Thanks for all the great feedback; Replying in the order posted:
Joe - Good points - but one thing I didn't mention is that the Tire dessing is also recommended for Plastic moulding (I verified w/ Sal) - and that was as much my motivation as for the tires. My wife's Sienna has a rough gray plastic that I hope to use the Z16 with next weekend.
Squid - Agreed I'll try the Z6 in a few weeks. Thanks for the info on Z7, Clay and setting the record straight on Langka. Guess I am a bit hung up on the Clay - LOL!
Armtdm - Can't really add much to Squid's excellent instructions except that for me it's more Art than Science. After about 3 tries I did one that came out perfect using the card and an old white cotton sock. Now tht I have the feel it's a piece of cake. Definitely wait the 60 - 90 minutes as instructed depending on heat/humidity.
I didn't mean to suggest that z16 wasnt a good product. I have a bottle and I use it on dark trim items, but frankly, there are a lot of cheaper options. I was hoping it would be a great tire dressing and make the tires look really nice. It's OK, but not sensational as we have apparently agreed.
Don't be disappointed that Z6 is not a great tire dressing. It's not designed to be put on tires. Frankly, there are many great products out there that do not make great tire dressings, and, like Z6, many of them are not sensational.
I don't use tire dressing myself, so that's the extent of my knowledge, but if I were going to dress my tires, I'd start with a tire dressing, not a gloss enhancer for polymer paint finishes.
But it was worth the try. That's how penecillin was discovered.
I do know the difference between z6 and z16 although sometimes in the season when our live oak trees shed it might be hard to tell. As far as I know, I have not ever tried to use z6 on my tires. What are you talking about?
i just finished my first weekend of z'ing my car-i absolutely cant believe my eyes!-i never really got to enjoy it though bec of the pollen but washed it today and-unbelievable!weve got to get sal to go public so we can invest-question-ive got some bug stuff from a recent road trip that i cant get of w/ the z-6-is it alright to clay over my zaino-do i need to "start over" on those areas?also-i noticed that i missed a small amt of z2 when removing it-its been on there for a week-what do i need to do about it? z'd my wheels and brake dust nearly just washed off-this stuff is amazing! doc-i need a prescription-thanks
i absolutely hate bugs and rock chips-ive thought about buying a bra for road trips-i know this might be in the wrong chat-but-a)i plan on using it temporarily-taking it off when i get there and vice versa-ive no experience with bras but want to protect the front of my car(how do most of y'all ward off the front end "damage" of road trips?-will i cause more harm than good? will zaino protect against any damage from a bra or? what are the practical logistics of putting them on and taking them off-is it really worth it? any practical advice and experiences much appreciated-thanks again!
Oh no!!! Another Zainoholic!! ;-)) Yes, you can clay the bug area and then use some Z2 or Z5 and some Z6. I'm guessing that you only have one coat of Z on the car? After multiple coats of Z, nothing will stick!
As for the bra, this is the first car that I ever had one for. With the aerodynamics of today's cars- sloping hoods- you have to have some protection. I use my bra if I'm planning on an extended highway trip. Otherwise, for short highway trips I don't use it. I don't keep it on for extended periods. It does protect the front of the car. I think I have some pics in my profile, if you click on my name.
My order is in the mail. I got my first new "toy" in 15 years. I drivem till they Fall On Road Dead :-) My car is an 01 Buick Regal LS with the touring suspension and most of the other goodies. I'm GM loyal and proud of it, but I don't bash other brands... and yes, I know the it's an old folks car (hence my name: lotech):-) Thanks for all the great info here.
parnola -- I have painted alloy wheels with a machined lip, and I have about 10 coats of Z-2 on them. The wheels and tires were an upgrade, so I was able to apply around 5 coats of Z-2 before the wheels were mounted on my car. Now, the brake dust that accumulates on the wheels comes off very easily during a wash. I keep adding Z-2 layers whenever I can, and it does the trick.
Congratulations! That's what I was going to get too until I was at an Acura dealer and saw the CL-S up close and personal! I know I would have liked the Regal too, especially with the supercharged engine. I had that engine in my 96 Buick Riviera. It was a great car. I'm sure you'll have good luck.
The advice above about Z on the wheels is right on. I use Z2/Z6 on my wheels too.
Another vote for Z on alloy wheels. I Z my mounted wheels and put double the number of coats on the spare (my alloy spare is mounted under the SUV - behind the rear axle). I've only had the vehicle for two months so the spare is (of course) new looking. The real test is still to come... =;-)
For those of you who live near a Kohls store, they are running a 50% off sale thru Saturday (4/6) on Fieldcrest towels (check your local paper). My wife picked up some for me on her way home from work. She's as bad as me about pampering our new "baby" :-)
Since yesterday was Saturday, I decided to give my car the "works", starting with the clay. I washed my car w/ Dawn and then began claying but didn't see any dirt, grime, nothing! And I couldn't feel any real difference. So I didn't clay my car and finished the rest of the Z process. Well, once I was completely finished, I went back to the area I had "test" clayed. Although the finish didn't look any different, I could definitely FEEL the difference. I could kick myself for not doing the whole car!
I also did some spot chip painting. It looks horrible, although I followed all the instructions. (Paint instructions and Langka blob eliminator instructions.) On some of the scratches, I decided to compound. (I tried Z5 already.) The scratches didn't come out and now when I look, I can see where the paint is "duller" than the rest. I guess I'm going to leave it like that because I'm afraid I'm going to really destroy my car!
Compound is fairly aggressive, so after you use it, you need to use progressively less aggressive stuff to get the shine back. After the compound, you should use a scratch remover or glaze type product, and then a polish (a real polish, not Zaino) to get your paint shiny before doing Zaino again. I'm not an expert, but I'm sure one of the experts here will go into more detail. :-)
Here's a question that's been asked many times, but I can't remember what folks have recommended. I made the decision yesterday to stop using a cotton hand towel to wash - too much of a pain keeping it folded, keeping the edges tucked in so they don't scratch, etc. etc. Has anyone found a good wash mit that doesn't scratch. I see some on the carcareonline website, but they don't look to be cotton.
Thanks in advance, and my apologies for asking this question again.
The Viking wash mits are good, but they recently changed and are not not 100% cotton. The buzz is out to buy the old ones before the new ones replace the current stock.
I have used them for a while and like them a lot; it's a lot easier than using a towel for washing.
I use two for each wash; one for the top and sides, and one for the rocker pannels and the back bumper where you will get a lot of grit. This makes it unlikely that my "upper" wash mit will pick up a hard piece of grit which might not wash out and scratch the hood on the next wash.
Use two buckets: one with soap (Z7) and one with clear water; use the clear water for a rinse before getting more soap from the other. When you are done, often both will be pretty dirty.
I recently bought two more mits which I found at the Autozone down the street; I used a marker to label them on the cuff so I can tell them apart.
I received 3 wonderfully soft real Austrailian sheepskin wash mitts for Christmas, and they are GREAT!!!! No scratching and very comfy for both the car and the user. I've only used one for 3 washes, so I have no idea about their longevity. BEWARE of POLYESTER IMITATIONS!!!!!!!
I'll try to get the exact name. I seem to recall the brand as "Fashion" something. The sheepskin is almost garment quality! Anyway, these are nice mitts with finger loops on the inside (so they don't slide around on your hand when wet & soapy). The back is mesh-which I do not use on my finish, (but might be useful for tough bug splatters on windshields). They also have a very convenient loop for hanging them up to dry.
I received 2 of those cotton pads for applying Z, and they are about to fall apart, I am wondering what some of the other alternatives are? Cheap alternatives??
Leaning toward getting Zaino..I have a 20.6 Ft long X-Cab Long Bed Pickup. Will one each of the following items from Zaino be enough to complete the process? Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z18 and ZFX?
I have NO experience with Clay. Any recommendations as to how best apply it? I.E. Amount of pressure, methods, etc. I have seen some posts indicating that the clay can actually cause scratches. True on not?
Can't help you with the clay. Didn't use it before I Z'd my cars. For the Z though, If you get the ZFX you DON'T need the Z1 at all. The ZFX replaces the Z1 step. I still have over half a bottle left, so I haven't used it. However, as a "newbie", suggest you definitely get the ZFX. It turns a two step process into one! A little goes a loooong way. One bottle will do your truck many times. Just remember that less is more with Zaino. For an average car you'd use an ounce or less of the Z2. It's not like regular wax where you apply heavy coats and buff off.
In addition to what tmart said, if you decide to get ZFX instead of Z1 (recommended), don't mix much. I can do my Honda and my Toyota with one ounce, and still have a small amount left. (or my Lexus twice) You need to throw away what you don't use in 8 hours, so don't mix a lot. It helps to spray a little Z6 on the pad before applying the Z2. Also, you'll go through Z7, and possibly Z6 faster than the other stuff. Finally, unless you have very fine scratches, the Z5 may not help you much, you may be better off using a regular polish before you do the Zaino step, just be sure to dawn wash before Zaino. The clay is a bit of work, but it's great for getting your paint clean/smooth. Mix a couple caps of Z7 in a spray bottle with water, keep the paint VERY wet with this solution, and just slide the clay over the paint. If you drop it on the ground, throw it away, or you will cause scratches. Good luck, and have fun.
lauriet1: Some people keep a cheap plastic dropcloth alongside the car as they clay. If the clay slips and lands on the cloth, it should be ok to continue using. Remember, drop it on the ground - throw it away. You'll NEVER get the dirt/sand off the clay!
Just finished my first experience with Zaino. I did the dawn wash & clay before doing Z1, 2 coats of Z5, and 2 coats of Z2, with Z6 between each coat. I am very impressed with the results. A few observations/questions:
1) I'm very glad I decided to clay - the car's finish is soooo smooth now! Highly recommended.
2) I purchased fieldcrest 100% cotton towels, washed them once before using (warm cycle / tumble dry without fabric softener). They still left quite a bit of lint on the car when I dried with them. After applying the Z1 the lint got moved out of the way, but how do you prevent it to begin with?
Just wanted to thank you all for posting back good info on my Zaino Questions! Cool idea on the plastic dropcloth - I have lots of those in the garage! Looks like I'll be ordering the Z stuff next week...Thanks again!
You wrote: "Where are these products sold? How expensive? Are they worth it for NEW cars? Thanks."
There is a Zaino website: zainobros.com at which you can read about, see the prices ($21.95 for the two basic products), and order Zaino.
The products are also available from Zaino distributors around the country, outlets that the distributors have developed, and some catalogs. Write Sal Zaino at: sal@zainobros.com or call the telephone number on his website for distributor information in your area.
The techniques recommended by Zaino on the website are almost universally accepted as the best way to care for your car's paint. So, the techniques plus Zaino products are, in this distributor's opinion, your best bet for retaining the best look you car can have. HOWEVER, you MAY not SEE the difference when you first apply it on a new car: one coat is sufficient to provide protection, particularly from the sun. Additional coats, applied more frequently than when rain stops beading to indicate you NEED more Zaino, will improve the appearance. I only saw what Zaino did to my 1987 Caravan when I found a spot along the edge of my tailgate door frame that I had missed; the untreated paint compared to where I had applied it was clearly visible.
Zaino is not a $5-10 one-step, but it is not the designer-type exotics at many tens of dollars a container. Depending on the size of your vehicle and what products you use, your cost could range from be $2-4 for the initial application for the lest ambitious application of the least expensive combination of products to twice that; maintenance with Zaino soap and gloss enhancer at $.50 to $1.00 a session. A reapplication of polish only could be as little as $1.50.
I do not recommend Zaino only because I am a distributor, but because I like the products. Selling Zaino has not given me a new lifestyle, just a nice interest.
To see the Zaino in plain packaging. Not at all like the way other car care products are marketed in the Auto Zone type stores with their flashy colors and graphics enticing you to buy them. It's what's in the package that counts. Closest "flashy" Zaino product label seems to be Z5, but it's still conservative compared to the other stuff out there. I was really dreading the nonsense of selecting polish but after finding this website and reading the Zaino comments I knew what I wanted. Tomorrow will be my first Z treatment. Spring has sprung here in the Midwest and I hope none of the neighbors lawnmowers start so I can Z my car in a dustless environment :-)
The truck I just bought has a dealer sticker on it. I think I read here in the past tips on removing the sticker. If I remember correctly, use a hair dryer to loosen it up and peel off. Then use wd-40 to remove the glue residue. Wash that area with dawn since the rest of the truck is already zaino'd and zaino. Does that sound right? Anyone have other suggestions? Tx
If you are talking about the dealer emblems they stick on the trunk with double faced tape, you should first try to remove it with dental floss. Dental floss is very strong and very thin. Work it behind the adhesive and then "saw" it back and forth. It should come off. WD-40 is good for removing the residue, but so is goo-gone, alcohol and several other solvents. If you can't get the floss behind the glue, then heat it, but I have never had to. I don't see why you would have to use Dawn since that area doesn't have any other type of wax on it to clean off, but it sure isn't any big deal since we are talking about an area the size of a pair of reading glasses, aren't we? Dawn is strong and should do fine taking off whatever you used to remove the glue. I suffer from the same thing, but we tend to overcomplicate fairly simple matters.
I've never had such an easy time of polishing a car. The clay didn't pick up much as the car (01 Regal LS) was very clean and smooth when I purchased it but I'm glad I did it if only for the experience. After the dawn wash I wasn't sure if the car really needed Zaino as it looked very nice. I was wrong... that z1 and z5 produced a shine like I've never experienced before! Incredible! It had very few swirl marks and after only one Z5 treatment I couldn't find any! I'll get some pictures posted soon.
I think any clay will be fine. Don't know about the Quik Detailer. Z6 seems to be a "leveller", almost a mild solvent for the polish, I think that's how it improves the shine. I use Z6 before Z2, as well as after, because it removes every speck of dust and lint, leaves the surface almost "primed" for the Z2. I don't know how "foreign" chemistry might affect the process.
But once you apply z1/z2 (you might want to use ZFX and Z2 instead), I would at least use the z7 wash and Z6.
I'm not sure what's in Meguiars Quik (can't they spell?) Detailer, but my guess is that it's wax, and that's the last thing you want. Use the Z6, as it is designed to enhanace the shine of the z2 (which it does). Use it between every coat of z2 and use it on the applicator to moisten it first.
I'd stay away from that stuff. We have all been there, and have boxes full of old wax-based products and other stuff that we don't use anymore now that we have Z.
I use it all the time to wipe down lowere panels from brake dust etc and it works fine then I use the Z6 for the rest. Z6 gives a better shine but the QD does fine and does not seem to cause any ill efffects on the Z polish. QD much less expensive for the dirty clean ups like brake dust
Hi everybody! I was at the gas station on Sunday filling up my tank when the pump "burped" and spilt gasoline all down the side of my car. (I was NOT topping off either.) I immediately told the attendant who sprayed some neutralizer on the area. However, when I got home I immediately hosed down the paint with water and washed it twice with car wash. The area still reeks of gasoline, but it has been polished several times before with Zaino. Is it protected? Did the gas permanently damage the paint? Thanks....
Heck, if I had a nickel for each time I spilled gas on my car (or on others cars when I used to work in a gas station), I would have someone surfing the net for me and reporting interesting posts. In other words, it happens a lot! Gas is a strong solvent. It should not, however, damage paint that has been cured properly. I am sure they expect gas to be spilled once in a while. If it did anything it would be to remove the wax or other protectant. I expect that all you would have to do is to renew it. Since it is such a small area it could take 30-40 seconds to do that. I also expect the "neutralizer" which he used was water or some other cleaner in a spray bottle. It might have been windshield cleaner or something. In all my years I have never heard of a gasoline "neutralizer". Don't worry about the smell. Automotive gasoline smells at dilutions that are not the slightest bit harmful to anything. They make it do that for safety reasons so leaks are obvious. If you are ever around aviation gasoline, it smells, but not near as much. You are supposed to test plane gas by draining a small amount into a clear container and look for water in it. It is then thrown away. If it smelled like car gas that would be awful. I wouldn't sweat it at all, but be aware that whatever "wax" you had on that small area is probably gone until you reapply it.
Its been quite a while since I've posted. Been using Z since early 2000 and still love it.
I know the Z1 and ZFX issue has been tossed around, but I have a very specific question. I truly like the idea of saving time on applications since I tend to apply multiple applications in one shot two or three times per year (spring, summer, just before snow flies). This usually means garaging the car over the weekend. Not practical for me.
However, I have had a problem with water spots on the surface after washing. To ensure no water spots remained under the Z finish, I began using z1 prior to every z2 or z5 application. Works like a charm.
With the ZFX substituting the Z1, I fear I may lose the "spot removing" ability of Z1. Will the ZFX remove the spots like the Z1 currently does?
"With the ZFX substituting the Z1, I fear I may lose the "spot removing" ability of Z1. Will the ZFX remove the spots like the Z1 currently does?"
That is a very good question that I do not have the answer to. I have only had a "spotting" problem one time. I try to use the least abrasive way to fix it. Vinegar did not remove what I had so I next tried Z1 which worked very well. Unfortunately, the only way to find out if ZFXed mixed polish would work would be to try it out. My spots may have been different than the ones you had.
I am currently using ZFX but would worry that it would not remove the spots and since the ZFX coatings cure much faster, it would be even more difficult to remove the spots if they were sealed over. Z1 does have some cleaning ability so I hope it is not discontinued. It comes in handy for situations like yours and mine.
ZFX's main advantage IMO is the ability to do multiple coats in one day.
Comments
Joe - Good points - but one thing I didn't mention is that the Tire dessing is also recommended for Plastic moulding (I verified w/ Sal) - and that was as much my motivation as for the tires. My wife's Sienna has a rough gray plastic that I hope to use the Z16 with next weekend.
Squid - Agreed I'll try the Z6 in a few weeks. Thanks for the info on Z7, Clay and setting the record straight on Langka. Guess I am a bit hung up on the Clay - LOL!
Armtdm - Can't really add much to Squid's excellent instructions except that for me it's more Art than Science. After about 3 tries I did one that came out perfect using the card and an old white cotton sock. Now tht I have the feel it's a piece of cake. Definitely wait the 60 - 90 minutes as instructed depending on heat/humidity.
I don't use tire dressing myself, so that's the extent of my knowledge, but if I were going to dress my tires, I'd start with a tire dressing, not a gloss enhancer for polymer paint finishes.
But it was worth the try. That's how penecillin was discovered.
You said 16, not 6.
I musta had a brain fart.
Sorry.
It seems that I seldom know what I am talking about.
Oh no!!! Another Zainoholic!! ;-)) Yes, you can clay the bug area and then use some Z2 or Z5 and some Z6. I'm guessing that you only have one coat of Z on the car? After multiple coats of Z, nothing will stick!
As for the bra, this is the first car that I ever had one for. With the aerodynamics of today's cars- sloping hoods- you have to have some protection. I use my bra if I'm planning on an extended highway trip. Otherwise, for short highway trips I don't use it. I don't keep it on for extended periods. It does protect the front of the car. I think I have some pics in my profile, if you click on my name.
Hope this helps.
fastdriver
I received my complete line-up of Zaino stuff yesterday so I'll get working on the car this weeknd and report back results!
Hope this helps.
Congratulations! That's what I was going to get too until I was at an Acura dealer and saw the CL-S up close and personal! I know I would have liked the Regal too, especially with the supercharged engine. I had that engine in my 96 Buick Riviera. It was a great car. I'm sure you'll have good luck.
The advice above about Z on the wheels is right on. I use Z2/Z6 on my wheels too.
fastdriver
I also did some spot chip painting. It looks horrible, although I followed all the instructions. (Paint instructions and Langka blob eliminator instructions.) On some of the scratches, I decided to compound. (I tried Z5 already.) The scratches didn't come out and now when I look, I can see where the paint is "duller" than the rest. I guess I'm going to leave it like that because I'm afraid I'm going to really destroy my car!
Thanks in advance, and my apologies for asking this question again.
I have used them for a while and like them a lot; it's a lot easier than using a towel for washing.
I use two for each wash; one for the top and sides, and one for the rocker pannels and the back bumper where you will get a lot of grit. This makes it unlikely that my "upper" wash mit will pick up a hard piece of grit which might not wash out and scratch the hood on the next wash.
Use two buckets: one with soap (Z7) and one with clear water; use the clear water for a rinse before getting more soap from the other. When you are done, often both will be pretty dirty.
I recently bought two more mits which I found at the Autozone down the street; I used a marker to label them on the cuff so I can tell them apart.
As my mother always taught me: keep it clean.
Thanks. That's what I use too. Couldn't remember the name. I better go out and buy more ASAP before the new ones come out.
Any new pics of that black beauty?? ;-))
fastdriver
BEWARE of POLYESTER IMITATIONS!!!!!!!
Jon
Jon
I have NO experience with Clay. Any recommendations as to how best apply it? I.E. Amount of pressure, methods, etc. I have seen some posts indicating that the clay can actually cause scratches. True on not?
Thanks, L
Quentin
Some people keep a cheap plastic dropcloth alongside the car as they clay. If the clay slips and lands on the cloth, it should be ok to continue using. Remember, drop it on the ground - throw it away. You'll NEVER get the dirt/sand off the clay!
1) I'm very glad I decided to clay - the car's finish is soooo smooth now! Highly recommended.
2) I purchased fieldcrest 100% cotton towels, washed them once before using (warm cycle / tumble dry without fabric softener). They still left quite a bit of lint on the car when I dried with them. After applying the Z1 the lint got moved out of the way, but how do you prevent it to begin with?
There is a Zaino website: zainobros.com at which you can read about, see the prices ($21.95 for the two basic products), and order Zaino.
The products are also available from Zaino distributors around the country, outlets that the distributors have developed, and some catalogs. Write Sal Zaino at: sal@zainobros.com or call the telephone number on his website for distributor information in your area.
The techniques recommended by Zaino on the website are almost universally accepted as the best way to care for your car's paint. So, the techniques plus Zaino products are, in this distributor's opinion, your best bet for retaining the best look you car can have. HOWEVER, you MAY not SEE the difference when you first apply it on a new car: one coat is sufficient to provide protection, particularly from the sun. Additional coats, applied more frequently than when rain stops beading to indicate you NEED more Zaino, will improve the appearance. I only saw what Zaino did to my 1987 Caravan when I found a spot along the edge of my tailgate door frame that I had missed; the untreated paint compared to where I had applied it was clearly visible.
Zaino is not a $5-10 one-step, but it is not the designer-type exotics at many tens of dollars a container. Depending on the size of your vehicle and what products you use, your cost could range from be $2-4 for the initial application for the lest ambitious application of the least expensive combination of products to twice that; maintenance with Zaino soap and gloss enhancer at $.50 to $1.00 a session. A reapplication of polish only could be as little as $1.50.
I do not recommend Zaino only because I am a distributor, but because I like the products. Selling Zaino has not given me a new lifestyle, just a nice interest.
Thanks again
Bill
Im planning to get Z1 and Z2 only.
I already have Meguiars Clay System, can i use this in place of Z18?
I also already have Meguiars Quik Detailer, can i use this in place of Z6?
But once you apply z1/z2 (you might want to use ZFX and Z2 instead), I would at least use the z7 wash and Z6.
I'm not sure what's in Meguiars Quik (can't they spell?) Detailer, but my guess is that it's wax, and that's the last thing you want. Use the Z6, as it is designed to enhanace the shine of the z2 (which it does). Use it between every coat of z2 and use it on the applicator to moisten it first.
I'd stay away from that stuff. We have all been there, and have boxes full of old wax-based products and other stuff that we don't use anymore now that we have Z.
You won't be sorry.
I know the Z1 and ZFX issue has been tossed around, but I have a very specific question. I truly like the idea of saving time on applications since I tend to apply multiple applications in one shot two or three times per year (spring, summer, just before snow flies). This usually means garaging the car over the weekend. Not practical for me.
However, I have had a problem with water spots on the surface after washing. To ensure no water spots remained under the Z finish, I began using z1 prior to every z2 or z5 application. Works like a charm.
With the ZFX substituting the Z1, I fear I may lose the "spot removing" ability of Z1. Will the ZFX remove the spots like the Z1 currently does?
Thanks
That is a very good question that I do not have the answer to. I have only had a "spotting" problem one time. I try to use the least abrasive way to fix it. Vinegar did not remove what I had so I next tried Z1 which worked very well. Unfortunately, the only way to find out if ZFXed mixed polish would work would be to try it out. My spots may have been different than the ones you had.
I am currently using ZFX but would worry that it would not remove the spots and since the ZFX coatings cure much faster, it would be even more difficult to remove the spots if they were sealed over. Z1 does have some cleaning ability so I hope it is not discontinued. It comes in handy for situations like yours and mine.
ZFX's main advantage IMO is the ability to do multiple coats in one day.