Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Waxes and Polishes, Part II
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Just don't throw that pillow on the hood or the trunk because you'll slide right off! LOL.....
fastdriver
I've never ordered from him, but having dealt with Sal Zaino, I would venture to say that IF he wasn't good OR reliable, he wouldn't be working for Sal very long!!
fastdriver
I have also purchased Clay Magic and good towels to do the entire process.
I can't wait to see my wife's teal Chrysler Town & Country and my green Land Rover after all this work is done.
I will let the group know about my results.
Received my order of clay, Z-1 and Z-2 in less than a week from mailing my order.
Washed, clayed, Z-1, then first coat of Z-2 the day I brought my '00 Odyssey home. Two more coats of Z-2 the next day. Even a week and two days of rain later, the shine is deep, gorgeous and swirl-free. Will probably put a couple more coats of Z-2 on before winter weather comes.
Should I apply Z-1 when adding more coats, or is that just for prepping the paint for the first layer?
Plan to order the Z-5 in the spring for my '90 Integra (and more Z-2 for the Odyssey, of course!).
Great stuff.
Yes, a trick from this topic is after the 6th coat, lay down z-1, then resume with z-2.
1. Dawn didn't seem to strip the old wax, if I gage by the water still beading.
2. The Clay really helped our 95 Villager! It really shined (and of course was smooth) after claying. I used Maquires clay. I bought it a few days before reading here earlier that it was no good. Seemed OK to me. I used Maquires Quick detailer as the lube.
3. I got lots of lint from my brand new white towels. I assume washing them first would have been a good thing to do.
4. I had a hard time seeing where I was putting the Z1 and Z2, especailly the Z1. I was doing it in my garage, with minimal lighting. Is it easier to see outside?
5. The Z1 dried for about an hour before I topped with Z2. It wasn't really hazed, I wonder if it was a) dry enough and b) thick enough?
6. Shine looked pretty good after removing the Z2.
7. I do see a lot of very tiny scratches that weren't really evident before. The van hasn't been this clean is a while. Scratches are probably from drying with improper towels previously. I was wiping off the Z2 in the garage, but I got out my 500W halogen work light to be able to see what I was doing. That's pretty harsh lighting. I hope it won't look so bad in the daylight.
8. I'll probably do another Z2 coat tomorrow.
I should wipe it down with Z6 first, right?
9. Sure is easy to use.
If anyone can answer my questions by 1pm CDT Sunday Oct 10, email to simpson@mixcom.com, or post here.
Again, maybe you should consult Sal Zaino, but I would have continued to strip the wax via Dawn and clay. It may be that the beading of water was due to a good clear coat. I too have had the same problem when I first applied Z1/Z2. My long drying times were due, however, to low temperatures on a humid day. Under those conditions, leave the car alone overnight. If the Z2 layer still smears, its not dry. Since you already wiped the Z2 off, I'd apply another layer of Z2 (after using Z6). Those small scratches could be helped by using Z5. And yes, Zaino does tend to show them due to clear optical properties. They could have been caused by 'improper drying', automatic car wash brushes, abrasive waxes (ie: dealer) or dirty towels, etc. We've all made those mistakes. Again, try some Z5 and let us know what happens.
Car -
Black, 1999 Honda Accord EX V6
Delivery date: 8/21/99
History-
been reading the posts from most of you and was somewhat hesitant. Decided to order the Z1, Z2, Z5 (dealer had done some light scratching during clean-up, naughty!), Z6.
This weekend -
Got to it! 70F, in complete shade. 50 minute wash with Dawn, and 15 minutes to COMPLETELY dry.
Pulled it in the garage (wife was gone, this is an important step!
Application Time -
Wash 50 min (thorough!)
Dry 15 min
Z1 20 min apply, 30 min to dry
Z5 20 min apply, 30 min to dry
Z2 30 min apply, 30 min to dry
Z6 15 min apply (wipe on, wipe off)
Why so long? In the micro climates of No. CA we had some decent humidity that impacted my Z2 & Z5 times. Additionally, wifey came home and had to help with the groceries.
I think the difficulty between Z products and other waxes is the initial first steps. As far as wiping on, drying, and wiping off, there's little difference (Zaino is somewhat easier, IMO).
General -
These CLAY products. I thought that was a load of
crap. My car in general, is free of the impacts stated in some of the posts. That is until I got to my passenger-rear-quarter panel. The Z5 brought the environmental impacts to the surface. So in 6 months, when I go through this again, I will most definitely CLAY!
Summary -
As I was finishing up with the Z6, I threw my towel (100% cotton
I'm glad I bought the product.
Thanks Fastdriver et al, I appreciated the tip!
mlsuli
In all actuality, she understands that this is a necessary part of owning a car. I mean, it was a total of about 4 hours (and yes I'm sore today!) but the results are worth it!
We too get the cold temps and high humidity (in the form of fog) here in No. CA. So when we had a warm weekend I had to leverage it to get the Zaino on! I have to admit, the Z5 dried fast, but the Z2 was 'tacky' in spots (humidity + over application) but I wiped it off anyway. My Z6 went fast. I guess after reading the instructions you get with the product "don't let Z6 dry" I did my best to wipe up quickly. By the time I got to the Z6 stage it was well into the '80's. I will use a little more Z6 on the towel the next time I do my Z2. This was my first time so mark it up to a learning experience!
Funny you have the Green color. I had a choice with the Accord EX V6: Black/Grey or Green/Tan. The only reason I went with Black/Grey is that my previous car was Green/Tan. I guess I just wanted a change! I like the [green] color all the same.
I expect my wash times to decrease. I wanted to double "soap" it to get any of the wax off that the dealer put on. As far as stepping back to see the shine... man.... my car was effectively a mirror from the sun. I couldn't look at it! Amazing. My eldest son kept looking into the car to see his reflection as if it were a mirror! Now when I park it I look to see how the shine looks against other cars in the parking lot at work.
Man, I need a life
mlsuli
LOL........ You were a busy beaver! Trust me- it does get easier with time. I never clayed my car. You're right about the weather. Here in CT, the Fall is a great time to Z the car. I just came back from Keene, New Hampshire- no humidity, so I put some Z-6 on the car before I went to the Chrysler dealer there to get the oil changed.
Speaking of the weather- a warning to all who live in the colder climes- DON'T let the Zaino freeze! Sal says that's not good. I put my ZAINO products in the basement for the winter.
I took some new pics today in NH. I was hoping to have a nice colorful background with the Fall foliage, but it was not very vibrant this year. I'll see what the pics look like. If they came out good, I'll post them so that you can see what a 16 month old Candy Apple Red 300M looks like using ZAINO without claying.
fastdriver
The question with wheels is : are they clearcoated (i.e., painted) or not. If they are painted treat them like paint. If not, then treat them like uncoated metal(with metal polish). Most people have stock clear coated wheels.
I would suggest you go to www.carcareonline.com. Larry Reynolds has some excellent how to articles for the care of wheels and how to repair damaged wheels. If you still have questions, give him a call.
Good luck.
I have read the info on the Zaino website and I have a few questions. Will the clay treatment get all of the dead bugs off of the Accord or tis there some other product to use? Is it OK to use the Z-12 glass polish on windows that have been tinted? Realistically, how many coats of Z-2 should I apply to the new Odyssey? For the '96 Accord, I have one long shallow scratch on a door and a deep 1/8" wide and 1" long scratch on the trunk. Is there anything I can do about them?
I'm sorry to be taking right now and not giving but my wife and I are having a baby in two days so things are getting hectic. I promise that once I apply the treatment (in 2 or 3 weeks) I will post my results. In case anyone wants to provide region-specific advice I live 50 miles South of Houston (hot, humid, big skeeters).
thanks,
booger
re: Dirt embedded in wheels. I'd try claying the metal wheels. Erazer makes a wonderful "yellow" clay which can stand up to brake dust on wheels. And then protect them with a polymer.
fastdriver: Scan the pictures and put them on the forum. I too have to get some more Z stuff on the car before winter arrives. I live in NYC and have family in CT (Danbury and Southbury) and Otis, MA. I first applied Zaino up in Otis where unfortunately, the temperatures were low (just above 32 to mid 40's). 'Made all the classic mistakes and I'm still a Zaino fan.
I'm going to have to get a digital camera. Here again, I've got to consider the wife factor. Maybe I can use the kids as an excuse? Then again, with all the light reflecting from my car after the Zaino, the picture would probably be a blur anyway!
Additionally, I couldn't imagine applying Zaino in the NE winters. I lived in Dallas for 3 years and applying something like that during <20 degrees would not be advisable! You guys sure do have the wonderful "falls" though....
-pblevine
A relief and a disappointment that you have the same water issue as I. My 1988 Integra would always collect water vapor in the lenses (front and back) to the point where the metal rusted and the headlights had to be replaced. Although 11 model years later, that problem - I hope - won't resurface in this model Honda.
-jbauer
The wheels on the 98,99,00 Honda Accord EX V6's have a "rough" surface between the spokes. Take the advise above (Clearcoated vs. exposed metal). Mine have some sort of coating on them so I: Cleaned with car soap, used Zanio products Z6 to clean after the soaping then used Z2 to wax and Z6 as a finisher. They look great! Since the car is 6 weeks old, I did not have the "baked" on dust like you described. A good soap I would think would take the dust off the wheels?
mlsuli
Just got a new SONY digital camera at work today! It's great! NO wires- just a regular floppy disc goes in the camera. When it gets full, you just put it in your computer and it works. It saves the pics in JPEG format. They have to be PC discs, but they work on my MACS! Took it home to test it out a little and did take some pics of the 300M to show you what it looks like today after the trip back to CT from Keene, New Hampshire this weekend! I think it looks great. The wheels are gleaming and I didn't even clean them! The car is 16 months old now.
I have to get some sleep now, but I will TRY to put them on a separate webpage for all to see tomorrow.
fastdriver
First of all, clay (clay magic is what i use) will remove the bug guts or any aother contaminants that may be in your paint.
I like 3M glass cleaner. I've also used vinegar and water (1:4 ratio, respectively) with good results.
Z2 can be used up to 5-6 coats without having to re-apply Z1. I've found that 4 coats are about the limit for increasing the shine. After that, I have reached the point of diminishing returns. A good Z6 application brings back the shine "right now" after washing and isn't nearly as time consuming.
Sounds like a big scratch, but you don't mention how deep it is. If your fingernail can feel it, then you are looking at using some sort of abrasive to minimize it (try 3M foam pad). If not, 3-4 coats of Z5 should do the trick.
Let us know how you make out and good luck with that new baby (won't have much time for Zaino-ing after the birth).
I guess I'm thinking about paint condition several years from now. How long have these products been around?
Odyssey. Do I use it on the black door handles,
mirrors, and trim as well as the rest of the body
or do I use something else, any recomendations?
I would! But there are other Zaino products also.
I have more pics to post, but want to put them on another page because they are so large. No time lately to do anything. I also managed to screw up my pages with those damn pop-up ads! I KNEW that when Yahoo took over Geocities something would get messed up. Unless you pay, ALL pages now have pop-up ads unless you use the latest super-duper browsers to view the webpages!
Anyway, this is what the car looks like 16 months after I bought it. These pics were taken after I got back from NH to CT on Monday night. Don't you think the ZAINO held up okay? NO bugs on the front. Look at that shine.
Enjoy-
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/oct991.html
Just click those pop-up ads off the screen!
fastdriver
Anyway, the first two of your pictures and the last one are wonderful examples of what Zaino can do. How many coats of Z2 do these pictures represent? And did you say these were taken after a trip and before washing (or Z6'ing)?
Thanks. Maybe I'll do the rest now before I go out. I have to explain a few of the pics- the Dunkin Donuts cup!! LOL....
pblevine-
My car is outside all day and in the garage at night. I also have a few scratches that are in the weirdest places. I can't even explain what they look like. Actually, I can run outside now and take some more pics! LOL...
I stopped counting how many coats. Probably a LITTLE less then 20. I have used Z-5 a few times and Z-2 and Z-6 more often. I have ONLY used Z-1 TWICE. Sal says to use Z-1 about every 10 coats of Z-2/Z-5. Yes, this is what the car looked like on Tuesday afternoon after driving home from Keene, NH to CT. I did NOT wash the car to take these pics. The wheels were/are dirty, but they don't look it- do they?
Going to see if I can capture those scratches right now. Will try to get the rest of the pics up in a little while.
fastdriver
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/oct991.html
They are the last three pics on the page. Link in message 401 above.
fastdriver
How many months have passed between your first coat and your 20th coat?
I got my 300 on June 17, 1998. Signed up for Edmunds TOWN HALL on June 29, 1998- according to the info at the top of the User Agreement page here. Read about ZAINO for a few months before placing my first order on August 5, 1998- just checked my checkbook. So, I've been using ZAINO for 14 months now.
I have never clayed my car. I see/feel no imperfections that would cause me to do this right now. My finish is smooth. Like I've said before, once you get the hang of it, Z'ing the car when you have a few free minutes is nothing at all. I do NOT spend hours doing it. I am not a slave to my car. I do like a clean, shiny, wet-looking car, but I don't spend all day doing it. Right now, in CT anyway, the weather is perfect for Z'ing. Several weeks ago I timed myself to see how long it took to put on Z-2 and wipe it off. Took me 45 minutes from start to finish. I don't call that time-consuming at all.
Today looks like a great day to put on some Z-5/Z-6 before the rain gets here from FL! ;-))
fastdriver
Yes, a 3rd coat, a 4th coat, a 5th coat etc. WILL make a difference. At least it did on my 300M! I have also found that Z-6 on the TV and computer screens is GREAT for keeping DUST and cigarette ashes from sticking to the screen! I did a TV and 6 computers at work a few weeks ago and they are still dust free! The computers are located where hundreds of people have been in and out of this carpeted room!
You can take a look at some current pics of my car at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/oct991.html to check out the shine, but I wouldn't do it just yet because today geocities is acting like WE- VERY slow! I was trying to add more pics and work on the webpage, but I can't get anything done. The page shows up with broken image icons because of its slowness. Think I'll just go outside and vacuum the car and put on some Z-5/Z-6 that I was going to do HOURS ago, but haven't left this computer yet! ;-))
fastdriver
Even hot weather can cut the life of your chemicals. Anything that says "store in cool area" would be as unhappy in an 80-90 degree garage as in 30 degree weather.
guitarzan
Community Leader/Vans Conference
Where can you get 3M glass cleaner or Sprayways glass cleaner?
Got my first dent
Light sprays and rub a lot.
good luck, mitch
On Z6: a little goes a really long way. One little spray per panel seems to do the job for me.
And the smell, ahh.
I don't know if it makes a difference, but the humidity level here in No. CA was about 10% (hence the little fires that have been going on). Wonder if the humidity made the difference?
Anybody have a similar experience?
Like the new verb structure (Z2'd, Z1'ing)?
Maybe we're a little obsessive? :P
-mlsuli
Have my new pics pretty well set up- 6 pages. Sorry about the pop-up ads! Geocities changed something. Still trying to figure out HOW to get rid of them without paying!
fastdriver
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/oct991.html