Zaino Car Care Experiences

1…1516182021…137

Comments

  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    skid marks: I know from your problem. Re-Lub the surface around the 'skid' mark, and clay again! And when I say 'lub', I mean a Z-7/water combination that includes much more Z-7 than normal. Say about 3 caps worth to 1/2 gal. of water. Trust me, but verify! Now 'clay across the skid mark and then at right angles to it. The residual clay should at least come a little loose. Spray again with the Z-7/water mixture, rub out, and rinse.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    I love all the tips that people put up on this site. Thank you everyone for contributing to the head turning shine of my BLK/BLK 2000 Solara SE V-6!! I think that Zainoing should be an Olympic Sport. Teams from all over using different tips and tricks to produce a blinding gleam from a car of choice.
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    Now - if Christine would only run as good as she looks!
  • lexsarlexsar Member Posts: 14
    Do you suppose that Sal would clue us in IF they did go public? I don't think that there would be a better (read: fanatical) group of stockholders anywhere!
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    automophile-

    OH!!! Wouldn't THAT be wonderful? LOL....... I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen!

    lexsar-

    I'm with you! Who needs technology stocks! LOL...

    fastdriver
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Has anyone used Z-6 on: Plastic Eye Glasses, Marble Table Tops, TV screens, household windows, or politicans?
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    Well, they called Ronald Reagan the "Teflon" president...wonder if he knew Sal :>O
  • redsilveradoredsilverado Member Posts: 1,000
    do any of you know whether or not it's worth
    investing in a pressure washer? my truck is
    treated with zaino and washing is quite a chore.
    BTW, it was with all the fine input i recieved
    here that i finally went with zaino, so to those
    of you that responded in the past, thanx.

    ...red
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    I bought an electric pressure washer to powerwash my deck, but I've used it on my cars. It only sprays fresh water (no soap) at about 1,500 psi, so I end up hand washing it anyhow. The pressure washer gets a lot of the surface dirt off pretty well, and it helps to get rid of bugs on the front. But there is still a 'film' of dirt left, hence the handwashing. I imagine that you could get a higher powered gasoline powered unit, with soap dispensing, but those are pretty pricey.

    I feel that I get my car "cleaner" with the pressure washer (and it's nice to have after they have salted the roads in winter up here), but I can't honestly say that it's made it any easier to wash the car.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,140
    Couple of answers to those inquiring about "claying" and using Z6...

    First, clay "scuffs"...as said before, just re-lubricate the "scuffed" area with either Z6 or a Z7 (capful) in a spray bottle filled with water. Use plenty of lube and "re-clay" the scuffed area.

    Z6 is great stuff, but you can use it up quickly if you use the nozzle to "stream" it on. Open the nozzle just enough so that the Z6 barely "mists" out of the bottle's spray nozzle. Better yet, dampen the Zaino applicator with Z6 and wipe it on your surface (don't let it dry) and immediately wipe it off with a cotton towel. Just "re-wet" the applicator with Z6 when it gets dry. This is the method I use and it seems to work well.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • bo9877bo9877 Member Posts: 9
    I've had my new car for a little over a month now and it looked incredible after I had clayed it and put 3 coats of Z2 on it, but misfortune has frowned upon me in more ways than one. First, someone ran into my rear quarter panel causing $1300 damage (new body panel, paint, etc.). Then the other day, some damn fool company decided to resurface the parking lot at work with spray-on tar. That combined with the wind resulted in a fine mist of tar being deposited on my car! =( I tried scrubbing it off but no enough came off. So, I have a date with the clay bar this weekend! So, with this background, I have 2 questions:

    1) How soon after the body shop finishes my car can I re-Zaino?

    2) Will the clay remove the tar along with the layers of Z2, or will it just remove the tar?
  • GischpelGischpel Member Posts: 133
    1) Ask the body shop how long to wait. They will give you their recommendation based on the paint products they use. From my experience, it is usually 90-180 days.

    2) They clay should only remove the tar and leave the Z2. Depending on how much tar there is, you may want to consider washing the car with soap and water first, then wiping down with kerosene to remove the heavy tar, then wash the car with soap and water again before claying.

    My two cents,

    Terry
  • redsilveradoredsilverado Member Posts: 1,000
    thank you for the informative response. basically
    what i gathered from what you said is that you
    can't beat good 'ol elbow grease.

    again thanx
    ...red
  • pinecrestjimpinecrestjim Member Posts: 64
    I'd suggest you email Sal at his website, www.zainobros.com, with your problem. He'll reply the same day, and you'll know exactly how to tackle the tar.

    I'd be curious to know if "bug & tar remover" which would take care of the tar would also remove the Z treatment.

    Jim M.
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    I can't imagine using a pressure washer on my car! It is fine for boats, houses and tractors, 1500 psi will never touch my slick finish!

    Exactly where do you think the dirt goes as it is being blasted by 1500 psi or more? It skids along the surface of your paint - it doesn't just leap up off the surface! My neighbors use theirs every few weeks on their cars, and have had to re-paint already, after 4-5 years.

    Please think twice before doing this!
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    I have been cruising the Mercedes E-Series forums, and found a lot of Zaino talk there, with some nice photos of great looking Benz's as well as the usual doubters! All new names, not any of our regulars. Z is everywhere!
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    http://www.clkmercedes.com/netcard/images/MichaelT.jpg
  • tomcat1tomcat1 Member Posts: 8
    Good ole' wd40 takes tar off quickly and safely. Try spraying some on a cotton cloth and wiping down the affected surfaces.

    Cheers
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    We understand. As Jim stated above, the best thing to do right now is call Sal Zaino. He's the expert. My personal opinion is that tar sticks to any surface and hardens quickly. The wd40 suggestion by tomcat1 above sounds interesting. It will probably remove most of the stuff. If there is a significant amount left, however, you may have to remove the Zaino Z-2 layer which it is adherring to. Then again, that's what Z-2 is there to do: protect your finish. The Z-2 could then be reapplied. Still, give Sal a call.
  • bo9877bo9877 Member Posts: 9
    I emailed Sal and he said a simple claying would remove the tar and leave the Z2 untouched. I'm lucky because the tar is in the form of thousands of little flecks...imagine putting tar in a spray bottle and the misting it ont a car; that's what I am dealing with. I clayed a small section to test it out (b/c I don't have time to do the full treatment until the weekend)and the tar came right off...worked on my windows too. I plan to put another coat of Z2 on following the claying. Thanks for the info everyone and I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    bo9877-

    Can't remember if you said that you washed the car yet. If not, much of it, if not all of the tar, MIGHT come off since you have the Z-2 on. Sal would have known that, so I guess you'll have to clay it. This happened to me with my 96 WHITE Buick Riviera DAYS before I was turning it in for my 99 300M. I was on I-95 and the highway department was spraying this black tar on the road on a WINDY day! Good thinking. There was NOTHING I could do at that point. I had to drive past them. I knew what was coming because I could see the tar mist flying in the air!

    At the time, I was using Meguiars products. I had to come home and wax the car all over again before I turned it in! It wasn't fun!

    fastdriver
  • racer_x_9racer_x_9 Member Posts: 91
    3M All Purpose Adhesive Cleaner goes through tar like a hot knife through butter. I'm sure it probably takes off zaino, but in a worse case senario, you could use it and re-Z.

    http://www.carcareonline.com/adhes_cleanr_10164.html
  • drzuldrzul Member Posts: 8
    Hello

    Is there some way of ordering Zaino from overseas. It's such a pain trying to get money order in US currency.
  • daverosedaverose Member Posts: 233
    Email Zaino and ask if there is a distributor where you are: sal@zainobros.com
  • joebundajoebunda Member Posts: 4
    My neighbor found Meguires "Quick Clay" at Autozone with spray detailer/lube for $9.99 I checked Pep Boys and it was around $17. It worked fine for us.
  • artooartoo Member Posts: 13
    Good day, all....

    Well, after a somewhat tiring weekend, I now have a Zaino'd car. I love the way it shines.

    Anybody who wants pics can hit my website. I've just added a section just for my 'Stang. No, I'm not obsessed or anything....... :)

    Here's the link:

    http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/~artoo

    Just look in the navigation bar for the " 'Stang" link.

    cheers,
    Phil
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    Stunning photos! Black is sooooo great looking when it is clean and Z'd!
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Great Pics! And a very nice car too! You have done well, live long and prosper.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Just returned from a week through the back roads of NH and ME with my White Odyssey. I could not believe how dirty it got.

    The worst part was pine pitch - similar to tree sap but it doesn't harden, it just smears. The only thing I could remove it with was rubbing alcohol. Clay bar just gummed up. Of course, the alcohol removed the Zaino so I had to redo the horizontal surfaces with Z1 after claying them, then I Z6'd and Z2'd the whole thing and presto, looked great once again without too much work.

    Has anyone found what will work on those types of pollutants?
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,140
    Hmmmmmm.....????

    Not familiar with pine pitch. Will this stuff ever dry? If so, clay should take care of it. If it stays "wet", I would talk to Sal.

    Alcohol, will indeed, remove Zaino.

    Glad you got it to look good again.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • silvercoupesilvercoupe Member Posts: 326
    or pine rosin as we call it down South is the pits to try to remove. I have used mineral spirits before to remove it.

    Graphicguy, this stuff sometimes drops out of pine trees onto your car if you park under one. Pines are all over the place down South.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Silvercoupe, I think it is one and the same.

    Graphicguy, this stuff just drops from the pines and never really dries. Think of rubber cement that semi dries around the cover and stretches out all yucky (as my three year old would say). Running a towel across it just causes the towel to stick and smears it around even more.

    Maybe I will contact Sal and get some ideas. Thanks folks.
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Sap, Pine 'rosin', etc. 'Hate it! And have heard of all sorts of cures: fly paper, religious chants, mediation, etc. But I've also heard of good results from: CLAYING. Nature's perfect food -er- cure. WD40 might also help. Apply WD40 to loosen the stuff, wash with lots of Z-7, and clay the remaining stuff off.
  • drzuldrzul Member Posts: 8
    What do I if I don't have any dawn wash with?
  • joe166joe166 Member Posts: 401
    Lets see--you could drive to the grocery store and buy some. But seriously, Dawn is the detergent of choice for a reason. I am sure that someone some time ago found that it worked and that some others did not work as well. I am equally sure there are several other grease cutting detergents that would work as well as Dawn, but since a whole bottle is not all that expensive, will last a looooong time, or even better, can be used to wash dishes, why not spring for a bottle? The reasons that experienced detaillers like Mr. Z recommend it is because it works to strip the other wax off. I know that alcohol will do that too, but that is a lot of trouble and a lot of alcohol too (besides, I forget if it is Isopropyl or Methyl [or both] that removes waxes and polishes). If you absolutely can't find any Dawn, or have some religious or other reason which forbids you to use it, try some other strong GREASE CUTTING dish washing detergent. The purpose, after all is to remove other waxes so the Zaino can benefit from it's multi coat process. It may well be the type of witchcraft which people that don't use the Z products despise, but it is such a simple thing that I sure don't see any purpose in fighting it.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    I love what Zaino has done for me..
    http://users.ev1.net/~gunpilot/car/
  • lmc18lmc18 Member Posts: 32
    I have a brandy new Infiniti G20 that I want to wax ASAP. I have read some posts on Zaino in other topics and it seems to be the way to go. Since the car is brand new (1 week old), what procedure should I use...Z1 & Z2 only? I don't want to spend a fortune and don't have a lot of time to do the job. My car will be outside 24/7 (in and apt complex) and I want it to look great and protect it also.

    What about the Leather-in-a-Bottle? Do I need anything else to keep the leather soft? Can you use it on the plastic and vinyl in the car? And the Tire gloss (does it really hold up after rain?)

    Please help...I want to do it this weekend.

    Thx
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    I have a 99 300M (white). I did not clay the car, but I am still extrememly satisfied with the results. My initial Z purchase was Z1,Z2,Z7,Z9, and Z10. It's really simple - wash the car with Dawn to remove any wax the dealer may have applied. Put the Z1 on, then follow with the Z2 immediately afterward (the Z1 doesn't need to be dry, but it most likely will be). Then, allow the Z1 and Z2 to dry completely. Then wipe it off.

    I use the Z9 to clean the leather and dash - it does a great job. Then I apply Z10 to all surfaces (leather, vinyl, dashboard, door panels). Following a suggestion on this site, I rub the Z10 on by hand, then wipe it down with a soft towel. It really seems to give all surfaces a rich look without any "shiny" appearance.

    I haven't tried the Z6 since the "deep shine" gloss is so hard to get on a white car. Others on this board swear by it though, and I might just order some in my next Z order.

    I'm 4 months into the Z2 coat, however, my car is garaged at night, but is parked out in the elements for about 10 hours every day. Hope this helps...you'll be glad you went the Zaino route.
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    Congratulations on your new G20, and the decision to Zaino it for the best look and best protection. The entire process has been well described here several times. If you scroll up a few pages, you find some excellent directions.
    Basically:
    Wash
    Clay (even a new car benefits)
    Wash again
    Full Zaino treatment (instructions here or on Zaino site (www.zainobros.com)
    re-apply Zaino the next day for second layer.
    Enjoy!

    Leather - I have used Lexol for many years with great results. Use 1-2 x per year. Lemon Pledge is the best for vinyl, plastic, chrome and wood, and for the leather between Lexol treatments.

    If you can still find it, Scotchguard the carpets and mats to keep them clean longer.

    Have fun!
  • drzuldrzul Member Posts: 8
    what I meant was that there isn't any dawn available in the country I live in.
  • lmc18lmc18 Member Posts: 32
    Thanks for the advice! I have placed my order and plan to apply it this weekend. Do I really want to take the dealer wax off though? Won't it just be added protection if I use Z-1 & 2 over it?

    Should I use Dawn everytime I wash? I would think that I would want to build up the protection by not stripping what is on there and just adding Z1 & Z2 again.
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    The object is to REMOVE any wax from the dealer. The dealer wax offers no additional protection. The purpose in using Dawn is to remove the wax. It won't remove the Zaino, but you've really GOT to try the Z7 car wash. I don't know what's in it, but it seems to keep the car beading and shining better than anything else. Zaino is wierd in that the more times you apply it, the deeper the shine gets. If your car is a darker color, it would really be worth it to get a couple of coats of Z2 on it ASAP. Also, you only need to use the Z1 a couple of times a year. After your first Z1 & Z2 treatment, you only need to apply Z2. It's really easy to apply.
  • lmc18lmc18 Member Posts: 32
    Why Dawn? Can I use Palmolive? Or some other detergent?

    I'm really psyched to clean my car!
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Yes, Z7 is pretty neat. I have Z'd my Odyssey but have not had time to do my 98 Accord but have been using the Z7 to wash it. I get beading out of using just that. Car has not been waxed since Spring - I had an accident in May, repaired in June, the 12 weeks before waxing is almost over.

    Maybe this weekend weather permitting.
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    << . I would definitely recommend you remove the wax buildup on your paint. Just use Liquid Dawn (hand dishwashing liquid) as a car wash. It has a high alkaline content which cuts right thru carnauba wax, paraffin, silicone oils, etc. This will get your paint finish squeeky clean and wax free.

    I don't advise making a habit of washing your car with Dawn. But for this scenario it's fine. High alkaline products like Dawn are tough on polishes. It will never harm the paint finish though. >>

    I'm no chemist (Sal is), so I don't know what the alkaline content of Palmolive is. You can e-mail Sal Zaino (he's VERY good about responding quickly) and ask him. At the very least you could get a small "travel" sized bottle of dawn to use on your car...or maybe ask a neighbor at the risk of being labled a "car nut" :>)
  • theresa11theresa11 Member Posts: 58
    I have just purchased a white '00 Volvo S70 and want to be certain to take good care of it. Because of the color, I put on a plastic/invisible bra (cool-can not even see it). I found the Zaino web page and am going to order some products tomorrow. My question is - Florida has love bugs which eat into the paint of cars. They are very acidic and ruin the paint. I will be using Z-1, Z-2 and Z-7. Any suggestions as to what to use to remove the love bugs immediately when they hit. I know that the more coats of Z-2 the better, but in the meantime. I have been given so many conflicting ideas, WD40, PAM spray, Autosol insect remover. I have already ruined the front end of one white car from these bugs, but do not want to do that again. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also, comments about Lexol vs. Zaino for leather care. Thanks!
    Theresa
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    Move ;>)
  • theresa11theresa11 Member Posts: 58
    One more ?. I know that it has been recommended to use towels (100% USA cotten) to dry following wash and for polish remover. What should I use to wash the car and to put on the Z-1 and then the Z-2. Should a chenille mitt be used to wash? Also, since I have a new white car, is Z-6 really necessary @ this time? Thanks again!
    Theresa
  • GischpelGischpel Member Posts: 133
    I'd definitely add Z6 to your purchase. It really brings out the shine after a wash and can be used on the glass, too. My wife's white Honda Odyssey looks awesome after applying the Z6, so I'm sure your S70 will as well.

    White towels are the recommended way to go... I use an Absorber to dry my vehicles ('00 Odyssey and '98 Tacoma). It is an artificial chamois that I bought at KMart for about $10 and works great. I use 100% cotton baby diapers to remove the Z2 and Z6 and the little applicator pad that is included with the Zaino products to apply them.

    Also,if you mix some Z7 and water in a squirt bottle and keep a soft cloth handy, you can soften up and remove the worst of the love bugs without having to wash the whole car.

    Good luck,

    Terry
  • jgriffjgriff Member Posts: 362
    OK, OK, OK, I have not see any Zaino jobs in person, but I&#146;ve read a ton of testimonials and see many internet pictures. So I&#146;m going to take the leap of faith, this many people can&#146;t be wrong, RIGHT? I&#146;ll be placing my order this w/e.

    I owned a new &#146;01 Satin-Silver Acura CL [6 weeks]. I had the windows tinted and had a 3M-clear-stone-guard installed on the hood to help avoid the dreaded hood paint chips.

    I plan to do the full treatment including claying. I want the hood to all blend together and look the same. My question is what is the best/correct method to handle the 3M-cover (a) apply nothing & work around it (b) apply the some or all the Z treatments??

    Thanks in advance.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy

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.