Two ounces should get you 3 coats at least. "Old" Z2 is still good stuff so I say slap it on there.
Right now I'm messin with new Z5 side by side, one with a ZFX mix and another with Z1, just to play with it. Sal says I can press down firmly to fill swirls so I'm seeing how that works. Why not try a similar test on your car - old Z2 compared to the new Z2 side by side?
If one must buy the new Z2, one approach would be, for multiple coats, to apply the initial coats with the old Z2, using the new Z2 for the final coat. Kind of difficult with ZFX, however.
In my climate, I only tend to use ZFX twice per year. The rest of the time, I live with single coat "boosts" of Z2, here and there.
I plan to buy the new Z2 before I use the old Z2 if someone else on this board with a subtle colored car like mine reports that they can tell the difference.
Another option for old Z2 - sell it at a sharp discount to acquaintences who are economincally resistant (I won't say too cheap) to try Zaino. This would work particularly well if you also have some Z1 you don't know what to do with.
If any of you buy the new Z2, let me know how much difference it makes on YOUR cars. If you all swear you can tell the difference, then I will probably break down and buy the new stuff before I use the old.
Tmart, you are correct, it is 4 drops per ounce. Thanks for the correction. I am use to using 1/2 for one coat that I always use only 2. Again, thank you for the correction.
I too had a great 4th. Clay half the Odyssey for the bugs and windshield. Z7 wash. Applied two coats of Z5 and Z6. And use the Z16 for the tires, 2 coats as well. Took me 3 1/2 hours. One clean minivan, one happy father, one happy son for helping Daddy (doubt that will last) and one pissed off wife for taking so much time.
I really hate the bugs on the bumper and side view mirrors that I thought on our next long trip during the evening I will wrap the bumper and side view mirror with saran wrap. Though it may be ugly, it will be great to just peel it off. This at least I think should be the case.
What are your thoughts on this?
Like I said, it may be ugly, but I only intend to use this when we have any extended amount of driving (1 hour or more)during the evening, and not around the town or to the mall.
As I noted above I did two coats of Z5 + ZFX. I didn't use Z2 since the last two coats were Z2, just by chance.
Now here is my question, since I did put on 2 coats of Z5+ZFX (1 once + 4 drops), after the second coat, could I have applied a coat of Z2 (WITHOUT ZFX)? Or do all three coats MUST contain ZFX?
Now if all three coats must contain ZFX, then I would have just used 2 drops of ZFX with 1/2 once of Z2.
One last thing, to everyone that has helped since day one, I don't know if you remember that I also posted what my yearly schedule would be. I think that just went out the window. I only say that because all of a sudden I find myself CONSTANTLY wanting to keep the car shiny and wash as often as I can, Z as often as I can, and take advantage of every single sunny day I can.
I think the true test will be on how I can handle the winter when I won't be able to keep the car clean for an extended period of time, AND I REFUSED TO GO TO A CAR WASH.
Just wanted to let you know, that you have created a monster inside of me/
ZFX - Sal recommends using ZFX twice per year. Other than that, you only need ZFX if you want to apply multiple coats within a 24 hour period. If you only want one coat within 24 hours, you don't need the ZFX.
You can also do multiple coats in a single day, but the last coat does not need ZFX. For example, Sal recommends no more than three coats within a 24 hour period with ZFX. So, you could conceivably apply two coats with ZFX, and the third one without it. I have done that when I want to use Z5 followed by Z2. I mix the ZFX with the Z5, apply the two coats, and immediately follow that with one coat of Z2 without ZFX.
Regarding Z5 vs Z2. If you can't tell the difference in appearance between the two, you don't need both. Get rid of one of them. If you like Z5 better than Z2, get rid of the Z2. If you like Z2, but think that Z5 gets rid of swirls better, you need both, but should always end up with Z2, which in my opinion gives a much shinier result than Z5.
I can't see any argument at all for ever ending up with Z5, unless you have decided not use Z2 at all. (Note that if you plan your applications over multiple weekends, you might end with Z5 temporarily, but the point is you use Z5 only for swirl masking).
Note that I am also assuming that you are not a mad experimental detailing scientist with your garage as your laboratory, like some posters we know. (Just teasing. We love it, bretfraz). In that case, I can't possibly give you any advice. :-)
Regarding your winter plans for your auto. I expect that your voice will now add to the din of the great wailing and gnashing of teeth that occurs during the winter months on this site. Many do leave their cars dirty during the winter. One of our fanatic Z posters "snuck" in a quick Z as soon as the weather went above freezing!! I think he took great pride in his ability to finish his Z job before hyporthermia set in!!
It seems there is an upside to leaving your Zd car unwashed during the winter. The Z seems to last much longer for those who don't wash their cars than for those of us whose weather allows us to wash the car every week.
I totally 100% agree with you that the Z2 does give off a better shine. On this occasion, I think I might have been given the new Z5 (remember a while back I had a bad batch) because this one gave off a great shine as well.
Anyway, the reason for me using the Z5 this time around was that I did start to see some swirl marks.
Now that you tell me that I can end a coat without having to use my ZFX, I guess I will need to have another 3 1/2 hour session with the car next weekend so I can end in Z2. Oh no, I have to wash again.
I did the Zaino process this weekend on my Liquid Silver 2001 Celica GT-S, and I must say that I am impressed so far. The biggest surprise I feel has been the Z-6 gloss enhancer. The Z-2 went on and off fairly easily, yet not quite as easy as other products I have tried. The Z-6 gloss enhancer though, was extremely easy to use, and really intensified the results.
I altered the process slightly so that I could use my Meguiars Clay that I had left. I began the process using my normal Meguiars car wash soap, then I clayed with Meguiars clay and Quik Detailer. Next, I did the Dawn wash (which, BTW, feels sooo wrong), then dried the car. The next morning, I did Z-2, Z-6, Z-2, then Z-6, using the ZFX accelerator. The total process took about 5 hours, but so far, the results seem to be well worth it. I figure that I can Z6 after after other wash, as that can be done in less than 10 minutes. Also, using all Meguairs waxes still would have taken me close to four hours, as I always clayed prior to waxing regardless, but I would have only done one coat of wax, as additional coats seem to have little or no effect.
I have high hopes for longevity, as I have always been initially happy with Meguiars products upon application also, but a month later, it was almost if I had not done anything.
I will repost back in a few months with my final impressions. Hopefully, I will continue to be satisfied, but due to prior experiences, I have not raised my hopes too high!
atoews - I was just figuring to add another coat or two of Z5 since I still see some swirls.
Anyone know why I may be seeing these marks? I am using the Zaino brand wash mit, polishing and buffing front to back and up and down motion. Is it just that the darker colors show more of the imperfection from the manufacturer (Honda)?
So far I haven't tried the Saran wrap idea, too scared it might get caked onto the car. The Z6 did do a fair job, I am just thinking that before each road trip at night, I will apply a coat of Z6.
I will give this a test drive on the old car. Driving down the NJ Turnpike through the wet marshy area should give it a good showering of bugs and let me know if this idea works.
Again, I hate the looks of it, but it seems a better solution than some of the permanent products that they sell. I'll keep everyone updated.
Sorry, I know this is a Zaino forum, didn't mean to get off track.
I think that fine scratch marks are inevitable on almost any vehicle. I also think there is a tradeoff in the number of times a person washes the car. I believe that washing in itself increases the risk for fine scratches. I just live with the few marks I have.
I have a nice red walnut interior and steering wheel, and the fine scratch marks in its finish are bothering me more than those in the paint. Oh, well, sometimes I wish I had purchased a pre-owned 1997 Camry LE instead of my 2002 Lexus ES300. Then I would not be as fanatic.
I cover my steering wheel with sheepskin to protect the wheel from the oil from my hands and from inadvertant scratches, but at some point putting on saran wrap, bras, seat covers, steering wheel covers, etc. gets kind of like those women in the 1950s who walked around all day with curlers in their hair just to look good for a couple of hours. At some point, you start defeating the purpose - which is to enjoy driving a nice (not perfect) looking car. :-)
Well said. Well said. Thank you. I guess at some point some of us go to far. I think I may have cross the boundary with the saran wrap. I use your analogy of the women walking around with curlers and the car in a saran wrap. The swirls, well I still want to get rid of it.
And it's funny, several post back I said something similar that if you wanted to keep the car shiny all the time, you might as well have a showroom car and not drive it.
It's great that at times I get too crazy on this stuff, but it also feels great when someone hits me over the head with a hammer and brings be down to reality some times.
As I hinted at before, I have a sheepskin steering wheel cover, a dash cover, sheepskin seat covers, and towels on the passenger seat to keep from messing up the sheepskin seat cover!! I also have towels over the back of my back seat, and towels on the seats of the back seat (I don't have sheepskin covers on the back seat) My car definitely goes around in curlers!!!
There is an upside here. The aging of your vehicle will kind of put a reality check on your obsession. After a couple of years you won't be quite as fanatic, so go with the saran wrap, realizing that your natural tendencies over time will help you return to reality!!! :-)
We just brought home a new 2004 Acura TSX - the fabluous new sports sedan. After months of looking and driving almost everything even remotely similar, this was definitely the best buy.
The color is call "Carbon Graphite", in other words, dark, metallic gray. This is going to look FABULOUS with a few coats of Zaino.
It just arrived at the dealer yesterday, so I convinced the salesman to leave the protective coating on to avoid the usual dealer-applied scratches. New paint untouched by human hands! The perfect canvas for Z2.
Well, I know what my next few days will be doing! I'm thankful for ZFX - now I can do 3 layers in one day. At LAST we may have a car as shiny as fastdriver's!
The best thing for your steering wheel is a "WheelSkin" sew-on leather steering wheel cover. You get a much better grip than with sheepskin, and they look great. It does take a while to stich it on right, though. You can contact them directly or order from JC Whitney online, maybe others as well. They come in different diameters and widths and colors for most any wheel. I ALWAYS put one on, regardless of the steering wheel. It makes it just that much fatter and easier to hold. Then, I just clean it with Lemon Pledge, while I'm doing the rest of the inside. I have never wore one out.
AS careful as I am, it seems that it is IMPOSSIBLE to NOT scratch the wood finish in my cars. All you can do is to keep it shiny with the Pledge and hope for the best.
Regarding your comments on paint swirl marks, this is a real catch-22, yes? You are correct that less washing = less moving the dirt, but it also means MORE dirt to move when you do move. I believe in LOTS of washing with a soft flood of water, often and very carefully with a fat sheepskin wash mitt (Costco).
I recently saw one in silver. I have a 03' Accord Sedan EXV6 in Graphite Pearl which is probably the same color as your "carbon graphite". I have about 6 or 7 coats of Z2 on my car and the gray is so deep and rich looking that when I brought it in for service recently, the service rep asked what I was using on the car. I can tell you that after I wash and Z6 the car, it shines better than the cars I've seen on the showroom floor. So, enjoy the new car, put a couple of coats of Z2 on the car, (Remember, 100% USA made cotton towels, when applying Z2 front and back, up and down strokes, like Sal tells us) and that gray will be outstanding!! Let us know if you need any questions answered!
After spending several months reading all your posts on Zaino, I decided to give my baby a treat on her birthday (2003 Corolla, born 7/3/2002). Got the full Zaino starter package plus ultra-MF towels from both neatideas.com and properautocare.com. They were the only ones who guaranteed the thread count in their products (180,000 for glass cleaners, 210,000 for others). The nap type (terry, waffle or suede) didn't seem important but I bought an assortment. I'm glad. I'm learning to use each type for it's best use. (side note: a week earlier my wife had ordered some microfiber towels out of a gift catalogue. She liked hers but, after trying one of mine, she stole 1/3 of my order. Be forewarned!)
A perfect morning in SE Florida, 82 with clouds and a breeze. I started with the Dawn, then the clay w. Z7 lube, quick wash/rinse with the Z7 then started with the ZFX/Z5. Wow. Baby was smiling. It was my intention to do a Z6 spray and then another Z5 coat but by then the clouds had dissipated and we had 90 degrees with full sun (still a breeze).
My question is: Can you apply the Z6 enhancer or the ZFX/Z5 2nd coat when the paint is hot? We're at the point of wearing flip-flops since the driveway is too hot for bare feet.
Heat makes the product do funny things. If the paint is cool to the touch it should be OK to apply. Park it in the shade for awhile then do your thing.
Thanks, Bretfraz (is that pronounced Bret Farz?) but I already tried that. Since lightning hit our front yard gumbo limbo I haven't had the luxury of 'shade tree mechanics' or detailing. The branch that I planted (yes, just cut off a branch and stick it in the ground, it'll grow) is only 5' high with few leaves.
My neighbor has a beautiful live oak and I started to use that shade, but she got really ticked off. I don't know if she was upset that I didn't ask her first or the fact that the tree was in her back yard and I was kinda unexpected when she came out to tend her flowers. Whatever, the cops were sympathetic when I explained what I was doing and let me move the car without any other problems.
Now that the sun is setting I can resume my Zaino chores. I decided to strip the dogs in the garage while the sun was high. Cockers + long coats + Florida are not a good mix. They weren't much happier with me than my neighbor. But that's another story.
Do not buy nor begin to use (or even read this discussion group) if you are under 12 or over 50. You will 1) Become obsessed with your car's finish 2) Become disappointed with production 'factory finishes' 3) Wonder what ever posessed you to try something like this yet hope that tomorrow is overcast so that you can put on another coat.
Zaino-philia is contagious. The obsession will transfer to other menial chores, like trimming dogs.
You'll also probably fall asleep earlier than normal.
I'm confused with the instructions for Z-6 gloss enhancer.
"Spray on a light mist... then wipe off with a dry towel. Do not let Z-6 dry... on the car"
Ok, so as soon as I start to use a towel to wipe off the Z6, it's no longer dry. When I fold the towel over, I get a dry side, but I can only do that about 8 times per towel and then the "new" side is mildly damp with Z-6. If I use a surface that's mildly damp, then I'm spreading wet Z-6 onto the surface that will dry on the car. Do I start another towel at that point? Corolla has probably 200-250 sq ft of surface area. At 8 sq ft/towel, that comes to 32 towels.
Or should I just use the dampness to cut down on the quantity of 'mist' that I'm using and assume that the microscopic film that the damp towel leaves is what should happen. It's hard to tell the 'depth' of the finish when you're doing a light beige car.
A towel dampened with Z6 works just fine. No need to keep using perfectly dry towels. The goal is to remove light dust, fingerprints, minor water spots, light road grime and bug goo. Z6 on a Zainoed finish goes a long way so only a couple light squirts per panel is all that's needed.
Sometimes I'll spray a good bit of Z6 on a towel and go over the entire car instead of going panel by panel, squirting Z6 as I go along. There's no right or wrong here; use whatever technique you like. Change towels only when they get dirty.
BTW, its pronounced "bret-phrase". You're the first person who has ever asked. Thanks.
I had to ask about the name. Seems everyone named Bret starts moving the consonants in their last name around. Being a 10 year fantasy football guy with a certain GB QB on my roster I didn't want to make a 'There's Something About Mary' faux-pas.
I found that the 'dime sized drop' of Z5 w. ZFX was cool in the beginning using the applicators shipped by the z-bros. After a couple of areas, though, I noticed that my polishing area was getting larger and my dime was losing value. The amount that I put on the applicator kept getting smaller, yet the consistency was the same. Holy Buildup, Batman. Since I had just done the Dawn/Clay/Z7 the amount of dirt on the pad was minimal, so I didn't worry about it. By the end I was just using a little 1/4" diameter circle (US dimes are 11/16" [17.5 mm]) and did the entire car with less than 1 oz of Z5+3drops.
After the dog cutting and trip to the store I did my Z-6 in the natural shade of the evening. Being precise, I counted the number of squirts (my wife uses the "a" word instead of precise) I did the car with 14 squirts of Z, and managed to gloss the entire car.
Is there a Z-Anonymous? Or is this it? Naw, y'all are the users, sitting in your lawn chairs, sucking up the gloss, inviting friends to share your addiction.
How do you get the Z off your fingers and clay from under your nails? Who cares, I'm doing something good for the world.
It's funny that you brought that up. I just did a Zaino routine on the car yesterday but only had a chance to do one coat of Z5 and a quick Z6 spray. I also took the time to clean all the glass and put Rain-X on all the windows. It rained this morning and I went out to wipe off the water before the sun used the little drops as magnifiers to burn the paint. The water was beaded up on the top, hood and trunk lid as well as the side panels of the car. It had completely run off the windows; gone, kaput.
Now maybe several more coats of Z5 or Z2 would achieve the same result, but I was impressed with the Rain-X. Zaino also makes Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish but I believe that is more of a restorative.
I've been using Rain-X windshield washer fluid and never lose my "no wipers needed over 45 mph" glaze.
Just an update from my original posts at 4979, 4999, & 5021:
This weekend I had to wash my Liquid Silver Celica which I Zaino'd a week ago. Let me say that I am extremely impressed with the durability of this product! The surface was sooo slippery, that the dirt slid right off while I washed, and after the rinse, those magical beads were still as strong as day 1. By comparison, the driver's mirror housing, which I had used my old Meguiars on, was already starting to loose some of its beading power, and felt much less slippery.
So, I got the ambition to do my wife's black '92 Legend LS. It turned out absolutely beautiful! (I really should buy a digital camera!) I did learn a few tricks also. First, I moisten the application pad with water before beginning per Sal's tips page, and I re-dampen the pad with Z6 when the pad begins to feel 'dry' (when it begins to drag). This helps ease of application, and prevents using too much polish causing longer dry times.
Although I was extremely skeptical prior to using it, I now must admit that I have joined the Zaino cult. This stuff does produce the best results I have seen, and the durability seems to be better than my Meguiars products.
Or as I said before, did we just sell our souls to the devil to get a shine this good.
I have to admit, I was a very bbbaaadddd boy this weekend. Instead of doing a Z coat, I did house chores. Yes even at 7 AM I was out there doing my share. Please forgive me, I promise to do one next weekend.
You can also punish me at our weekly Zaino Anonymous meetings.
You're not alone in the Meguiars vs. Zaino durability impression. Prior to making the Z Leap I spent a considerable amount of time reading online chat groups and whatever comparison testing I could find. There's a group of wacked out Honda NSX'ers who have been raging about Zymol (and you thought Zaino was expensive) and decided to do an actual, divided panel test using Zaino, Zymol NSX Glaze (at $122/jar), Meguiars and the Wal-Mart's Zymol Natural (at $20). The Zaino won hands down for ease of application, feel, durability and the feel and gloss after a month in the sun.
Zaino won followed by the cheap Zymol Natural. Meguiars felt like the unwaxed panel after the sun test.
What really turned me to Zaino was the fact that it isn't a wax. I've had 3 cars brutalized in the Florida sun and, when I've sold them after 10-13 years they'd lost all their topcoat from oxidation. I'm hoping that using a polymer with an SPF 40 will keep my newbie from early appearance death. The '88 Aerostar's coat crapped out within the first year. But then again, that's Ford. They repainted all the '88 150's but felt they couldn't afford to do all the Aerostars.
After reading a couple months of posts I had the same impression, these guys are WAY over the top with their car care. Nice shine is ok, but all those steps and different formulas and such. The protection of the finish was impressive, but again, the work...
I've never has a product apply as easy as this does, nor go as far with just a little dab or spray. And "wipe off the glaze"? - heck, just put a microfiber towel on the car and let the wind blow it around, that'll do it.
Daschtick then added another advantage. Once you've done your original application, the subsequent ones are even easier. And the glaze just lasts and lasts. I went out into the garage and looked at the 7 different waxes & wash/waxes, 2 different de-oxidizing pasts, 2 cans of rubbing compound and thought to myself "No wonder I used to hate to detail the car." Nothing on my shelf was as easy as the ZFX/Z5 and a couple were brutal. I spent 4 hrs, start (Dawn) to finish (Z-6) with one Z-5 coat. The paste waxes I have are that long by themselves without any prep work. And they only last for a couple of weeks.
I'm just lazy. Next week it's a Z7 wash and maybe 2 Z5 coats. And I'll have a better looking car in less time than with anything on my shelf. If I would be able to keep the car in a garage or under my neighbor's backyard tree, maybe I'd let it go a couple of weeks. It'd still be great looking. Like I said, lazy. But proud of the gloss.
I took my daughter to a Cuban restaurant in Coconut Grove (Miami)when she was in town last May. There was a gorgeous, black Porche Boxter at the curb. As the owner walked to his car I commented to him "Nice car, is that Zaino?" He got the biggest grin on his face and said "Jes" and then a whole bunch of stuff in Spanish really fast. The effect was "a mile deep", it was like a mirror. Light color cars don't stand out that much compared with the deep colored finishes. ------------------- There is a Zaino Mobile Detailing company in Dallas. They'll do the original setup (Dawn/clay/Z7/Z5/z6) plus Z-16 tires and interior vacuuming for $125-150 and will do follow-ups for $40 Z7 wash/vac/Z16 tires only or $80 Z7/Z2 plus Z16 tires and vac. Interesting note: for drying after the wash they use 1) waterblade 2) leaf blower and then 3) microfiber towels. http://www.zainomobiledetail.com/intro.html
WOW! I've been away for a while. You guys have been busy.
Regarding Z6 application, I spray a little on a Zaino applicator and wipe down my panels. I don't spray Z6 directly on the panels. I use the applicator that is very lightly dampened with Z6 and a 100% cotton towel for wiping off Z6.
Starting with the first panel, I use about 3 liberal "squirts" of Z6. By the time I have a couple of panels done, I only use 2 squirts. By the time I have half the car done, I rarely have to use any squirts of Z6 to finish as the applicator stays damp with Z6 until I'm finished.
I find that this "spares" the Z6 and it gives as good a shine enhancement as spraying it directly on the panel.
"looked at the 7 different waxes & wash/waxes, 2 different de-oxidizing pasts, 2 cans of rubbing compound and thought to myself "No wonder I used to hate to detail the car"
That's how I used to feel. But with Z I feel that I save so much time. Yesterday I put a coat of Z2, removed the haze, and applied Z6 in less than 30 minutes of actual working time on our Ody.
I have a Black 02 corolla type s.I used the dawn,clay bar,Z1 then Z5 on top,let it dry 1 hour,removed it with a 100% cotton towel and then applied the Z2.Waited 1 hour and removed it with a 100% cotton towel. I had streaking. It took a lot to get rid of the streaks. What did I do wrong? I just bought a 04 Acura TSX Carbon Gray. What should I use?Z2 or go with the ZFX.I need a new towel. Who has the best. Target,Wal mart?
I've had the same problems with streaking using both the old and the new formulations. To get rid of it I've had to apply another coat of Z1. Z6 doesn't always do the trick but definitely worth trying. I did several recent experiments using old and new products, with and without Z1, and got streaking every single time when I didn't use ZFX.
IMO, ZFX is a "must have" product from Zaino. It makes life so much easier as you don't have to worry about stuff like humidity affecting your work. I did a couple coats of Z5/ZFX last night without problems eventhough high humidity was in the air and rain was on the way.
Though it comes in a very small bottle, you only need 4 drops per once of Z2 or Z5. And as per Sals instructions, you really only need to use ZFX twice a year.
For us nutty people we use it when we feel the need for 2 or more coats.
How did you come to use Z1? Everyone here pretty much recommends ZFX. When I called for advice, people from Zaino said to get ZFX.
I just wanted to know how you got steered in that direction.
Also, streaking is also a result of over application. As noted above, hope you waited a full 24 hours before adding the second coat. I am still learning and forcing myself NOT to over apply. A little Z goes a long way. I know it hurts when I don't over apply, but I tell myself, it hurts more on the wallet if I over apply.
Let me put it this way, 1 once with ZFX of Z2 or Z5 is enough for me to do my Honda Ody 2x. The guy I spoke to said that 1 once was enough for him to do his vette 2x and his escalade 1x.
Z1 was the original "polish lock" (as Sal puts it) that needed to go on before Z2 or Z5.
ZFX is supposed to replace Z1, but I agree with Bret that there must be something in the formulation of Z1 that helped with some of the streaking that some have experienced.
I've used Z1 when it was very humid outside before applying Z2/Z5. While I don't have any data that I can definitively point to, Z1 does seem to help with streaking when it's humid outside.
The single biggest cause for Zaino streaking, however is putting it on too thick or not letting it dry completely. ZFX is supposed to eliminate the long drying times and the need for "curing" multiple coats applied on the same day.
Z6 eliminates 99.9% of any streaking I've encountered over the past couple of years.
I bought the Zaino package Z1,Z2,Z5 last spring. At that time I think the ZFX was a new item. I had been using Collonite prior to purchasing Zaino. When I applied the Z1, Z5, then Z2 last year,I had no problems. The car looked better than new. However, this year same application but it streaked. Maybe I should have waited longer between coats. I will purchase the ZFX, and hope that the streaking problem will be resolved. I have just purchased a 04 Acura TSX Carbon Gray. I'm sure the ZFX will make it look great. So what is the proper way to apply. Mix the ZFX with Z2 apply sparingly and buff with a 100% cotton towel. Then spray with Z6 buff with towel. Then only Z2, let dry and buff. Is this correct?
I suspect that high humidity impacts streaking. I live in a very dry climate, and always allow at LEAST one hour for drying. I suspect that higher humidity requires significantly longer drying times if you don't ues ZFX.
When using ZFX you can apply 3 coats of Z2 and or Z5. Just as I learned several post back, you can apply the first 2 coats with ZFX and the last one without.
Z7 Wash, Fully dry, ZFX + Z2/Z5, Z6,ZFX + Z2/Z5, Z6, Z2/Z5 then Z6. This is of course if you were to apply 3 coats.
Remember: 4 drops per once of Z2 or Z5. On those weekends that I only do 2 coats. I do the following: Z7 Wash, Fully dry, ZFX + Z2/Z5 (mixture of 1/2 once of Z2/Z5 and 2 drops of ZFX), Z6,Z2/Z5 then Z6.
Graphicguy - Remember several weeks back when the NE was pretty much covered in rain every weekend. When trying to take advantage of the little dry time we had at the time, would you suggest using Z1 or just go straight to Z2/Z5?
Secondly, I get confused of when to use the Z1. Is it like ZFX where you only apply it 2x a year? I was under the impression that once you use ZFX, subsequent coats can be applied without ZFX. Does Z1 work the same way, or as long as you use Z1, you always have to apply Z1 first for every coat.
ZFX package comes with 2 ounce bottles. When you are ready to polish, you put Z2 in one of the bottles, add several drops of ZFX, shake and apply the mixture to your car.
Comments
Right now I'm messin with new Z5 side by side, one with a ZFX mix and another with Z1, just to play with it. Sal says I can press down firmly to fill swirls so I'm seeing how that works. Why not try a similar test on your car - old Z2 compared to the new Z2 side by side?
In my climate, I only tend to use ZFX twice per year. The rest of the time, I live with single coat "boosts" of Z2, here and there.
I plan to buy the new Z2 before I use the old Z2 if someone else on this board with a subtle colored car like mine reports that they can tell the difference.
Another option for old Z2 - sell it at a sharp discount to acquaintences who are economincally resistant (I won't say too cheap) to try Zaino. This would work particularly well if you also have some Z1 you don't know what to do with.
I too had a great 4th. Clay half the Odyssey for the bugs and windshield. Z7 wash. Applied two coats of Z5 and Z6. And use the Z16 for the tires, 2 coats as well. Took me 3 1/2 hours. One clean minivan, one happy father, one happy son for helping Daddy (doubt that will last) and one pissed off wife for taking so much time.
Happy 4th everyone.
What are your thoughts on this?
Like I said, it may be ugly, but I only intend to use this when we have any extended amount of driving (1 hour or more)during the evening, and not around the town or to the mall.
Now here is my question, since I did put on 2 coats of Z5+ZFX (1 once + 4 drops), after the second coat, could I have applied a coat of Z2 (WITHOUT ZFX)? Or do all three coats MUST contain ZFX?
Now if all three coats must contain ZFX, then I would have just used 2 drops of ZFX with 1/2 once of Z2.
I think the true test will be on how I can handle the winter when I won't be able to keep the car clean for an extended period of time, AND I REFUSED TO GO TO A CAR WASH.
Just wanted to let you know, that you have created a monster inside of me/
You can also do multiple coats in a single day, but the last coat does not need ZFX. For example, Sal recommends no more than three coats within a 24 hour period with ZFX. So, you could conceivably apply two coats with ZFX, and the third one without it. I have done that when I want to use Z5 followed by Z2. I mix the ZFX with the Z5, apply the two coats, and immediately follow that with one coat of Z2 without ZFX.
Regarding Z5 vs Z2. If you can't tell the difference in appearance between the two, you don't need both. Get rid of one of them. If you like Z5 better than Z2, get rid of the Z2. If you like Z2, but think that Z5 gets rid of swirls better, you need both, but should always end up with Z2, which in my opinion gives a much shinier result than Z5.
I can't see any argument at all for ever ending up with Z5, unless you have decided not use Z2 at all. (Note that if you plan your applications over multiple weekends, you might end with Z5 temporarily, but the point is you use Z5 only for swirl masking).
Note that I am also assuming that you are not a mad experimental detailing scientist with your garage as your laboratory, like some posters we know. (Just teasing. We love it, bretfraz). In that case, I can't possibly give you any advice. :-)
Regarding your winter plans for your auto. I expect that your voice will now add to the din of the great wailing and gnashing of teeth that occurs during the winter months on this site. Many do leave their cars dirty during the winter. One of our fanatic Z posters "snuck" in a quick Z as soon as the weather went above freezing!! I think he took great pride in his ability to finish his Z job before hyporthermia set in!!
It seems there is an upside to leaving your Zd car unwashed during the winter. The Z seems to last much longer for those who don't wash their cars than for those of us whose weather allows us to wash the car every week.
Anyway, the reason for me using the Z5 this time around was that I did start to see some swirl marks.
Now that you tell me that I can end a coat without having to use my ZFX, I guess I will need to have another 3 1/2 hour session with the car next weekend so I can end in Z2. Oh no, I have to wash again.
Again as always thank you for your advice.
I altered the process slightly so that I could use my Meguiars Clay that I had left. I began the process using my normal Meguiars car wash soap, then I clayed with Meguiars clay and Quik Detailer. Next, I did the Dawn wash (which, BTW, feels sooo wrong), then dried the car. The next morning, I did Z-2, Z-6, Z-2, then Z-6, using the ZFX accelerator. The total process took about 5 hours, but so far, the results seem to be well worth it. I figure that I can Z6 after after other wash, as that can be done in less than 10 minutes. Also, using all Meguairs waxes still would have taken me close to four hours, as I always clayed prior to waxing regardless, but I would have only done one coat of wax, as additional coats seem to have little or no effect.
I have high hopes for longevity, as I have always been initially happy with Meguiars products upon application also, but a month later, it was almost if I had not done anything.
I will repost back in a few months with my final impressions. Hopefully, I will continue to be satisfied, but due to prior experiences, I have not raised my hopes too high!
atoews - I was just figuring to add another coat or two of Z5 since I still see some swirls.
Anyone know why I may be seeing these marks? I am using the Zaino brand wash mit, polishing and buffing front to back and up and down motion. Is it just that the darker colors show more of the imperfection from the manufacturer (Honda)?
So far I haven't tried the Saran wrap idea, too scared it might get caked onto the car. The Z6 did do a fair job, I am just thinking that before each road trip at night, I will apply a coat of Z6.
Again, I hate the looks of it, but it seems a better solution than some of the permanent products that they sell. I'll keep everyone updated.
Sorry, I know this is a Zaino forum, didn't mean to get off track.
I have a nice red walnut interior and steering wheel, and the fine scratch marks in its finish are bothering me more than those in the paint. Oh, well, sometimes I wish I had purchased a pre-owned 1997 Camry LE instead of my 2002 Lexus ES300. Then I would not be as fanatic.
I cover my steering wheel with sheepskin to protect the wheel from the oil from my hands and from inadvertant scratches, but at some point putting on saran wrap, bras, seat covers, steering wheel covers, etc. gets kind of like those women in the 1950s who walked around all day with curlers in their hair just to look good for a couple of hours. At some point, you start defeating the purpose - which is to enjoy driving a nice (not perfect) looking car. :-)
And it's funny, several post back I said something similar that if you wanted to keep the car shiny all the time, you might as well have a showroom car and not drive it.
It's great that at times I get too crazy on this stuff, but it also feels great when someone hits me over the head with a hammer and brings be down to reality some times.
There is an upside here. The aging of your vehicle will kind of put a reality check on your obsession. After a couple of years you won't be quite as fanatic, so go with the saran wrap, realizing that your natural tendencies over time will help you return to reality!!! :-)
The color is call "Carbon Graphite", in other words, dark, metallic gray. This is going to look FABULOUS with a few coats of Zaino.
It just arrived at the dealer yesterday, so I convinced the salesman to leave the protective coating on to avoid the usual dealer-applied scratches. New paint untouched by human hands! The perfect canvas for Z2.
Well, I know what my next few days will be doing! I'm thankful for ZFX - now I can do 3 layers in one day. At LAST we may have a car as shiny as fastdriver's!
I'll keep you posted.
AS careful as I am, it seems that it is IMPOSSIBLE to NOT scratch the wood finish in my cars. All you can do is to keep it shiny with the Pledge and hope for the best.
Regarding your comments on paint swirl marks, this is a real catch-22, yes? You are correct that less washing = less moving the dirt, but it also means MORE dirt to move when you do move. I believe in LOTS of washing with a soft flood of water, often and very carefully with a fat sheepskin wash mitt (Costco).
Good Luck!
Sal replied that I could use Z6. I have used Z6 since, and it works great.
Like you, I wash my car often, usually once per week.
Please let me know whether the Z shows off your dark grey as well as it shows off red and black vehicles.
A perfect morning in SE Florida, 82 with clouds and a breeze. I started with the Dawn, then the clay w. Z7 lube, quick wash/rinse with the Z7 then started with the ZFX/Z5. Wow. Baby was smiling. It was my intention to do a Z6 spray and then another Z5 coat but by then the clouds had dissipated and we had 90 degrees with full sun (still a breeze).
My question is: Can you apply the Z6 enhancer or the ZFX/Z5 2nd coat when the paint is hot? We're at the point of wearing flip-flops since the driveway is too hot for bare feet.
My neighbor has a beautiful live oak and I started to use that shade, but she got really ticked off. I don't know if she was upset that I didn't ask her first or the fact that the tree was in her back yard and I was kinda unexpected when she came out to tend her flowers. Whatever, the cops were sympathetic when I explained what I was doing and let me move the car without any other problems.
Now that the sun is setting I can resume my Zaino chores. I decided to strip the dogs in the garage while the sun was high. Cockers + long coats + Florida are not a good mix. They weren't much happier with me than my neighbor. But that's another story.
Zaino-philia is contagious. The obsession will transfer to other menial chores, like trimming dogs.
You'll also probably fall asleep earlier than normal.
"Spray on a light mist... then wipe off with a dry towel. Do not let Z-6 dry... on the car"
Ok, so as soon as I start to use a towel to wipe off the Z6, it's no longer dry. When I fold the towel over, I get a dry side, but I can only do that about 8 times per towel and then the "new" side is mildly damp with Z-6. If I use a surface that's mildly damp, then I'm spreading wet Z-6 onto the surface that will dry on the car. Do I start another towel at that point? Corolla has probably 200-250 sq ft of surface area. At 8 sq ft/towel, that comes to 32 towels.
Or should I just use the dampness to cut down on the quantity of 'mist' that I'm using and assume that the microscopic film that the damp towel leaves is what should happen. It's hard to tell the 'depth' of the finish when you're doing a light beige car.
Sometimes I'll spray a good bit of Z6 on a towel and go over the entire car instead of going panel by panel, squirting Z6 as I go along. There's no right or wrong here; use whatever technique you like. Change towels only when they get dirty.
BTW, its pronounced "bret-phrase". You're the first person who has ever asked. Thanks.
I found that the 'dime sized drop' of Z5 w. ZFX was cool in the beginning using the applicators shipped by the z-bros. After a couple of areas, though, I noticed that my polishing area was getting larger and my dime was losing value. The amount that I put on the applicator kept getting smaller, yet the consistency was the same. Holy Buildup, Batman. Since I had just done the Dawn/Clay/Z7 the amount of dirt on the pad was minimal, so I didn't worry about it. By the end I was just using a little 1/4" diameter circle (US dimes are 11/16" [17.5 mm]) and did the entire car with less than 1 oz of Z5+3drops.
After the dog cutting and trip to the store I did my Z-6 in the natural shade of the evening. Being precise, I counted the number of squirts (my wife uses the "a" word instead of precise) I did the car with 14 squirts of Z, and managed to gloss the entire car.
Is there a Z-Anonymous? Or is this it? Naw, y'all are the users, sitting in your lawn chairs, sucking up the gloss, inviting friends to share your addiction.
How do you get the Z off your fingers and clay from under your nails? Who cares, I'm doing something good for the world.
Now maybe several more coats of Z5 or Z2 would achieve the same result, but I was impressed with the Rain-X. Zaino also makes Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish but I believe that is more of a restorative.
I've been using Rain-X windshield washer fluid and never lose my "no wipers needed over 45 mph" glaze.
This weekend I had to wash my Liquid Silver Celica which I Zaino'd a week ago. Let me say that I am extremely impressed with the durability of this product! The surface was sooo slippery, that the dirt slid right off while I washed, and after the rinse, those magical beads were still as strong as day 1. By comparison, the driver's mirror housing, which I had used my old Meguiars on, was already starting to loose some of its beading power, and felt much less slippery.
So, I got the ambition to do my wife's black '92 Legend LS. It turned out absolutely beautiful! (I really should buy a digital camera!) I did learn a few tricks also. First, I moisten the application pad with water before beginning per Sal's tips page, and I re-dampen the pad with Z6 when the pad begins to feel 'dry' (when it begins to drag). This helps ease of application, and prevents using too much polish causing longer dry times.
Although I was extremely skeptical prior to using it, I now must admit that I have joined the Zaino cult. This stuff does produce the best results I have seen, and the durability seems to be better than my Meguiars products.
Or as I said before, did we just sell our souls to the devil to get a shine this good.
I have to admit, I was a very bbbaaadddd boy this weekend. Instead of doing a Z coat, I did house chores. Yes even at 7 AM I was out there doing my share. Please forgive me, I promise to do one next weekend.
You can also punish me at our weekly Zaino Anonymous meetings.
WELCOME ALL.
http://www.nsxsc.com/nsexcitement/waxtest.html
Zaino won followed by the cheap Zymol Natural. Meguiars felt like the unwaxed panel after the sun test.
What really turned me to Zaino was the fact that it isn't a wax. I've had 3 cars brutalized in the Florida sun and, when I've sold them after 10-13 years they'd lost all their topcoat from oxidation. I'm hoping that using a polymer with an SPF 40 will keep my newbie from early appearance death. The '88 Aerostar's coat crapped out within the first year. But then again, that's Ford. They repainted all the '88 150's but felt they couldn't afford to do all the Aerostars.
I've never has a product apply as easy as this does, nor go as far with just a little dab or spray. And "wipe off the glaze"? - heck, just put a microfiber towel on the car and let the wind blow it around, that'll do it.
Daschtick then added another advantage. Once you've done your original application, the subsequent ones are even easier. And the glaze just lasts and lasts. I went out into the garage and looked at the 7 different waxes & wash/waxes, 2 different de-oxidizing pasts, 2 cans of rubbing compound and thought to myself "No wonder I used to hate to detail the car." Nothing on my shelf was as easy as the ZFX/Z5 and a couple were brutal. I spent 4 hrs, start (Dawn) to finish (Z-6) with one Z-5 coat. The paste waxes I have are that long by themselves without any prep work. And they only last for a couple of weeks.
I'm just lazy. Next week it's a Z7 wash and maybe 2 Z5 coats. And I'll have a better looking car in less time than with anything on my shelf. If I would be able to keep the car in a garage or under my neighbor's backyard tree, maybe I'd let it go a couple of weeks. It'd still be great looking. Like I said, lazy. But proud of the gloss.
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There is a Zaino Mobile Detailing company in Dallas. They'll do the original setup (Dawn/clay/Z7/Z5/z6) plus Z-16 tires and interior vacuuming for $125-150 and will do follow-ups for $40 Z7 wash/vac/Z16 tires only or $80 Z7/Z2 plus Z16 tires and vac. Interesting note: for drying after the wash they use 1) waterblade 2) leaf blower and then 3) microfiber towels.
http://www.zainomobiledetail.com/intro.html
Regarding Z6 application, I spray a little on a Zaino applicator and wipe down my panels. I don't spray Z6 directly on the panels. I use the applicator that is very lightly dampened with Z6 and a 100% cotton towel for wiping off Z6.
Starting with the first panel, I use about 3 liberal "squirts" of Z6. By the time I have a couple of panels done, I only use 2 squirts. By the time I have half the car done, I rarely have to use any squirts of Z6 to finish as the applicator stays damp with Z6 until I'm finished.
I find that this "spares" the Z6 and it gives as good a shine enhancement as spraying it directly on the panel.
That's how I used to feel. But with Z I feel that I save so much time. Yesterday I put a coat of Z2, removed the haze, and applied Z6 in less than 30 minutes of actual working time on our Ody.
Without ZFX, you can only apply 1 coat of any polish (Z2, 3, 5) within 24 hours. With ZFX mixed in the polish, you can do 3 coats.
Try a Z6 spritz to see if it removes it.
As for towels, go to a Bed, Bath & Beyond or Linen's n Things type of place as they carry higher quality towels than WalMart or Target.
Good Luck.
IMO, ZFX is a "must have" product from Zaino. It makes life so much easier as you don't have to worry about stuff like humidity affecting your work. I did a couple coats of Z5/ZFX last night without problems eventhough high humidity was in the air and rain was on the way.
And as per Sals instructions, you really only need to use ZFX twice a year.
For us nutty people we use it when we feel the need for 2 or more coats.
I just wanted to know how you got steered in that direction.
Also, streaking is also a result of over application. As noted above, hope you waited a full 24 hours before adding the second coat. I am still learning and forcing myself NOT to over apply. A little Z goes a long way. I know it hurts when I don't over apply, but I tell myself, it hurts more on the wallet if I over apply.
Let me put it this way, 1 once with ZFX of Z2 or Z5 is enough for me to do my Honda Ody 2x. The guy I spoke to said that 1 once was enough for him to do his vette 2x and his escalade 1x.
ZFX is supposed to replace Z1, but I agree with Bret that there must be something in the formulation of Z1 that helped with some of the streaking that some have experienced.
I've used Z1 when it was very humid outside before applying Z2/Z5. While I don't have any data that I can definitively point to, Z1 does seem to help with streaking when it's humid outside.
The single biggest cause for Zaino streaking, however is putting it on too thick or not letting it dry completely. ZFX is supposed to eliminate the long drying times and the need for "curing" multiple coats applied on the same day.
Z6 eliminates 99.9% of any streaking I've encountered over the past couple of years.
Z7 Wash, Fully dry, ZFX + Z2/Z5, Z6,ZFX + Z2/Z5, Z6, Z2/Z5 then Z6. This is of course if you were to apply 3 coats.
Remember: 4 drops per once of Z2 or Z5.
On those weekends that I only do 2 coats.
I do the following:
Z7 Wash, Fully dry, ZFX + Z2/Z5 (mixture of 1/2 once of Z2/Z5 and 2 drops of ZFX), Z6,Z2/Z5 then Z6.
Graphicguy - Remember several weeks back when the NE was pretty much covered in rain every weekend. When trying to take advantage of the little dry time we had at the time, would you suggest using Z1 or just go straight to Z2/Z5?
Secondly, I get confused of when to use the Z1. Is it like ZFX where you only apply it 2x a year? I was under the impression that once you use ZFX, subsequent coats can be applied without ZFX. Does Z1 work the same way, or as long as you use Z1, you always have to apply Z1 first for every coat.