Rain-X before you apply the product, however, if you have (or ever had) rain-x already on your windshield. The best method seems to be to use Rain-X Xtreme Clean paste and a cheap orbital buffer followed by a good spray with a pressure washer.

I would still do this step to prep the windshield anyway.

The application is somewhat clumsy, and you should wipe the product off after you apply. While you may be tempted to allow it to haze, this is an unnecessary and harmful step that will add time to its application.

After you apply a first coat and buff the glass, add another quick and thin coat before buffing the last time. There is really only enough for the windshield, so you should get more than one if you plan to add it to your side windows.

This is great stuff and I would liken it to the polymerized film on your great-grandmother's iron skillet. It isn't slippery, but it's a nonstick surface and feels like a hard-coat shield.

Need more speed (5-7 mph) to get the beaded water to slide off, but... it just works better--and for longer--than Rain-X.

This is the best glass treatment on the market. When I was the product engineer at Chrysler responsible for fixed glass, PPG was one of my suppliers who used to provide me with Aquapel samples. I've been using Aquapel for approximately 8 years now and apply it to the windshields and side glass on all my vehicles about once a year. I live in Michigan and it gets applied mid-November which gets me through the winter. I might apply it again in the summer especially if I know that I will be traveling long distances.

We use the product every time we re-do the windshields. Living in Seattle you have amble opportunity to test how it does in rain. The only thing not great about it is how cool the rain drops look as they fly off (must...not...look...). And it lasts for months and months.