Waxes And Polishes

avs007

I don't understand why Lexus would not put a clearcoat on a black car... My GTP is black, and has a clearcoat, and I do everything except clay, (haven't gotten it yet, so just use Meguars paint cleaner), and it lusts after my heart.... I've been like rusky and washing it once a week, if not more... I've even caught myself drying off the car after it rains.....

I like No-Touch, but I have to agree... I have yet to have it last more than 2 days... Though its been raining a lot lately... When we did get a week or two of sun, the tires looked shiny for the duration...

Rain-X is garbage... It beads well, but leaves an opaque residue over time...

I wouldn't trust prolong either... On a link someone gave me on engine additives, Prolong is under investigation by the FTC about its oil additives advertisements being misleading... So I wouldn't think too highly of its car care stuff...

Stillwater

Any recommendations for cleaning the plastic cover over the instrument cluster? Most of the stuff out there leaves too much of a shine.

re: Rain-X. Just applied it to my Solara after not having used it for quite a number of years. Two days later, I drove about 100 miles through a pretty fierce rainstorm. The rain was too heavy not to use the wipers also, despite the Rain-X, and the stuff caused the wiper blades to clatter over the windshield. I guess the Rain-X caused the wipers to take ALL of the rain off of the windshield, and the wipers had trouble on the "return stroke."

ruski

Avs - I find myself hosing my GTP and 300M off after a rain

ruski

All right, I have been Zainoing my GTP and 300M for a while. Each has about 7-8 coats of Z-2 and Z-5.

I have started noticing swirl marks on my 300M's skin under direct sunlight (300M is a darker color). I have been trying to stay swirl-free by using Zaino applicators and 100% cotton Made in USA towels. I am wondering whether I simply never noticed these swirls before and they were caused by the dealer prep or maybe I made the swirls?

If I made the swilrs, is it possible that they are just tiny scratches in the layers of Zaino, not in the clearcoat itself?

tnastrong

I recently purchased a 99 Dodge Dakota Club Cab pickup. I like
most everything about it except the seat belt
warning bell. Does anyone know how to disable this
bell without disabling the other warnings such as
headlight and low fuel bell? I like to buckle up
after starting the engine and have to listen to the
gong every time.

jmelchio

stillwater:

I bought some Plexus from a mailorder house (www.autopia-carcare.com). I only used it once so it's hard to tell, but so-far it looks pretty good. It's also safe to use on window tinting (wont scratch the plastic), which is why I really bought it. I'll keep you posted.

cindy288

tnastrong,
I think your in the wrong topic group!!!!! This about waxes and polishes

Stillwater

Someone mentioned that Zaino bottle labels were inkjet printed and prone to smearing when wet.... I just received a new order (needed to replenish my Z6, and added Z9+Z10). The bottles have commercial-quality labels, and THE Z6 BOTTLE WAS REDESIGNED!!!! I haven't used it yet, but it looks promising.

ruski:
were they quality towels? Sal says that many less expensive towels like those sold at Target and similar stores, while ostensibly 100% cotten, tend to scratch. IIRC, it's due to polyster stitching or something like that.

Stillwater

Someone mentioned that Zaino bottle labels were inkjet printed and prone to smearing when wet.... I just received a new order (needed to replenish my Z6, and added Z9+Z10). The bottles have commercial-quality labels, and THE Z6 BOTTLE WAS REDESIGNED!!!! I haven't used it yet, but it looks promising.

ruski:
were they quality towels? Sal says that many less expensive towels like those sold at Target and similar stores, while ostensibly 100% cotten, tend to scratch. IIRC, it's due to polyster stitching or something like that.

ruski

my towels were 20 bucks a piece. got them at Bed Bath and Beyond.

guilty_dog

Gotta do my wife's White Explorer. It's about 3 years old and hasn't been well maintained - although there aren't any serious problems. I am interested in putting something on it that will:

1. protect
2. last
3. look decent

I maintain my BMW pretty well with show polishes but don't have the time to keep it up and the Explorer. Too much real estate to cover on the Explorer!

Any suggestions for something that will last?

Thanks

vivona

Whatever you end up trying, do a strip of Nu Finish on the hood and watch it over the months. I bet you will find the Nu Finish will outlast anything else you try. Use the Nu Finish Paste, it outlasts the Nu Finish Liquid.

Or just take the word of the Consumer Reports wax test and my personal experience and use Nu Finish from the start.

shoman

I prefer a high quality cotton tight weave cloth over a course weave bath type towel. I find the finer the weave on the polishing cloth, the better the finish. Even very expensive cotton bath towels can have nylon threads (which will leave tracks in your wax, but won't harm your paint).
It's easy to get a dozen high quality cloths like this for near $1 each, beats expensive bath towels and they stay soft when you wash them. Most bath towels will get very rough to the touch if you don't use softener on them, if it scratches your skin, what do you think it's doing to your wax?

Don

duper

I usually park my car under trees at work and get tree saps all over the hood and windshield. These saps are tiny and clear but feel rough when you run your hand over the hood. It seems like if I wash my car really carefully, I can get rid of most of it. But I'm afraid that if it can be permanent if I leave it on too long. I tried waxing the car with one of those wipe-on wipe-off liquid wax to get the shine and hopefully can remove those saps easier. Any idea of what can be done to get rid of them with ease?? will waxing help at all??
Thanks

drscopem

Hi:
Please see my post #184 under topic #89 regarding how to treat tree sap.

pblevine

Try Zaino on that big Ford. I too have tree sap on my car.

massed

I am searching for a quality wax. I have been reading some of the "do's" and "don't" concerning type of wax, application, towel dry versus shamie, pre-wax paint conditioners, etc.. I logged onto the Zymol.com site and reviewed the product line. For someone who knows very little about waxes or polishes, can someone provide any experiences or hear say about Zymol ? There are many people on this site talking about Zaino. But is a polish as good as a wax ?

pblevine

massed,
There is another topic concerned mostly with non Zaino products: #89.

All Others,
On the question of tree sap, I have a coat of Zaino (Z1/Z2) on the car, and I see that most people recommend using clay to remove the sap spots. If I clay (using Z Car Wash as a lub.), will it remove my Z2 layer? And do I have to then apply a new Z1 before another layer of Z2?

Darkness

Pblevine,

Yes it will remove your Z-2 layer... for the most part, If you have 5-6 coats on you might go down to the 4th, I would ask Sal for direct details on just how much you should use and how to do it. And no, you wouldn't unless you went all the way through and removed the 5-6 layers of Z-2. If you have less than 3 coats, more likley than not you wil, any more then that and you should be fine, if your just doing spot checking I don't believe there will be a problem with just putting a small section of Z-2 which is much easier, I know I used Z-5 on my hood while I have 4 coats of Z-2 on the rest of the car. The hood seems to show up more of the "spiderwebs" or light scratches, so Z-2 will come after I get the final Z-5 coat on. hope this was of help.

-herr darkness

ruski

I used the $20 bottle of Zymol. It did not last and I suspect it was to blame for swirl marks.

Also - even though Zaino is called a polish, it is not exactly like other polishes. Zaino makes your car shine without "polishing" it. It also coats the surface with a protective layer that lasts a long time.

pblevine

darkness,
Thanks, and you have been helpfull. 'Guess I'm just going to wash, clay, do a layer of Z1 and then Z2 again. I don't think I need the Z5 as this is (still) a new car. And I didn't get any swirl marks when I applied my initial Z1/Z2 layers. Damn tree sap. I wouldn't have noticed it except it made little sparkles on my windshield. And when I then ran my hand over the hood, I could feel all those little bumps. I tried some Z6 and it did take most of the stuff off. But there is enough left to warrent another full Zaino treatment. Such is life!

anne4

I have an older VW van that I was getting ready to sell, so i bought some liquid Nufinish to wax it. Applied it to one door panel, let it dry, then rubbed it off. I could see NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER between the treated door panel and the untreated adjacent panel. They both still looked dull. I threw away the Nufinish and got out my Zaino products that I'd bought for my new van. (Was being a cheapskate by trying to put the cheaper Nufinish on the old van.) The older VW van's paint doesn't have a clearcoat, but I had to put on the Zaino product for clear-coated paints (Z2) because I didn't have the one for non clear-coated paints (Z3). However, the treated Zaino panel looked much better than the adjacent Nufinished panel. Maybe I should have used the Nufinish wax; but as far as I'm concerned, the Nufinish liquid is totally worthless. I'll never use it again.

ruking1

#782
I have taken to NuFinish-ing my houses air conditioning unit which is under cover but non- theless still partly exposed to the elements. Come to think of it, the AC Unit may need claying it was smooth prior to installation and use of Nu Finish twice a yr for 4 yrs?

Zaino does tend to look shinier and last much longer.(I save this for the vehicles)

guitarzan

I think you're onto something Ruking. "Clay your house" for the smoothest, cleanest house finish around!

drscopem

Hi:
#777 - Zymol/polish vs wax
Zymol is a fine wax but its superior shine doesn't last and therefore it must be reapplied monthly. Polishes and glazes are designed to reinvigorate the finish but do not provide protection. For this either a wax or a sealant is needed.

#778 - clay on Zaino
Since Zaino is a polymer which bonds to the paint surface like Finish First and Klasse, claying should remove less from them than from a waxed finish. I have not noticed any damage to any of my polymer finishes when clay is used with lots of detailer. Another alternative is to use Finish First's precleaner which chemically dissolves organic matter(wax, tree sap, etc.) but not the sealant. You could also use 3M's tar/adhesive remover. These products remove wax not sealant but you can check with Sal if you wish first.

#780 - BOTTLE of Zymol
For some reason, most likely greed, Zymol allows Turtle Wax to make the liquid Zymol seen in Wal-Mart. Check the back and you will see it was made in Chicago. True Zymol is not a liquid and comes in a jar.

#782 - no luck with Nu-Finish
It sounds as if your paint is oxidized. If it were cleaned until it shined first I expect the Nu-Finish would have done a lot better.

hgiles

Ruking enjoyed your air conditioning post. It was extremely amusing.

massed

Like I stated in my previous entry, I know little about waxes or polishes but I bought a new Ford EXP 5 months ago and I want to take care of the paint. Now that I have stated my ignorance concerning paint care, here is the question I want to ask. Is it advisable to apply a polish over a wax. That way, I get the protection from the wax and the unbeatable shine from the polish ? IF not, How can I protect the paint and keep a shine that lasts more than a month ?

pblevine

Ruking,
Great idea, and as guitarzan says, why not planes, trains, and what about PC's?

guitarzan,
how are you and how's that CL doing? I was very disappointed that the CU review of coupes didn't include the CL, but then again their judgement of a 911 would be that its too small for the average family.

drscopem,
Perhaps you have a good point. I'll first try washing with Zaino Car Wash in a more concentrated mix. If that removes the little sap spots, I'll just apply another layer of Z2. If the spots resist a wash & dry, then I'll clay the car and inspect again. If I'm down to clearcoat, then its Z1 and Z2. If the finish looks good, I'll still apply Z2. Now all I need is time.

ruking1

#788
In the quest for the best, sometimes you pick a lemon. So when life renders lemons; make lemonade. In theory, you should get the polish/wax that works so you dont have to find alternate uses for it like throwing it out or foisting the remainder to an unsuspecting person who hasn't read Edmunds #8 waxes and polishes conference.

ruking1

My air conditioning unit is shinier than your air conditioning unit! AW AW AW.

drscopem

Hi:
#787 - what to use
You should wash your car with a good car wash. Next, clean the car with clay and a detailer (details are in an earlier post). Follow this with either a polish or glaze to make the car shine. An excellent glaze is 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. If your auto store doesn't have it, check the yellow pages under automotive paint stores.
Polishes and glazes improve the luster but don't protect it. Follow them with a wax or polymer sealant. Which you use is a matter of personal choice. An excellent liquid wax is Griot's Garage Best of Show (griotsgarage.com). If you prefer a really easy paste try One Grand's Blitz wax (onegrand.com). Either will last 3 to 4 months.
If you prefer polymer sealants you might consider Finish First (finishfirstusa.com, among others) , Klasse (smoothfinish.com), or Zaino (zainobros.com).
Good luck.

anne4

drscopem, on the Nufinish, i did wash the car first with Dawn, then clayed it. Unless I had used a polish, I don't see how I could have cleaned it any better than that.

Ruking, after your advice on waxing your AC unit, maybe I'll go fish the Nufinish out of the trash and wax my AC. Oh, wait, I don't have an AC unit, just a furnace. Maybe I'll wax the garbage can itself with Nufinish. Oh, wait, the garbage can is plastic. Maybe I'll wax the dog; then his coat will repell water, and i can leave him out in the rain.

swede

Well, I bit the bullet. Just mailed off my check to Zaino for Z1, Z2, Z6, and Z7. Also submitted an order to John at Erazer for my clay. I am expecting my new Saab to arrive any day now and hope this stuff gets here pretty soon. I was actually pretty surprised at the prices of the products. Of course they are more than "mainstream" brands, but did not seem to be outrageous.
I will report back as soon as I have had the chance to give things a try and let you know the results. Thanks for each of your posts and the information you have each shared. You saved me from having to search all over the place and from doing damage to the new car.
Well its off to Target to return the Armorall and Turtle Wax! Maybe I'll use the money to buy some nice 100% cotton, made in the USA, cut off the fringe etc., etc. etc. towels!!

Swede

Sporin

Well, it took a 3 days, a crew of 6 grown men, and $8000. worth of Z products, but I now have the finest house on the block. I used DAWN to wash the house first and remove any old wax from the vinyl siding, then CLAYED the entire house, following with many coats of Z in the proper order of course! I used official Olympic timers to make sure curing time was acurate to the 1/10 of a second.

Won't my neighbors be impressed!? The shine from my siding at midday has already blinded 2 local dog-walkers.

Fan-tastic!

___________________
*note--the above was a joke, just for fun, not for flame.

anne4

You might want to tell your Saab dealer not to put ANYTHING on the paint of your new car when it arrives. Just have them pull off the shipping plastic, etc., but not wash or wax it. Dealers tend to use cheap paste waxes and rough towels/applicators to apply and rub off the wash. Doing so could leave swirl marks in the finish of your brand new car.

swede

Anne,

One step ahead of you. Actually, I think it was your post that gave me the idea to tell them to just leave it as is. I in fact stopped into the dealership today under the guise of "Hey, any news on the car..." But I told them "I have a buddy (you guys) who is a real car care expert and he says not to wash my car....." I think the owner, who is a client, sort of knew what I was up to but who cares!! I want this thing perfect, a true bare canvas for what I hope is a spot free, swirl free, black masterpiece. Although if I drive by Sporin's house I may never see anything again!!

ruking1

Well GEEZZZZZZZZZ you all! With sporin upping the ante, I may have to dawn and clay and ZAINO, z-1,z-2 my air conditioning unit. This is a tough crowd here.

pblevine

Zaino a house? !!! Love it! But what to do with all that old Turtle Wax? Got it,...Let's collect it all and use it to resurface I-95 !

guitarzan

Don't forget the mailbox. The landscape would look really silly if the house is all shiny, and the matching mailbox is dull.

jematt

I just wanted to let you folks know, that should you need to purchase Zaino products, Roz at the "Gloss Boss" is really a great person. Since I live in Indy, I have been able to call up Roz, tell her what I need, and go down and pick them up myself in person (lucky me). The official "Gloss Boss Camaro" looks great!

trifred

The only thing I had been disappointed about my stone white 300M during the first 16000 miles was the lack of a deep, lustrous, wet, shine. It had gone through many automatic car washes, and endured a horrible northern New York winter, and this spring I finally went from the 300M forum to this one and read enough to find 3 useful websites: the spot-free spray-rinse wand, Erazer, and Zaino. Thanks, the results are fantastic! I followed the whole procedure from A to Z, and I agree, it's all great stuff because it's easy, and it works.

I'm still an old guy, but because I'm not training 16 hrs a week for Ironman, I now have something to do with my spare time, and a new obsession as well!

dave

mclee

Month old Civic Si. I received my Erazer and my box of Zaino gear last week. Waiting for the weekend.

This morning, I clipped a curb 'cus I'm an idiot, and it took a fingernail-sized scrape into one of the wheels. The coating on the wheel is gone and it's bare aluminum where the scrape is(i'm pretty sure it's aluminum). You guys know if the standard Z treatment will be enough to protect it? Either way, even scratched and bare aluminum shouldn't rust right?

anne4

Aluminum won't rust, but it will suffer minor corrosion. Ever been in a house with aluminum frame windows? Remember the powdery gray deposits that develop? It's not a big deal; the wheel won't corrode away. For cosmetic reasons, you might still want to put some kind of coating over it. I would imagine Z stuff will protect it. You might also want to think about getting some clear coat touch up paint and carefully applying it to see how it looks.

mclee

Thanks for the info. Any recommendations regarding clear coat paint? I've never seen (or looked) for the stuff.

Stillwater

Clear coat touchup paint should be available in any decent automotive store, where they sell the colored touchup paints. If you can only get it as a spray, spray a little into a cup, and use the torn-off end of a cardboard matchstick as a brush.

sam775

re: 798 Not even Zaino could help I95. 'nuff said.

keno

What is the cost Zaino (z1-z6)??

bluemist

If you look at http://www.zainobros.com you will find the cost. They're a bit pricey but not unreasonably so.

To give your car a reasonably full Zaino treatment, you'll need Z1 (pre-polish, lays a foundation for the polish), Z2 (clearcoat polish; Z3 is the non clearcoat version), Z6 (gloss enhancer and protection enhancer) and Z7 (wash which removes all polish, wax, etc to start with a clean base)

I was able to purchase all of that for $45 or so, and am pleased with the results.

Specifically: The shine is superb and durable (a !$#% bird crapped on my car yesterday, I removed it hours later after the crap sat in the hot sun, and the shine is still there)

dsomers

Where did you get the idea that Z7 removes all the wax? Not hardly! It is designed to do just the opposite and not remove the wax, polymer, Zaino or whatever. To remove wax, use Dawn dishwashing detergent.

bluemist

I can only state what I felt when I used the Z7 --- the car felt rougher after the washing than it did before.

If Dawn removes all the wax, perhaps that is something to do before a Z treatment on the new car I should be getting within a month or so.