Fixing deficient lens waterphilia

[ThirteenElectrics]

My Rivians get more rain drops on their exterior camera lenses than any other car I’ve driven. Either their placement doesn’t heed aerodynamic principles or the lenses themselves are not coated properly. I’ve tried RainX to no avail; what is the latest thinking about how to remedy this? There are old threads in the subject, but maybe some new product has hit the market.

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[SciGuy]

My Rivians get more rain drops on their exterior camera lenses than any other car I’ve driven. Either their placement doesn’t heed aerodynamic principles or the lenses themselves are not coated properly. I’ve tried RainX to no avail; what is the latest thinking about how to remedy this? There are old threads in the subject, but maybe some new product has hit the market.

May I ask what you observe with RainX? Does it not work at all or only for a short period of time? I have exactly the same question as you and would love to hear if anyone has a product that works.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Rainx works, for a singular rainstorm maybe two. So it does work, just not long enough to make it worth it.

 

[ebarke]

Have you tried a ceramic coating product (same thing you would use on your paint)? That might last longer?

 

[R1Thor]

The rain is perfectly fine. A combination of having had my truck ceramic-coated and then I use RainX as is recommended here.

It's when the road grime kicks up and starts coating things.
I just hit it with some Gyeon Ceramic Quick Detailer and it's good until dirty

 

[suprteck]

https://a.co/d/1b9eGvH
Works but don’t touch or wipe after treating

 

[bigsky]

I've had no issues with camera lenses or windshield and windows. On the latter, water always beads right off. I suspect the same might happen with exterior camera lenses.
Have my cars with full PPF and ceramic coating. I always wash them waterlessly with OptiCoat No Rinse car wash and wipe up with OptiCoat Hyper Seal solution. Forget RainX. As far as I can tell, OptiCoat Hyper Seal is the most hydrophobic, most water-hating, most water-repellent solution known to mankind. It just works. And keeps on working.

 

[Polar]

Kind of referencing your title I know someone who put a hydrophilic coating on them and as long as they’re clean of mud or dirt, it works very well to just rapidly disperse the water that hits the lens.

 

[SciGuy]

I've had no issues with camera lenses or windshield and windows. On the latter, water always beads right off. I suspect the same might happen with exterior camera lenses.
Have my cars with full PPF and ceramic coating. I always wash them waterlessly with OptiCoat No Rinse car wash and wipe up with OptiCoat Hyper Seal solution. Forget RainX. As far as I can tell, OptiCoat Hyper Seal is the most hydrophobic, most water-hating, most water-repellent solution known to mankind. It just works. And keeps on working.

Thanks for the recommendation. I was hoping for someone to suggest a premium product and at $55 for 16 oz for the hyper seal I'd say that's at least premium pricing!

 

[bigsky]

Thanks for the recommendation. I was hoping for someone to suggest a premium product and at $55 for 16 oz for the hyper seal I'd say that's at least premium pricing!

$49, actually, for 16 oz. Comes with a spray nozzle, and it is sprayed on very sparingly. Can wash my car at least 10 times easily, and i probably use more than I should.

This is meant for ceramic coating and PPF, though. Perhaps it would work on anything (the main wash solution is Opti-Coat No Rinse Ceramic Rinseless Car Wash @ $25.) It too goes a long way.

Both products are the poster child for you get what you pay for.
No water hose, no water in that regard. No soap. Just a bucket of water with some of the Car Wash solution (a few capfuls), scrub with a sponge, spray on Hyperseal, wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. My car comes out incredibly clean and shiny. Nothing else in this world makes it more water-allergic. Nada.

 

[godfodder0901]

Kind of referencing your title I know someone who put a hydrophilic coating on them and as long as they’re clean of mud or dirt, it works very well to just rapidly disperse the water that hits the lens.

Hydrophilic does not mean hydrophobic.

-philic = love.
-phobic = fear*

*Thanks for keeping me honest @bigsky

 

[bigsky]

Hydrophilic does not mean hydrophobic.

-philic = love.
-phobic = hate.

Phobic/phobia= fear. Greek phobos

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