The spots that were on my vehicle may not have been waterspots. In any case they were not there for much longer than a week(last time I washed it)and it was cool weather at the time of the occurrence of these spots. I am not sure how effective Z1 would be at removing etched(waterspots) or waterspots that have been left on for a long time. As I said I try to use no abrasives first and work my way up to an abrasive if needed. It is a lot easier than using a product like 3M Swirl remover that strips off not only the waterspots but the zaino coating. And Yes, I could actually see the spots disappear as the Z1 was applied. If applied correctly Z1 flash dries and leaves little or no residue. I was running short on time that day and did not even apply a coat of polish afterwards. I just Z6ed right after and left it that way. I have a light colored vehicle and did not notice any streaking or residue from the Z1. That was the first and only time I ever had any "spotting" issues.
I find that not letting my well water dry on the paint (I no longer wash the car in the sun) does away with water spotting for me. If you DO get spots on the Zaino, try using Z-6 to remove them.
What do you guys use for cleaning the interior wood trim? I used Windex on the fake wood of my older car, but I'm not sure if that's the best route for my Lexus. I don't want it to be too abrasive and eat off the finish. Would one of the Zainos work?
Thanks for the responses. Z6 did not work for my water spots, but z1 does. I could notice only slightly the spots coming off while I applied, but once a buffed off, they were gone. Oh well, since they are compatible, perhaps I will apply a coat of z1 before the first coat zfx only just to absolutely sure I do not run into any problems. I presume that this would work?? I have plenty of z1 left.
Wood trim. I have fake wood in my 2000 and would not use any harsh cleaners on it. It is essentially a paint effect on plastic so you risk taking it off over time, especially with something as harsh as Windex. I use two very soft cotton cloths....one damp, one too dry. It works great to take of spots smudges or dust. In fact that is how I clean all my interior surfaces (i do not like the shiny look on my dash), expect for some occassional spot cleaning when necessary. Use Fantasic or Spray Nine for spot cleaning but am sure to rinse it all off with a wet towel afterwards.
1.the fieldcrest towels at bed bath and beyond are 100%cotton with supina cotton loops-what is supina, is it o.k.-plus they cost 15 bucks a piece. the fieldcrest ones at wal mart are 4 bucks but arent nearly as plush- 2. i get water spots after it rains-should i be removing these every time it rains or are y'all talking about those immediately after a wash. 3.can i clay over a car thats been z'd times 10-what's the routine-i get the impression that clay is to be used on a "bare" surface- thanks so much!
talking about number three in my last response-i do a lot of driving, and aquire many bugs (on a black slk) which im having a tough time getting off-except for lots and lots of elbow grease-any suggestions for more efficient removal-thanks again!
Try z7 with water at 50/50 on the bugs first, then try WD-40 on what's still stuck. (Then wash off the WD-40 slippery spot with the Z7.)
Sounds unlikely, but this is a tip from Sal, and it works for me (on a black Lexus). And the sooner the better, as the bug juice is acid and will eat through the Zaino to the paint eventually.
My wife's 1977 Mercedes-Benz 300D has beautiful wood trim on the dash -- and I've kept it that way with plain old Pledge! Works like a charm, just the way it does on wood furniture in our home. I spray some on a soft cotton cloth so I don't get Pledge on the vinyl dash and other parts near the wood. Just wipe on and -- WOW! What a shine!
Use the $4 towels for your car and the $15 Supima towels for your body. Supima is a "super" Pima cotton which is made from U.S. Egyptian cotton. It's a softer and stronger cotton than plain old cotton. But it's all cotton. They obviously feel differently on your skin, and the better towels (pima, supima, egyptian) are more absorbent (more loops; thicker). But for Zaino purposes, it seems to me that you just need plain ol' cotton. However, you definitely need to get Made in USA towels. Frankly, I only buy towels that are made in the U.S. I have not Zaino'd yet but plan to purchase the cheaper towels since my car won't feel the difference.
Lemon Pledge is good for everything inside your car, except cloth. I have used it for many years on vinyl, wood, chrome, plastic and even leather between Lexol treatments. It is self-cleaning so it doesn't build up like Armor All, and smells good. Use it and enjoy!
Sam Zaino tells me not to use his products on the exterior emblems. What have you all used? I have a Lexus w/ chrome emblems and door handles. If you have same, what have you used on the "L" and "Lexus" and also door handles? Thanks.
I have some black plastic trim on one car and very honestly, the Z does not seem to give much of a shine to it. My best result for this has been Collinite carnuba wax.
"Exterior emblems?" I have used Z of all sorts on the Lexus "L" and the model numbers and the grill bars and elsewhere for quite a while with no adverse effects.
How do you get around doing so? I'm sure not going to tape it off.
And is there harm being done, or is it just that there is no benefit? So if maybe the Z will not bond to the plastic emblem like it does to the paint, does it harm the little silver L?
Maybe if you have some of that tacky gold stuff on your emblems, he might just be saying to be careful that you don't rub it off, but I have never found any harm being done to the silver (chrome) emblems.
Ask him again. And when you call, ask Sam if you can talk to Sal and get a second opinion.
We need to clarify this, as I'll be real pissed if my "L In A Circle" falls off the back of my swell new car.
i know there has been a tiny discussion on this but i was wondering if any new stories about the two since 2001. are they both polymers? the wd40 trick really does work. thanks!-final ?-is clay meant to be used on an un-z'd finish or can i use it over my z?
I bought an RSX-S last winter. Finally had some nice weather up here a few weeks ago to apply Z1 and Z2. Now, the application was simple enough (no complaints). But I really don't notice too much of a difference between it and the old caranuba paste wax.
I might add, my car is silver. So I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
In response to "First Time," yes, the silver does have something to do with it. The lighter colors take quite a few coats to get the mirror-like shine that is obvious quicker on dark colors. But remember that your Zaino finish will not yellow like wax, and will stay on the car and bead water for 6 to 12 months. That wax was half way gone in a month.
I have my initial coats of Zaino on my car from last June and July, and the finish is like new. I am going to apply a few more coats (with ZFX) as soon as I get some time on a nice weekend, not because the car needs it, but because I can.
After 4 or 5 coats, you should see quite a difference even on a silver car, depending on the quality of the underlying paint. (And assuming that you removed the wax with Dawn; if not, you just put zaino over the wax, which would not look much different, and certainly won't last very long, as the Z will not bond to the paint if wax is in the way.) I don't know what a RSX-S is, but I'm sure it has a good paint job or you would not be putting Zaino on top of it.
Keep at it, you are most of the way there. And if you got ZFX, you can apply 3 coats back to back, which will take no time, even in Canada.
I too would like to know if clay takes off the Zaino. I have used clay on 3 cars, but always at the beginning of the cycle, right after the Dawn wash. I'm not sure if clay takes off the Zaino, and I would like to know how to proceed after claying a car with Zaino already on it.
I do know that you should NOT use Z6 as a lube for the clay. Use Z7 wash, mixed with water in a spray bottle.
Squid99 answered most of the "first time" questions, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. My car also is silver and has had nothing but Zaino since new two years ago. I probably have 10 or 12 coats of Z-2 on the finish (with occasional Z-1 applications). The shine is deep and wet-look, and water beads like crazy. I've never clayed the car and probably won't -- the paint is slick and extremely smooth, and the car is garaged about 22 hours a day.
Regarding clay, info from this forum is that clay will not affect Zaino. The clay will merely pick up the contaminants from the finish and leave the surface super smooth. However, squid99's caution about using a mixture of Z-7 and water as a clay lubricant is right on -- don't use Z-6. I understand that using a sufficient amount of lubricant is the secret of using clay efficiently -- the clay should not "drag" on the paint. So -- there you have it from someone who hasn't used clay but who has paid close attention to the info on this board!
BTW, the main advantages of using Zaino, besides the fantastic shine, are (1) ease of use/application, and (2) durability (it protects better and longer than carnauba wax or, for that matter, better and longer than any product I've ever used).
I too have light colored vehicles (silver and white). Although I don't get the deep finish with Z like on dark colors, I do get an amazing reflection of the sky and clouds from the hood of both vehicles.
First off, the RSX is the next generation Integra.
Parked beside a silver civic today. Now I notice the difference (between a zaino'd and non zaino'd). Now I gotta park it next to a waxed silver car and see if I can tell the difference.
And Squid, thanks for the info, but I'm not that big of a car nut to spend more than 3 hours on my car (2 hours to wash and zaino is enough for me). One coat at a time is fine by me. Just put the Z1 on and then Z2 right after. I know it's not necessary, but it doesn't hurt right?
If you use z1, then it is necessary to use either z2 or z5 immediately; you do not wipe the z1 off until after the z2 or z5 has been applied right on top of the z1. Z1 is only the bonding agent (or something like that), it does not protect or shine.
If, however, you use ZFX, then you do not need z1 at all, and you can apply up to 3 coats in a row without waiting a day for the previous coat to cure. No z1 is necessary if you use the zfx.
Read the application tips at zainobros.com for details. I should not take 3 hours to wash and apply one or two coats of zaino, but even if it does, that's only the first time. For every application after that, you only need to apply a quick coat of zaino, wait for it to dry (unless you use zfx, which, I hear, dries instantly,) and then wipe it off. Nothing like wax.
I like that new Integra. (Although if you have one now, it's not the next generation Integra, but the present generation Integra, I would guess.)
im gonna try the clay over zaino this weekend-will let you know squidd what happens-i cant seem to get the swirls gone-they were actually, until i washed again(using sterile technique)-it might have been the "sheepskin" mit i used so i trashed it for some supima cotton towels-i just cant believe that one dealer prep could have done such damage-only z has been on my slk-we'll see if it makes a diff-also bought a bra for weekend trips-bra vs zaino, round one
Gone for a little while - actually I knew it was Z7 not Z6 to use as the clay lube - but the fingers failed me - hence a typo. Glad you guys caught it as I'd hate to have someone mess up on my account!
Thanks to Squid and Mbdriver for the excellent info. I know what I'll be doing in the garage Sunday afternoon.
For the "first timer" - It is not clear from your posts if you realize that you only use the Z1 ONCE every 6 months or so - you don't need to do it with each Z2 application. You should be able to Z2 your RSX in 15-20 minutes, so you can do it whenever you have a little time after washing to build up the gloss. I have a pearl white car. The gloss isn't as obvious as with a darker car, but as you realize, you can really see it when you are next to a non-Z'd car of the same color.
Here's a quick shot of one of our cars with Zaino. It is 5 years old, and about 2-1/2 months since it was last Z'd, it was only washed at this point. Too bad I didn't discover Z until it was about 3 years old.
yes, I do realize that it's not necessary to use Z1 every time. But I've got the time (usually done on weekends). When it comes to application, that's where I have a problem. I'm so used to applying thick gobs where it's clearly visible. Sometimes I swear I'm not putting any zaino on whatsoever.
Overall, I'm satisfied.
And to squid: just saying "next gen" so you'd know.
I am a long-time Meguiar's devotee whose only prior experience with a polymer product was a bad one (Liquid Glass -blotchy & uneven shine despite a good prep). I decided to try Zaino, and my order was filled promptly by the good folks in NJ. The weather and my busy schedule finally cooperated earlier this Spring to allow me to Z my dark garnet (burgundy) 2001 300M for the first time. I convinced my reluctant Better Half to help. We gave it 'The Full Monty' over 3+ days (inc. drying times) with the car kept in a heated garage. The process was: Dawn wash, hand rub with Meguiar's Scratch X ( for numerous small scratches), clay (Clay Brite clay lubed with 1 cap Z7 in 16oz H20 in a spray bottle), Z7 wash, Z1,Z5,Z6,Z5,Z6,Z5,Z6,Z2,Z6 (that's 3 coats Z5 & 1 coat Z2). I went with Z1 vs ZFX just because Z1 has been the highly-praised "classic" Z-process & ZFX has not been out that long. Consistent with Zaino instructions, the Z5 & Z2 applications were light (about 1 oz each layer-applied by hand for this large sedan) & were each allowed at least 6 hours drying time. Clean US made 100% cotton towels were used for drying & Z 2/5/6 "buffing". Z1/2/5 applications were made with Zaino terry pad. I offer the following observations: 1. As with any polish/wax job- PREP IS KEY!!!! The optical clarity of Z2 (or Z5) will be very revealing of any surface imperfection, inc. water spots. 2. Claying requires a wet surface and a light touch. The lubricity of diluted Z7 is outstanding, but keep the surface wet. If you rub any clay over a too dry paint surface it may smudge, which is best removed with a solvent (e.g. WD40). A properly clayed surface feels completely smooth- like wet glass. Claying may or may not be worth it depending upon your paint's condition (and your preferences & time contraints). It took us about 10 min to clay the 300M, but the paint was not in bad condition. 3. Scratch X by hand is pretty mild- esp. with light hand pressure. It really seemed to remove most of my light swirls nicely, but I still had a few light scratches remaining. I did not want to be too aggressive with the clearcoat, and I was curious as to what Z5 could do. 4. Z7 is a wash with incredible lubricity and rinses more easily than anything I've ever used. Great stuff! 5. Z1/2/5 are easy to apply- no rubbing required. Z2 was easier to wipe off when dry than Z5, although both were clearly easier to remove than buffing traditional waxes. 6. Z5 eliminated most (but not all) of the light scratches remaining after the Scratch X treatment. I may hit those spots again with another couple Z5 layers. 7. Z5 alone looked nice enough (nearly as glossy as a good Carnuba), but the added shine with the Z2 was obvious. 8. Z6 enhances the shine nicely, & I will continue to use it for that purpose. In my use on bird & insect stains, however, it is not as good at pure "cleaning" as Meguiar's QuickDetailer or Turtle Wax's QuickWash (which I used on this car before applying the Z, & I still use both on my Dodge minivan).
At this point, I think the surface "shine" with 3 coats Z5 & one coat of Z2 is equal to the excellent shine I had with Meguiar's Gold Class liquid (and WAY better than Meguiar's or Mother's Cleaner-Waxes which I wasted my time experimenting with in the past). I think the "depth" of the gloss is better than the Gold Class, and Gold Class did little to hide swirl marks or surface scratches. I'll be doing another coat or two of Z2 with the next warm spell to try to further enhance the "depth" of the shine (& hopefully the duration as well). Clearly, I cannot evaluate the full durability of the shine yet. This is where Gold Class disappointed me- a few weeks outdoors and the shine was fading fast. The Better Half still thinks I'm a bit nuts for doing the above 13-step process, but was a good sport to help with the "experiment". She thinks the car now looks better than ever, and her golfing buddies lavishly praised the shine (before she said anything about the work involved!). She now admits this will have been worth the effort if the shine lasts as reported on this board. Personally, I'm satisfied at this point. If the Z lasts 6 months (like some report here) I will be euphoric! It will have been way LESS work than 4 or 5 traditional wax jobs. For those considering the cost, I think all the Z products (with the possible exception of Z6) are very cost-effective because a little goes a LONG way. Traditional liquid waxes would require 2-3 oz to do my car and I was lucky to get 2-3 mo. of a reasonable shine on any of my vehicles. Less than 1 oz of Z2 did a coat on my large sedan nicely. I've not seen any shine that surpasses Z2. I view Z5 as a light scratch/swirl filler & it works well in that role -and Z5 is nonabrasive. For deep scratches, on the other hand, Z5 is not a substitute for a buff-out by a professional detailer. To me Z7 is the 'sleeper' product of the bunch, & I am very glad I decided to get it. It's a wonderful cleaner, & by far the best car wash of the multitude I've tried over the years. I will be carrying a spray bottle with dilute Z7 & an H2O rinse bottle as my touch-up for removing bird droppings between washes. In short, I am glad I decided to try the Zaino process. Maybe I could have gotten by with just Z1 & Z2, but I wanted to give the whole "system" a try. If this shine really lasts an honest 4-6 mo (or more) like some have posted, I'll never go back to anything else.
I looks to me like you did exactly what experiences users have been suggesting.
I have done that same process with the same products (except I used the Zaino Clay) on two older cars with excellent results. I did a modified version (without ScratchX) on my new black Lexus, and all of these shines have lasted for 6 months and through the winter without any work on my part other than a washing or two and (on the Lexus) Z6.
You will find that several coats of z2 on top of the coats of z5 will give great results, especially on the dark color. My two cars are black and dark green, and the results are great, and more noticable than on the lighter, silver-blue, car I did for a friend.
When you need to do very little work on the car over the next year or two, then you will realize how well spent that time was over those original three days.
is an open question that, as others have asked, depends on what you mean by "IT". If you mean that you do the whole thing you described and then park the car in the driveway, wash it every couple of weeks and expect it to bead for six months, my experience is that it will not. Maybe the rain in South Florida is too acid or too alkaline or just too cruddy, but in a couple of months the beading is gone.
NOW, if you do as most do and "renew" it by just using the z2 on the car every couple of weeks (just doing that after washing the car MIGHT take 10 minutes), then of course it will still bead water after 6 months. The real question is whether that is fair to compare to something that is put on once and forgotten.
IMHO, the real value of Zaino products is that the ease of application lets you "renew" the polish so easily and so quickly that it is more likely to be done AND that there is instant gratification as the shine seems to get deeper each time you put another coat on. I just don't buy the argument that it "lasts" for several months because in my experience one application doesn't and that means we are comparing apples and oranges since I bet the other products would last indefinitely if reapplied every couple of weeks too.
joe166 -- Pardon me, but it seems to me that you are the one mixing apples and oranges. Have you ever polished a car, then applied carnauba wax, let it sit outside for a couple of weeks and then washed it and tried applying additional coats of wax? After an additional wax coating every several weeks, you'd probably have a disaster on your hands as far as shine and protection are concerned. And the effort required also has to be considered. Can you merely "wipe on and wipe off" the way you can with Zaino?
But as you point out, that's where Zaino has a distinct advantage. Once a car is properly "Zainoed," you can "refresh" and enhance the shine and protection with additional applications of Z. More and more coats of Z equate to deeper shine and continued, long-lasting protection!
Not so with wax or any other product I've used over many years of car care. After several months, even with a garage, the car usually has to have the yellowed previous wax layer stripped off and the shine renewed with a polish before a new protective wax application is possible. On the other hand, as you note, using Z-2 after a wash takes almost no time at all -- and there isn't any buffing required or messy residue left over. Just a great shine that can be maintained in perpetuity! So, I don't think you can use other products successfully every few weeks the way Zaino can be used.
Sorry 'bout the length of my last post. Didn't mean to write a book.
I plan to add new coats of Z2 to reinforce the shine. I know Zaino says to reapply Z1 every 6 mo on a daily driver, but do you all do that? Do you ever reapply Z1 again if you keep the Z shine going with periodic Z2?
First, congratulations for doing it right. Once in a while someone chooses to ignore the instructions then wants to [non-permissible content removed] about the results.
On Z1: I've had Z on my car for about a year, averaged another coat every 3-4 weeks. It's always repelled water, looked great, and has been easy to wash. I just re-Z1ed for the first time recently and it made a noticeable difference, both in the shine and the water repellency. So I'll be following the 6 month recommendation from now on.
On durability: Nothing can beat this stuff. Last summer I went almost 3 months without re-Zing due to work, weather, etc. The shine lost some depth, but the water kept beading up, even with twice-weekly thorough washing. I have never used a wax or polish that could last like this.
Of course I have never made any effort to renew Carnauba wax. That is because I am a charter member of the lazy mans club and I would never do that. But, you have to admit that there are lots of products that could be redone as Zaino can be. That was my point. I am sure that some of them would last indefinitely if renewed frequently. I wouldn't even consider multiple coats of some types of protectant. I am not arguing with the benefits of Zaino. I use and like it, but I do think it is at best disingenuous to claim it lasts for months and months when it has been renewed several times in that period of time.
I think you might be missing something concerning the Z. It's not that one HAS to apply multiple coats, some just choose to do so. The point is one properly applied coat of Z1/Z2 will outlast one coat of wax. Believe this was pretty obvious with the waxtest several months ago. Tmart
No, I understand the principle, but the majority of posts talking about how long Z lasts involve multiple applications OVER A PERIOD OF TIME as far as I have seen. I also am prepared to concede that the fact that I have not seen this months long beading without subsequent coats might well be related to the extreme conditions in South Florida and the fact that my car sleeps under an Oak Tree.
I think maybe you're missing the point here. First, can you name a product that you can renew with just an easy application requiring merely a wipe on, let dry, wipe off (note: no need to polish or buff -- just wipe)? Second, can you name a product that will actually match Zaino's durability, even with one application?
You admit to being sold on Zaino. I'm trying to understand why can't you bring yourself to acknowledge that it does, indeed, outlast any other product on the market (at least the ones I've tried)? Maybe the answer is to get yourself a big axe and get rid of that big oak tree and maybe get a car cover! Good luck, and keep applying the Z regularly!
I think I made it clear and if I didn't, then I will now. I think Zaino is a fine product. I do NOT think it lasts significantly longer than many other products based on one application. That is based on a decidedly unscientific experiment where I have used many other products in the same situations such as Nufinish, a couple of the Meguiars products, Zymol and others that are still on my shelves. What part of that point am I missing? The only way I have been able to make Z last for MONTHS is by renewing it. I am willing to bet a lot of money that if I "renewed" any of the other products they would last for months on my car also. I think this has exhausted this subject as far as I am concerned. Sorry if this is not consistent with the party line or mantra, but I guess I have never been a very good follower in unimportant areas like this.
I thought you said you quit. I think the part you're missing is that there's a huge difference between "renewing" Zaino and the other products. But since you seem to insist that products like NuFinish, Zymol, etc. are as good and as long-lasting as Z if "renewed" like Z (and that just ain't possible, IMHO), permit me to disagree. I used NuFinish for years because it was (then) an easy-to-use, one-step product. But, man, I had to WORK to "renew" it when I applied it, then I had to BUFF like crazy to get it off, and I was forever digging residue out of the nooks and crannies, regardless of whether I was "renewing" it or using it initially. Furthermore, I don't think I actually COULD renew it. It was always a miserable task to use the stuff.
On the other hand, with Zaino, I CAN renew it! Merely wipe it on, let dry, and wipe it off. No "work" and no rubbing to apply, no buffing to remove, and no residue! And I, too, have used NuFinish, Zymol and a few Meguiars products and strongly disagree that a single coat of any lasts as long as a single coat of Zaino -- never more than a month or two at the most! Maybe you should move north!
Oh, I quit also (if you do!). But seriously, I understand what you've been saying all along, and I just can't agree. But it has been fun disagreeing! Glad you're also a Zainoite and appreciate the advantages of using Z!
Is the new party line that Z does not last 6 months but because it can be renewed so easliy it is better then others. Having used it a year now I may be leaning towards not lasting 6 months without renewal. Granted renewal is easy But Collinite gives a great shine and lasts pretty long too. Still. a great product though and I will probably keep using it
From what you write, Pinnacle Souveran most likely is another polymer similar to Zaino. Same probably with Blackfire. I was going to ask you how the two products compare to Zaino -- and then I remembered that you said you've never tried Zaino. Too bad -- I really value your opinions and expertise.
because he is afraid that you have to agree with all the claims or you might get yelled at. The product is excellent, the rhetoric leaves a lot to be desired. Now I understand why some people shy away from the product and think we may be brainwashed.
Comments
I am not sure how effective Z1 would be at removing etched(waterspots) or waterspots that have been left on for a long time.
As I said I try to use no abrasives first and work my way up to an abrasive if needed. It is a lot easier than using a product like 3M Swirl remover that strips off not only the waterspots but the zaino coating.
And Yes, I could actually see the spots disappear as the Z1 was applied. If applied correctly Z1 flash dries and leaves little or no residue. I was running short on time that day and did not even apply a coat of polish afterwards. I just Z6ed right after and left it that way. I have a light colored vehicle and did not notice any streaking or residue from the Z1.
That was the first and only time I ever had any "spotting" issues.
Wood trim. I have fake wood in my 2000 and would not use any harsh cleaners on it. It is essentially a paint effect on plastic so you risk taking it off over time, especially with something as harsh as Windex. I use two very soft cotton cloths....one damp, one too dry. It works great to take of spots smudges or dust. In fact that is how I clean all my interior surfaces (i do not like the shiny look on my dash), expect for some occassional spot cleaning when necessary. Use Fantasic or Spray Nine for spot cleaning but am sure to rinse it all off with a wet towel afterwards.
2. i get water spots after it rains-should i be removing these every time it rains or are y'all talking about those immediately after a wash.
3.can i clay over a car thats been z'd times 10-what's the routine-i get the impression that clay is to be used on a "bare" surface- thanks so much!
Sounds unlikely, but this is a tip from Sal, and it works for me (on a black Lexus). And the sooner the better, as the bug juice is acid and will eat through the Zaino to the paint eventually.
You find bug solvent in the strangest places.
Hope this helps.
I buy mine at Ross Dress for Less. Full sized white 100% cotton made in USA, 30"x52" for $5 a piece.
I have a Lexus w/ chrome emblems and door handles. If you have same, what have you used on the "L" and "Lexus" and also door handles? Thanks.
How do you get around doing so? I'm sure not going to tape it off.
And is there harm being done, or is it just that there is no benefit? So if maybe the Z will not bond to the plastic emblem like it does to the paint, does it harm the little silver L?
Maybe if you have some of that tacky gold stuff on your emblems, he might just be saying to be careful that you don't rub it off, but I have never found any harm being done to the silver (chrome) emblems.
Ask him again. And when you call, ask Sam if you can talk to Sal and get a second opinion.
We need to clarify this, as I'll be real pissed if my "L In A Circle" falls off the back of my swell new car.
Can any of the vets help a couple of newbies on this?
I might add, my car is silver. So I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
I have my initial coats of Zaino on my car from last June and July, and the finish is like new. I am going to apply a few more coats (with ZFX) as soon as I get some time on a nice weekend, not because the car needs it, but because I can.
After 4 or 5 coats, you should see quite a difference even on a silver car, depending on the quality of the underlying paint. (And assuming that you removed the wax with Dawn; if not, you just put zaino over the wax, which would not look much different, and certainly won't last very long, as the Z will not bond to the paint if wax is in the way.) I don't know what a RSX-S is, but I'm sure it has a good paint job or you would not be putting Zaino on top of it.
Keep at it, you are most of the way there. And if you got ZFX, you can apply 3 coats back to back, which will take no time, even in Canada.
I too would like to know if clay takes off the Zaino. I have used clay on 3 cars, but always at the beginning of the cycle, right after the Dawn wash. I'm not sure if clay takes off the Zaino, and I would like to know how to proceed after claying a car with Zaino already on it.
I do know that you should NOT use Z6 as a lube for the clay. Use Z7 wash, mixed with water in a spray bottle.
Regarding clay, info from this forum is that clay will not affect Zaino. The clay will merely pick up the contaminants from the finish and leave the surface super smooth. However, squid99's caution about using a mixture of Z-7 and water as a clay lubricant is right on -- don't use Z-6. I understand that using a sufficient amount of lubricant is the secret of using clay efficiently -- the clay should not "drag" on the paint. So -- there you have it from someone who hasn't used clay but who has paid close attention to the info on this board!
BTW, the main advantages of using Zaino, besides the fantastic shine, are (1) ease of use/application, and (2) durability (it protects better and longer than carnauba wax or, for that matter, better and longer than any product I've ever used).
I hope this helps.
At night, the finish really glows on both.
Parked beside a silver civic today. Now I notice the difference (between a zaino'd and non zaino'd). Now I gotta park it next to a waxed silver car and see if I can tell the difference.
And Squid, thanks for the info, but I'm not that big of a car nut to spend more than 3 hours on my car (2 hours to wash and zaino is enough for me). One coat at a time is fine by me. Just put the Z1 on and then Z2 right after. I know it's not necessary, but it doesn't hurt right?
If, however, you use ZFX, then you do not need z1 at all, and you can apply up to 3 coats in a row without waiting a day for the previous coat to cure. No z1 is necessary if you use the zfx.
Read the application tips at zainobros.com for details. I should not take 3 hours to wash and apply one or two coats of zaino, but even if it does, that's only the first time. For every application after that, you only need to apply a quick coat of zaino, wait for it to dry (unless you use zfx, which, I hear, dries instantly,) and then wipe it off. Nothing like wax.
I like that new Integra. (Although if you have one now, it's not the next generation Integra, but the present generation Integra, I would guess.)
Thanks to Squid and Mbdriver for the excellent info. I know what I'll be doing in the garage Sunday afternoon.
Enjoy!
When it comes to application, that's where I have a problem. I'm so used to applying thick gobs where it's clearly visible. Sometimes I swear I'm not putting any zaino on whatsoever.
Overall, I'm satisfied.
And to squid: just saying "next gen" so you'd know.
1. As with any polish/wax job- PREP IS KEY!!!! The optical clarity of Z2 (or Z5) will be very revealing of any surface imperfection, inc. water spots.
2. Claying requires a wet surface and a light touch. The lubricity of diluted Z7 is outstanding, but keep the surface wet. If you rub any clay over a too dry paint surface it may smudge, which is best removed with a solvent (e.g. WD40). A properly clayed surface feels completely smooth- like wet glass. Claying may or may not be worth it depending upon your paint's condition (and your preferences & time contraints). It took us about 10 min to clay the 300M, but the paint was not in bad condition.
3. Scratch X by hand is pretty mild- esp. with light hand pressure. It really seemed to remove most of my light swirls nicely, but I still had a few light scratches remaining. I did not want to be too aggressive with the clearcoat, and I was curious as to what Z5 could do.
4. Z7 is a wash with incredible lubricity and rinses more easily than anything I've ever used. Great stuff!
5. Z1/2/5 are easy to apply- no rubbing required. Z2 was easier to wipe off when dry than Z5, although both were clearly easier to remove than buffing traditional waxes.
6. Z5 eliminated most (but not all) of the light scratches remaining after the Scratch X treatment. I may hit those spots again with another couple Z5 layers.
7. Z5 alone looked nice enough (nearly as glossy as a good Carnuba), but the added shine with the Z2 was obvious.
8. Z6 enhances the shine nicely, & I will continue to use it for that purpose. In my use on bird & insect stains, however, it is not as good at pure "cleaning" as Meguiar's QuickDetailer or Turtle Wax's QuickWash (which I used on this car before applying the Z, & I still use both on my Dodge minivan).
At this point, I think the surface "shine" with 3 coats Z5 & one coat of Z2 is equal to the excellent shine I had with Meguiar's Gold Class liquid (and WAY better than Meguiar's or Mother's Cleaner-Waxes which I wasted my time experimenting with in the past). I think the "depth" of the gloss is better than the Gold Class, and Gold Class did little to hide swirl marks or surface scratches. I'll be doing another coat or two of Z2 with the next warm spell to try to further enhance the "depth" of the shine (& hopefully the duration as well).
Clearly, I cannot evaluate the full durability of the shine yet. This is where Gold Class disappointed me- a few weeks outdoors and the shine was fading fast.
The Better Half still thinks I'm a bit nuts for doing the above 13-step process, but was a good sport to help with the "experiment". She thinks the car now looks better than ever, and her golfing buddies lavishly praised the shine (before she said anything about the work involved!). She now admits this will have been worth the effort if the shine lasts as reported on this board. Personally, I'm satisfied at this point. If the Z lasts 6 months (like some report here) I will be euphoric! It will have been way LESS work than 4 or 5 traditional wax jobs. For those considering the cost, I think all the Z products (with the possible exception of Z6) are very cost-effective because a little goes a LONG way. Traditional liquid waxes would require 2-3 oz to do my car and I was lucky to get 2-3 mo. of a reasonable shine on any of my vehicles. Less than 1 oz of Z2 did a coat on my large sedan nicely. I've not seen any shine that surpasses Z2. I view Z5 as a light scratch/swirl filler & it works well in that role -and Z5 is nonabrasive. For deep scratches, on the other hand, Z5 is not a substitute for a buff-out by a professional detailer. To me Z7 is the 'sleeper' product of the bunch, & I am very glad I decided to get it. It's a wonderful cleaner, & by far the best car wash of the multitude I've tried over the years. I will be carrying a spray bottle with dilute Z7 & an H2O rinse bottle as my touch-up for removing bird droppings between washes.
In short, I am glad I decided to try the Zaino process. Maybe I could have gotten by with just Z1 & Z2, but I wanted to give the whole "system" a try. If this shine really lasts an honest 4-6 mo (or more) like some have posted, I'll never go back to anything else.
Jon
I looks to me like you did exactly what experiences users have been suggesting.
I have done that same process with the same products (except I used the Zaino Clay) on two older cars with excellent results. I did a modified version (without ScratchX) on my new black Lexus, and all of these shines have lasted for 6 months and through the winter without any work on my part other than a washing or two and (on the Lexus) Z6.
You will find that several coats of z2 on top of the coats of z5 will give great results, especially on the dark color. My two cars are black and dark green, and the results are great, and more noticable than on the lighter, silver-blue, car I did for a friend.
When you need to do very little work on the car over the next year or two, then you will realize how well spent that time was over those original three days.
You will believe, and you will rejoice.
NOW, if you do as most do and "renew" it by just using the z2 on the car every couple of weeks (just doing that after washing the car MIGHT take 10 minutes), then of course it will still bead water after 6 months. The real question is whether that is fair to compare to something that is put on once and forgotten.
IMHO, the real value of Zaino products is that the ease of application lets you "renew" the polish so easily and so quickly that it is more likely to be done AND that there is instant gratification as the shine seems to get deeper each time you put another coat on. I just don't buy the argument that it "lasts" for several months because in my experience one application doesn't and that means we are comparing apples and oranges since I bet the other products would last indefinitely if reapplied every couple of weeks too.
But as you point out, that's where Zaino has a distinct advantage. Once a car is properly "Zainoed," you can "refresh" and enhance the shine and protection with additional applications of Z. More and more coats of Z equate to deeper shine and continued, long-lasting protection!
Not so with wax or any other product I've used over many years of car care. After several months, even with a garage, the car usually has to have the yellowed previous wax layer stripped off and the shine renewed with a polish before a new protective wax application is possible. On the other hand, as you note, using Z-2 after a wash takes almost no time at all -- and there isn't any buffing required or messy residue left over. Just a great shine that can be maintained in perpetuity! So, I don't think you can use other products successfully every few weeks the way Zaino can be used.
I plan to add new coats of Z2 to reinforce the shine. I know Zaino says to reapply Z1 every 6 mo on a daily driver, but do you all do that? Do you ever reapply Z1 again if you keep the Z shine going with periodic Z2?
Jon
On Z1: I've had Z on my car for about a year, averaged another coat every 3-4 weeks. It's always repelled water, looked great, and has been easy to wash. I just re-Z1ed for the first time recently and it made a noticeable difference, both in the shine and the water repellency. So I'll be following the 6 month recommendation from now on.
On durability: Nothing can beat this stuff. Last summer I went almost 3 months without re-Zing due to work, weather, etc. The shine lost some depth, but the water kept beading up, even with twice-weekly thorough washing. I have never used a wax or polish that could last like this.
You admit to being sold on Zaino. I'm trying to understand why can't you bring yourself to acknowledge that it does, indeed, outlast any other product on the market (at least the ones I've tried)? Maybe the answer is to get yourself a big axe and get rid of that big oak tree and maybe get a car cover! Good luck, and keep applying the Z regularly!
On the other hand, with Zaino, I CAN renew it! Merely wipe it on, let dry, and wipe it off. No "work" and no rubbing to apply, no buffing to remove, and no residue! And I, too, have used NuFinish, Zymol and a few Meguiars products and strongly disagree that a single coat of any lasts as long as a single coat of Zaino -- never more than a month or two at the most! Maybe you should move north!
Oh, I quit also (if you do!). But seriously, I understand what you've been saying all along, and I just can't agree. But it has been fun disagreeing! Glad you're also a Zainoite and appreciate the advantages of using Z!
Same with Blackfire. You literally wipe it on, wait maybe 30 seconds, and wipe it off.
Wityh most Zymol waxes you have to wipe it off immediately. If you let it dry it hardens and becomes very difficult to remove.