Long Term Windshield Ceramic Coating Test! I Compare Cheap vs. Expensive Glass Coatings

[@diydetailofficial]

Thanks Colton for the test. Yes you applied more than enough. For the wipe off, I generally apply the C6 Ceramics Hydro Glass , then apply the coating on the paint, and wipe off the C6 Ceramics Hydro Glass as the last step of the detail. On average installers get 8-12 cars per bottle

[@punisherg3331]

Just a quick tip, with RainX after it hazes, wet a paper towel or microfiber with clean water and leave it a little wet. Then wipe over the haze and take a clean microfiber and dry. Very easy to remove with a damp cloth. Great video, keep them coming.

[@TurdFerguson149]

The key to rainx is to throw it in the garbage and get a ceramic coating

[@ryankassel5691]

I love these comparisons. Looking forward to the results!

[@sheepstardetail]

Great video! Not sure why the KZbin algorithm didn't show me your videos in the past (or maybe, why I didn't see them!) but this was top notch! Subbed!

[@acarguy374]

Rain x is the king….the OG…..hard to beat.

[@TurdFerguson149]

Have you ever tried a ceramic glass coating? I used to do rainx multiple times a year, then I did carpro flyby forte and it lasted almost 3 years

[@MikeGDetailing]

FYI Adams states "Multiple coats are not required, but permissible" on their site. It is similar to the Jade Amethyst glass coating. Hydro Glass works very well.

[@Slava-du8dw]

My minivan has rain-x applied to the side and rear windows and it has lasted for more than seven months with regular washes. It is wiped off the windshield fairly quickly by wipers and lasts for about a month or up to four rains

[@DavidAg02]

I've used RainX for almost 20 years. It works extremely well for the price. It won't last as long as the more expensive coatings, but it literally takes 5 minutes (or less) to put onto your windshield, so it's very easy to reapply when you need it.

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

So did the other coatings. I’d argue Adam’s was far easier

[@TurdFerguson149]

Rainx lasts a couple months, ceramic lasts a couple years.

[@petercaires9276]

Thank you for the video. I really appreciate you going into detail and allowing us to gain a full understanding of what you’re working on and how you’re doing it. I’m a DIYer and a huge fan of Adam’s. I’ve dabbled with the expensive coatings, but like everyone, I’m terrified of wasting the product. The expensive stuff really needs an eye-drop applicator bottle. Adam’s bottle is perfect for their price point, and I find myself using much more without any stress.

[@gj91471]

Use a damp cloth when removing Rain-x haze....makes it easier.

[@golfboy83]

Rain-x also recommends to do a second coat before wiping it off to make sure you have uniform coverage. I always start on the windshield, and go around the car applying it to all windows and side view mirrors, then come back to the windshield and apply a second coating to all windows and mirrors. Them when I'm back to the windshield, it's ready to wipe off and I go around and wipe off the rest of the windows. It works great and can last well over a year if you get some layers on a bit a couple months apart

[@molemanftw]

Having tried all 3. RainX Is the best bang for the buck. I put the Adam's on my personal cars. C6 is good just WAY OVER PRICED IMO. Thanks for the video.

[@gj91471]

Try the Ultra Glaco glass coating....very chemical resistant

[@hyde4never]

I agree with you. Soft 99 is better than Rain X. It's easier to apply compare to those expensive coating products.

[@matsudakodo]

I've been liking Angel Wax H2GO lately. Gyeon Quick View is on my other car. Performance is good with both but if using a microfiber pad with the AW the user experience is better. But it's like asking which do you like better, gold or silver.

[@z1522]

I find the new gen. Rain X Ceramic, on a brand new windshield, to be extremely disappointing, whereas 20 years ago on a fast XC trip from Colorado to Minnesota, a violent rainstorm was reducing my visibility to dangerous levels, and literally lifted my wipers off the glass on my old Subaru GL in the crosswinds. I finally spotted a Walmart, and thankfully found the original Rain-X bottle. I had to sit under a gas station awning to dry the glass, and then apply the solution, dried and buffed it, repeated. Back on the road, I was literally passing Semis at 75, the rain so hard it washed over the hood, but the water just blew off with the wipers just on intermittent. Since then, the only product as good was small spray can of No Touch, which even worked on wet glass, but I don't see it any more. It is hard to fathom why Rain-X changed for the worse, as the only minor peeve was the application process, yet many new far pricier "wonder products" are even more tedious, in line perhaps with the notion that the extra labor, and cost, for the DIY obsessive must equate with a superior result - which tests do NOT necessarily support. The bizarro world of exotic and costly auto products has become as wild as the audiophile scams around high end stereo, turntables, cables, etc. One will have a hard time admitting their 150 dollar Ceramic treatment that took twenty steps to finish last no longer than the $5 Rain X, and maybe even left a residue, or failed to shed water without running the wipers.

[@jeffclarke5497]

Good point... If it the product tends to rush the process, you're much more likely to screw up somewhere. I'd rather be relaxed twice in a year as be in a panic once. Most DIY'ers are doing it for fun anyway. Relax the formula/process. Thanks for your efforts! Cheers.

[@chingwodapigu]

Definitely interested in how the wiper chatter as the coatings wear. That is one of the reasons I hated using Rain-X on any of the glass that is wiped. Worked great on side windows and the portion of the glass that doesn't have the wiper swipe over it.

[@nathanwolf5547]

I’ve always use rain X in the past and, to be honest, I found it an absolute pain to install in cooler weather. Not so much the application but the removal. I use it on the prospect screen of my truck because that doesn’t have a wiper But I found that it did smear after application when I used the wipers. It will be good to see just how different these products are thank you.

[@John-yf4ie]

I've done detailing for years and still haven't found a prduct that works as easy as RainX. many of us leave near a large river area and no matter which product is applied by later in the evening or early morning the windshield is covered with bugs. at least with RainX a simple wash with a good wash and wax removes the bugs. Yanni

[@daarionaharis3675]

I tried Rain-X on my Model Y. It did make the rain drops just slide off at freeway speeds. But it made my wipers skip and chatter. The manual states to not put coatings on the windshield. I had a miserable removing the coating.

[@TurdFerguson149]

I did carpro flyby forte 3 years ago and it just start to fail a month or two ago. Just did the hydro glass today.

[@Murph97]

Let me preface this by saying I totally get that use and conditions dictate how long a coating will last. BUT almost every other company advertises expected average durability. They do this because they have tested it. CCI says (3-5 year glass coating) they tested this durability and saw that it lasted 1 million wiper strokes. I understand that lab testing can be extrapolated to give these types of numbers but at least it gives an average. How can I justify paying a premium for a glass coating and have no idea how long it should last? Adams is $90 cheaper then C6 but at least I know it SHOULD get me 9-12 months. If I pay $130 will it last me 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days? What if I live in California with limited rain? It will probably last longer then Ohio. At least give us the the durability in the harshest conditions. It doesn't evoke confidence in the product and it doesn't justify the price compared to others who share expected durability based on testing. The assumption is they either didn't test the product or they did test it and the results were poor. With limited information this leaves consumers to draw their own conclusions....

[@diydetailofficial]

We stopped the lab tests after the equivalent of 5 years. The reason we do not state a durability is that everyone uses their vehicle differently. A garage kept car in an arid climate will last for decades, a daily driven car in a wet climate, with a driver who insists on using their wipers may only last a year.

[@christophersiano969]

My favorite way to do Rain-X is to coat the windshield just before it rains and allow the rain to clear it. Doing it that way, you end up with NO haze or streak when on-coming lights hit it. I've never been able to get it streak free just wiping. Just let rain do it. Also, Rain-X does really well at removing pine sap on a window. No idea why, but far better than the sap removers. Don't think I'd try it on paint. I have the Adams on right now and It's been OK. I don't think it beads up and clears as well as fresh Rain-X, but better than old Rain-X.

[@badkitty3971]

I got the Adam's but I did 2 layers on my windshield.

[@pigeonpoo1823]

Thanks for this. Would definitely like to see updates. And applying a different coating to each panel would be interesting. Real world driving. I have Glaco DX. Relatively easy to apply, works really well and i get the advertised 3-4 months. But there's the problem. The product states must be applied in +10c (50f). So you apply in September and come December, good luck finding a day when you have that luxury. No garage, no apply. I tried and it failed badly instantly. So you buy a product for winter spring time and can't use it. What a p1sser!

[@timoliver8940]

Would be interesting to apply them all to a rear screen without a wiper to see how much longer these coatings last without the added friction of the wipers on the glass

[@PierangeloRosati-xj9kj]

I’m surprised you didn’t include Gyeon QuickView

[@GalileoVR]

I would maybe recommend that with C6 they should just include the other type of applicator also since there is plenty of space in the box.

[@diydetailofficial]

Other types of applicators use much more product.

[@lamiglass1]

I just found out “invisible glass “ also makes a ceramic glass coating that appears to work well

[@jwardell]

I hope you leave these for 3-4 months and then document their performance in rain at highway speed. I did a similar video decades ago with RainX vs Aquapel and of course over time as the rainX wore off there was a night and day difference. I’ve been using aquapel for years since, applying every 9-12 months to several cars. The problem now is knockoffs are rampant and you can’t tell which you are purchasing. Adam’s looks very similar to

[@markrichards9792]

Coleton, you missed a big opportunity. Instead of saying you could do it with your eyes closed you should have said you could do it with one arm tied behind your back.

[@rooboy99]

Thx for the vid, will watch updates with interest. Not a glass coating question but what ceramic coating have you personally found to be the slickest and glossiest thats a consumer or prosumer grade?

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

Gyeon Mohs EVO

[@rooboy99]

​@@OutofSpecDetailinginteresting thx mate

[@curtm]

Do you have any thoughts on shelf life? If Adams and C6 are applied with only "drops" and last for 9+ months, will the leftovers in each bottle still be good for the next application?

[@Campbellmasterson]

It would have been great to see soft99 Ultra Glaco in this test as well

[@robcossin4690]

My habit has been to watch the weather forecast, if it is expected to rain: go out and apply fresh Rain-X. quick, simple, cheap and effective.

[@RHopley]

Assuming 70% IPA on glass is safe since glass is so hard? I was wondering, Do you you IPA on paint? If so at what %?

[@mcconn746]

Thanks. Great video. I have had 3 MOHs procedures for skin cancer. Ceramic is added to tint to reduce UV transmission but we are not allowed to put even clear tint on the windshield here in Georgia. Will adding ceramic to the windshield increase UV resistance? If so, how much? Thanks.

[@ArthurMSoto]

Find a tint guy who will slap ceramic tint on the windshield. A ceramic coating won’t help you in this case.

[@mcconn746]

@@ArthurMSoto Thank you. I have not found anyone who says their product will block UV rays. I will probably do that. It is illegal but they have some that is clear enough that I will likely get away with it On the other hand, they sell ceramic coatings that they say will protect auto paint from UV rays. If that is true, why can't they protect a windshield from UV rays? There may be a simple explanation but I have not found it.

[@mcconn746]

Also, they might sell a lot more ceramic coating if they could protect from UV rays.

[@ArthurMSoto]

@@mcconn746 A ceramic coating for paint is a sacrificial layer that’s supposed to take most of the beating to protect the clear coat under it. Glass coatings are big on water repellency and to improve visibility. The chance of a glass coating blocking enough uv rays to make any difference just isn’t out there right now, nor maybe ever? Not sure how it would work, but maybe someone’s creating it for all we know😂 You can definitely get tint that no one would have any idea it’s on and will do the job you need!

[@mcconn746]

@@ArthurMSoto Thanks. I will probably get a clear tint. Your first point is that it is not permanent. It would have to be reapplied at some frequency. I understand that. I think your second pint is that it blocks some UV rays but not enough. I keep writing about this hoping some company will try to develop one that will help protect our skin. I was a professional driver and quit a job I loved because of this. I doubt they would have allowed me to tint their car windows because it is illegal and I drove several vehicles so it would have been expensive to tint all of them. I suspect professional drivers would buy a lot of it.

[@flyordieinafire]

Boo! Now I have to wait analog time to see an update on this 😩 any idea on how often you'll give updates?

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@gj91471]

The original rain-x instructions were to apply 2 coats....mqny years ago

[@tahiyetkamal5017]

Hey, try angle wax h20

[@jcoul1sc]

RainX wont last long, you can get 6 months if kept in a garage and never using your wipers I think, but in daily use and car kept outside 24/7 I get a month. I find 2 coats is needed and I always wipe the wipers too, after cleaning

[@MathieuDeVinois]

Are there any specifications about shelf life once opened? No point of only using half a bottle when the rest is gone off before the next coating. About C6 what is putting me off is that wasteful packaging. First because it’s just waste and second, when I am not home they will bring it to a parcel shop where I have to collect it from. What is kind of useless for something what could fit into my letterbox. Also, not declaring how long it will last is problematic even though I get that it’s gonna be very different for everyone. One might test a worst case and a best case situation. And give those two durations as a rough estimate.

[@RayNLA]

I just use whatever drying aid that I put on the paint on the glass

[@voltzboltz609]

What happened with the Jade Amethyst product you used before in a prior video? How did that compare to these?

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

Similar to Adam’s

[@revnine]

Quick question Coleton: how do you deal with the area around the wiper blade? I'm getting ready to coat my cybertruck windshield and the wiper doesn't have a rest position off the glass. I know you've done a few, so curious what you did. Thanks!

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

Wiper service mode!

[@revnine]

@@OutofSpecDetailing Thanks Coleton!

[@jeanbaptistelabelle]

I am looking this looong video but as much as I wound move to have a glass repellant product for my Model 3, whatever I used (GTechniq G5, Gueon View...), it always make the wiper shudder. And I polished, clean the glasses like crazy so I cannot make it more clean. From what I read, more than the product ,it seems that the angle of the windshield couls have an impact but I would really like so much to have a product that works on the Tesla Model 3 because with the AP, you just cannot disable wipers completely so...

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

I’ve used both of those coatings. Hated them

[@jeanbaptistelabelle]

@OutofSpecDetailing interesting!!! I am also using these days Gyeon Quickview which, I know, is not supposed to last but still have the issue of wiper shudder (shadder?). Obviously as I see that you have a Tesla sometimes, would be great to have your advice because taking off a glass coating is not so easy once applied...

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

That’s because those coating sit on the glass rather than soak into the pores

[@rooboy99]

The wiper could be slightly out of alignment. Look up videos for fixing wiper judder. Normally the wiper arm nedds a gentle twist in one direction depending on how the blades rests on the glass.

[@jeanbaptistelabelle]

@rooboy99 i know this trick from Yvan buy I have Bosch aeroblade that cannot be twisted and have a very slim blade. So it seems this video does confirm that those coating increase judder no matter what... it is a shame. No such coating for a Tesla Model 3 and Y then.

[@TravisONiPhone]

Rain x is the best value and last a long time….adams last me half the time

[@tonyleung2442]

Nah. After few days the wiper will squeak like hell. Just use rain x washer fuild

[@biggestmexi]

Carpro Dquartz? Rain-X does not last a long time. It is well documented. Rain-x is a coating not a sealant. Too much rain-x was applied

[@theunkownmr.562]

What I don't like about C6 and DIY is that they will ship you products that have a box and they'll ship it in a plastic bag because they ran out of the boxes. Personally, I want the full presentation, and I wouldn't be shipping products if they're not 100% ready to go.

[@diydetailofficial]

Many people prefer getting the product without the box, than having to wait for the product

[@Murph97]

It’s a cardboard box that you throw away the moment you get it. We’re all entitled to our opinions but you aren’t applying a cardboard box to your car. You’re applying the coating.

[@theunkownmr.562]

@Murph97 that's fair to say, but don't make a nice box if you can't keep up with demand. That goes for anything. If we applied your logic to everything else that's boxed up then I'm assuming you'd just buy cereal without a box, you'd buy pancake mix without a box, you'd buy anything that normally has a box and is sold without it, even without getting a discount. Let's say you go buy a fragrance at the store and there are two options, one with a box and one without. Both are full retail price. Which would you pick? You aren't wearing the box, but if you're paying full retail, then you'd much prefer the one with the box.

[@Murph97]

@@theunkownmr.562 sounds good bud. You do what’s best for you 😃. Technically,it does come in a box. Just a smaller one which is in a bag.

[@theunkownmr.562]

@diydetailofficial that's just an excuse for you to justify shipping them without boxes. If that's your view, then why even bother designing and producing a nice box? You already know why you did that. I dont even need to tell you. Also, why send your influencers on KZbin a full presentation product if the box really doesn't matter. Just send them the bottle and the applicator, that's it. Am I being critical? Absolutely! When I see a product on KZbin that has a nice box and I don't get the same presentation, then now im a bit disappointed. Does it mean your product isn't good? Absolutely not. I just want you to know that when you show people what they're going to get, then that's what they should be getting. Am I going to throw the box away? Yes. But that's not the point. I know the box isnt going to back the coating any slicker and glossier. Do I want a box after not having gotten one? No, it's not worth it at this point. Do better. Anyway, y'all make some fantastic products that I enjoy using. Keep it up!

[@jgalietto]

Colton, I am disappointed in this video. RainX does not correctly belong in this comparison. I don't have a bottle handy, but it used to list its ingredients as acidified alcohol. Acidified alcohol is routinely used to clean laboratory glassware. RainX removes the surface containments that reduce the inherent ability of glass to shed water.

[@OutofSpecDetailing]

Rain X is consumer grade. Tons of people use it. I’m not advocating for it, but I have been asked numerous times to test it. Can’t please everyone

[@NO_OPEC_NO_PROBLEM]

I’ve had good experiences with RainX over the yrs. It just doesn’t last long enough, so I switched to Adam’s glass coating is on all my cars now. Adam’s says it last about 200mi of rain driving. Interested to see how long the C6 lasts, DIY makes good stuff! Prep is the key here, you can always use a razor blade or Brillo pad to remove crap from w/shield.

[@larry4fire]

Been using Rain-X for over 30 years. Don’t need wipers at higher speeds, bugs clean off easier, and the little bottle you’re using lasts for years. When it wears off I just clean the windows with a little bit of cheap Amazon isopropyl alcohol and apply a little Rain-X using another blue paper towel. Takes 5 or 10 minutes, no big deal. Don’t have any experience with the two other products, but as it just works, I see no compelling reason to change.

[@matsudakodo]

​@@larry4fireI think a good upgrade from RainX is Angel Wax. Just don't use the terrible sprayer.