By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I just put another coat of Z2/Z6 on my new (2 months old) Lexus ES300 and let me be the first to say that the Z6 part of the process really makes it. I can't say enough about Z6.
Note that my car is a semi-dark charcoal-like color. Does not shine like black or red. But Z6 takes the Z2 shine up a notch on my car.
That was two months ago and since then I've used the Z-7 wash followed with the Z-6. I live near Las Vegas, NV and now we're heading to the 100+ temps and I want to maximize the car's protection for the summer months. My question is whether I can apply more of the Z-2 now without starting from scratch? It's the dark blue version of the '02 Honda CR-V. It's parked in a covered garage at work and home, but I also worry about the high temps "stressing" the paint.
Currently, I prefer not to use ZFX, although I have tried it. I put a new coat of Z2/Z6 on whenever I wash the car, about every two weeks. You don't need anything else. Once, when strapped for time, I just did the roof, trunk and hood. I figure they get the brunt of the sun. Partial polishing works just fine.
Congratulations on your beautiful car! I almost bought the same car as you - I LOVE that color. For some reason it is extremly rare here in L.A. It will look great with just a little bit of gold trim, the rest removed.
Anyway, this is a metallic paint, so it will definitely be clear coated. It will look fabulous with 3-4 layers of Z2, like a giant candy apple!
Also- regarding Z6, I find that this is essential to getting the best shine. I believe that it has a little bit of a solvent effect on the hardened Z2 or Z5, and smooths out any microscopic rough parts.
Did automophile say "candy apple red"??? ;-)) I want to see pics!!! ;-))
fastdriver
hawks1: daverose is absolutely correct. The sooner you start the better.
scottc8: I went and did it: applied Z5 to my windshield. The results are very good, but now I'll wait and see how long it lasts. First, I used the Zaino Glass Polish which removed many of the tiny (microscopic) scratches but not the bigger ones. I really had to clean the window afterwards as that glass polish leaves a very, very fine haze behind. I was ZFX/Z5'ing anyway, so I applied a coat to all my windows including the windshield.
Wow, it really made the window seem much more clear. Night driving was a pleasure. But now I'll have to see how it holds up over time and against my wipers, etc.
re: CLAY - I also clayed my car prior to applying 2 coats of Z5. After a very, very good washing, my car looked completely clean. Then I went to work with the Clay. I am still amazed at how much dirt, brake dust, etc. the clay picked up.
Tons! My 1 oz. clay bar now weights 30 lbs! Only kidding. But it really picked up a huge amount of stuff. And on my daily commuter, the results were actually visible! The lower portions of the car had taken a beating this winter, and most of the stuff was picked up there.
I just called Zaino to get the answer to my own question.... Use ZFX every 6 months with Z2. Z 2 without ZFX as often as you want in between the 6 month period. If you want to apply multiple coats of Z 2 on the same day, use ZFX with the Z 2. Got It?
On Saturday I Dawned (I always Dawn every spring), clayed, Z7 wash, 2 coats of Z5/ZFX with Z6 in between. The Z5 really reduced the visibility of the scrapes and the ability to apply multiple coats in one day made it look great. Other than waiting the 30 minutes as per ZFX instructions, it's just as easy as the regular Z1/Z2/5 route.
I mixed up one ounce of Z5/ZFX and it was enough to do my Accord twice - even had a little left over.
Also, will claying remove the Zaino i have on the car now?
The last time I did my car, I mixed enough ZFX with the z2 for 2 coats, and then applied the third coat without ZFX. (Saving the ZFX, which is expensive.)
And no, clay will not remove the Z you have on the car now.
atoews, I couldn't agree more about Z6. It's the icing on the cake.
I think it is just probably prejudice, ignorance and some irrational fear on my part .
First of all, ZFX has not been in use long, a paint job is a pretty important and expensive aspect of a car and I do not want to risk destroying it.
I'd prefer that ZFX be tested more in the field before I go wild using it. Solidifying my concern is observing what ZFX does to that plastic mixing bottle. You can't completely remove the mixture from the bottle. And it looks like the ZFX mixture distorts the plastic, despite my taking care to wash the bottle well within the 12 hours recommended by Zaino Bros.
Additionally, while trying to wash out the ZFX bottle, some Z2/ZFX mixture made its way to my sink and some of my dishes - and the dishwasher and my scrubbing has not removed it completely!!
If it does that to the plastic bottle and glass dishes, what might it do to non-paint parts of the car (plastic,etc)?
I am not saying to be afraid of ZFX. I would use it in a pinch. But as it stands, I prefer to just wait the 24 hours between coats whenever possible. If nothing else, it is harder work to wash out that bottle than it is just to wait. I suppose one option would be just to throw away that bottle.............
As for after the rain, I have used the CWB on my wet car after driving it right into the garage from a rain, and observed no ill effects. The danger would be that the car is really dirty in addition to being wet. If I had been driving on an expressway, where the road splash gets a lot of dirty water on the car, then I would not do that; I'd just let it dry and wash it off, because that kind of water has a lot of grit in it.
Or maybe I'd rinse it off with the hose, then dry. The only time I use the blade right after a rain is when I know that the car was not also dirty. (Including being dirty before it started raining.)
Always use the Z6 after washing.
Hint: Save your old Z6 spray bottles. They make great Z7/water spray bottles. I mixed 2 cap-fulls of Z7 and 18 ozs of water to produce my claying lubricant. Now that I'm done claying (for 6 months at least), I added more water (about 6 ozs) and keep the bottle in my car. Its very useful for removing road splat, dead bugs, etc. from the front of the car. I should actually added even more water as its still a bit too concentrated.
As I was doing my final Z6 rub down, a spider fell on the car and was trying to climb up one of the curved surfaces. It was like watching a spider on a tread-mill. The little feet were running like mad as the spider continued to slide downwards. When the spider finally got too tried (about a minute later), it just slid off the car.
I have parked in the same spot at work for 11 years and have never had this happen: After beginning my Zaino use about a month ago I began to notice a large amount of bird crap on the passenger C column and rear window on a daily basis. I have come out from the office to find birds congregating on that spot. Have been washing it off and re-Z6'ing everyday for several weeks.
Anyone else find that birds are attracted to the stuff?
Call me crazy, but it seems like a Hitchcock nightmare!
If you think it looks good now, wait until you get a few more coats of Z2/Z5/Z6 on!!! Then, you'll know why SOME of us are called Zainoholics! ;-))
jlan-
LOL.... I just read somewhere that birds are ATTRACTED to shiny things!! LOL..... I have bird crap on my trunk right now. That rarely happened pre Zaino!!
fastdriver
The plastic polish is quite good. I used it on some 7 year-old headlights a few weeks ago, and it improved their appearance dramatically.
The tire dressing is also excellent. It has a deep, rich lustre- not a "wet look", but more conservative and tasteful. It looks like satin.
The clay bar was also excellent, but I prefer Mother's clay. While both perform very well, the Mother's is more sticky and seems to soak up more contaminants with less effort. You can't go wrong with either one, though.
On the other hand, my wife is confirming that I am a certified nut seeing that bottle of Z6 in my hand EVERY night after work! I am beginning to have to make excuses to go to the garage, and it is getting hard to hide what I am doing. She usually comes looking for me just when I get the last dropping off, so I don't think she believes me when I tell her about the birds. Oh well, I guess she is more nuts than I am since she married me!!
My honest impressions of Zaino at this point:
Shine: Excellent-although I think it is matched by some other products (e.g. Meguiar's Gold Class)- perhaps I will feel differently after more coats ("only" 3-Z5 & 2-Z2 at this point)
Ease of Use- Outstanding-much easier than traditional waxes-wipe on/wipe off-no buffing required (just remember not to use as much Z5 or Z2 as you would a traditional liquid wax-using too much is a waste, takes much longer to dry, and may get smeary).
Dirt/Dust Resistance: Excellent- clearly better than anything else I've seen or used.
Durability- Outstanding so far. I stopped using Meguiar's Gold Class (great shine, but lasts only a few weeks).
Z7- The best car wash I've ever used- unmatch "lubricity"- economical - 1 capful per 1/2 gal H20 easily does a car.
Z6- Adds alot to finish the shine. Not the best "cleaner" (I use dilute Z7/H20 rinse/ then Z6 for bird/bug spots between washes).
The other neat thing about the Zaino process is its flexibility. You could start with just Dawn wash/Z1/Z2 or 5 and get a nice durable shine which outlasts most any mass-market waxes..... or become a Zainoholic with 10+ coats and a show-car finish. I'm afraid I'm slipping into the latter affliction!!!!!
Jon
Jon
I forgot to follow the #1 rule - VERY THIN COATS. Put too much on the first coat and ended up with the hazy film that just moves around whenever you try to wipe it off. I know all I have to do is a Z7 wash and I'll be good to go, but I've run out of time.
Moral of my story? Apply Z in VERY VERY THIN COATS. If you can see it when you've wiped it on, you've likely used too much.
Brad
jona, jona, jona...... if only you listened to me ages ago, that 300M would have been gleaming with NO swirl marks UNLESS your award winning 5-STAR" dealer got to it first! It gets better as time goes on.
fastdriver
Yesterday it was about 75 deg, sunny, low humidity - a perfect Zaino day (that's another problem entirely - calling a day like that perfect for Zaino as opposed to tennis or boating or whatever!). So I told my wife I was going to wash and polish the cars. Now - here's the problem. She asked, "Why do you need to polish the cars again? Didn't you just put two coats on each last month? Doesn't it last 6 months?". Uh-oh. I think I mumbled something about more coats giving better UV protection and split into the garage.
So there you have it - Zaino's shine and durability last too long! Makes being an addict hard to hide!
Gotta love the results though - especially on the black and silver 2002 Trailblazer LTZ. A big, dark coloured car to really show off the depth of shine. Although it also looks great on my wife's metallic green 2000 Grand Prix. Zaino really brings out the metallic flakes.
-Jason
The same thing happened to me. I'm in the NY area and the weather was perfect. Instead of playing golf I added two more coats of Zaino. My wife thinks I'm going through some mid life crisis.
Fastdriver
You are right I thought my car looked great last week with two coats of Zaino. It looks even better now that I have four coats. I especially like the results of the Z6
I've finally been able to find the "endurance" mark for Z5 on my Honda Accord Coupe. Last Thanksgiving, I applied 2 coats of Z5. After that, I only washed it once in December and then again once in March. Its a daily commuter in the New York area. About 30 each way (60 total) daily in all sorts of Winter conditions. I finally (over Memorial Day) did the FULL Z. After washing (Z7 + a few drops of Dawn), water still beaded on the roof and trunk lid. But Not on the front hood or front bumper surfaces. Those surfaces get the brunt of road salts, flying sand, and other assorted nasty things. That's almost 6 months.
Regarding Swirls: Gee, pj defending Bretfraz. I needs a drink. Actually, Bretfraz does make a point (did I say that?). Z5 is great stuff but cannot hide those deep visable scratch marks. But more commonly, most people get those very minor "spider webs" or swirls which look sort of like light interference patterns. Z5 will help with those in a dramatic fashion.
I've finally been able to find the "endurance" mark for Z5 on my Honda Accord Coupe. Last Thanksgiving, I applied 2 coats of Z5. After that, I only washed it once in December and then again once in March. Its a daily commuter in the New York area. About 30 each way (60 total) daily in all sorts of Winter conditions. I finally (over Memorial Day) did the FULL Z. After washing (Z7 + a few drops of Dawn), water still beaded on the roof and trunk lid. But Not on the front hood or front bumper surfaces. Those surfaces get the brunt of road salts, flying sand, and other assorted nasty things. That's almost 6 months.
Regarding Swirls: Gee, pj defending Bretfraz. I needs a drink. Actually, Bretfraz does make a point (did I say that?). Z5 is great stuff but cannot hide those deep visable scratch marks. But more commonly, most people get those very minor "spider webs" or swirls which look sort of like light interference patterns. Z5 will help with those in a dramatic fashion.
1) Dawn
2) Mother's Clay
3) Dawn
4) Meguiars' #9 Swirl Remover
5) Meguiars' Gold Class
What do people think of this? Will using Z2/Z6 make a significant difference instead of Meguiars' Gold Class?
LOL.....As much as I want/need to put more Zaino on my car, I went to Naragansett, RI for the weekend! Friends have a house/cottage there. After a bad storm Friday night, the remainder of the weekend was great. There will be plenty more nice weekends to Z the car. Soon, I'll have more free time to Z any day.
Carpe diem. The sun will shine again. ;-))
fastdriver
PS-If you think 4 coats looks good, just wait! ;-))
NEVER a sponge!! It can scratch. I use the VIKING chenille wash mitts. I believe Auto Zone, K-Mart etc. have them.
To dry, I use the Absorber quickly on one section at a time and follow up with the 100% cotton white towels for the remainder. The Absorber really sucks.
I used to driver "quickly" around the block, but with the car rinsed with the nozzle off and the Absorber, I don't have to do that until I am finished wiping the car. Then, the drive around the block gets the water out of all the nooks and crannies.
fastdriver
Some worry about the "Blade" scratching the paint -- it doesn't. Acts like a large squeegee and is very easy to use.
Believe me , I was NOT ignoring your advice. The dealer did indeed get to the car 1st & "detail" it. Looked like they sent the poor thing through a bad automatic car wash
Looks 1000% better now with a bit of Meguiar's Scratch X & the full Monty Zaino process. My Toyota finance manager neighbor compliments me on my 300M almost daily. He tells me I can get me a job detailing cars at his dealership anytime!!!
Jon
LOL... I know you weren't ignoring me. I was just "rubbing" it in! ;-)) I can't believe the "damage" done by the dealers in prepping the new cars. I didn't let them touch the Acura! I even told them to leave the white plastic on! LOL... Every time I bring the car in for an oil change I have to remember to tell them to leave it ALONE because they want to wash it and fool with the air in the tires.
So busy lately that I have ignored the car. The weather was iffy too and I was sick. To most people it looks great, but to me, I know what a few coats of Z2/Z5/Z6 will do.
fastdriver