I am sad to report that Zaino does NOT prevent rock chips. I was hoping it would as the deplorable cleanliness of Florida highways almost guarantees that some junk will fly up off someones tires and hit you. On my first trip with my brand new (5 miles) Lincoln LS I got my first chip. I started using Z products after that, but recently I took a long weekend trip up state and am sorry to tell you that although it did make the bugs slide off more easily, a rock will still chip the paint. I want my money back!!
As far as I know there are no distributors anywhere. Zaino can only be purchased directly from the manufacturer Zaino Brothers. Find their website at www.zainobros.com .
Zaino does have distributors all over the country. If you call Sal, he will give you the name and number. I called for Southern Ca., and he gave me a guy at a wheel shop in Anaheim and another in Paso Robles. I tried several times to contact this distributor and all that I got was voice mail. I finally just ordered through the mail, and my order was here in less than a week. Sal also stated that the distributors have the same list prices, but you do not get the free applicator that he sends when you mail order.
I just applied Zaino for the first time to my car, a blue 1998 Volvo s-70 t-5. I washed down with Dawn, did the z-1, z-5, and multiple coats of z-2. I have to say, Zaino is amazingly easy to work with. I don't see much of a difference from some of wax products I have used in the past, however. The shine is decent, but did not produce the amazing results you read about in these posts.
Still, it looks very good. Assuming it holds up well, I will stick with it based upon the ease of use alone. Zaino goes on and comes off super easy.
I started using Zaino about two months ago on a new MB E320, Brilliant Silver. My local distributor (D.C. suburb) is great -- charges a few cents more for each bottle than Zaino direct, but price includes sales tax, free applicator (over $50 purchase) and FAST delivery.
I used Dawn wash, Z-1 and Z-2 (no clay), and car looked better than when first delivered from dealer. Then got caught in a rainstorm, but water just rolled off. I've washed it only once with Z-7 -- now I just use Z-6 every week; it's garaged and there's practically no visible dirt on it, even after driving in the rain. I've applied several more coats of Z-2 after Z-6, and car always looks great. Biggest problem is brake dust on silver clearcoated wheels -- that gets washed off before I use the Z-6. BTW, I use Rain X Wheel Protectant to fight the brake dust problem and it works. The product is hard to find, though.
My wife has a 1977 Mercedes 300D, Light Ivory, beautiful condition, garaged and only 95,000 miles. I used Dawn, Z-1 and about 5 coats of Z-5 to minimize 23 years of swirls. Then switched to Z-3. Occasionally I Z-6 it and follow with Z-3. Thanks to Zaino, people keep trying to buy the car when my wife drives it!
As for towels, my first two really unraveled after I cut off the edges. In fact, we just paid a plumber $95 to snake out the towel frazzels from our basement drain fed by the drain from the washing machine. Now I just fold in the towel edges and it works fine. My Zaino distributor does the same.
Bottom line -- I've used various products on numerous cars over many years (I'm finally retired) and found Zaino to be unquestionably the best! But you have to use it regularly and keep the car clean to achieve the desired protection and keep the "wet look" shine.
joe166...we're going to have to talk to Sal about adding "rock/paint chip protection" products.
mbdriver...there was an untrue rumor running around a few months ago that Zaino did nothing for "german" paint jobs. Guess you put that rumor to rest.
pblevein...I told you that I would time myself washing, Z2, Z6 my car. I did this yeterday. I've got a Grand Prix, dark burgandy metallic, so it's a mid size car.
While the Z2 was drying (humid day), I vacumed the interior, treated the leather seats, treated the tires, washed the windows. It took about 30 minutes for the Z2 to dry.
So total Z treatment took about an 1 3/4 hours, drying time withstanding. Another 30 minutes for other detailing functions and drying time. Start to finish, about 2 hours 15 minutes for a total detail.
My wife's 99 CR-V sits outside 24 hours a day and I can't wash it as often as I wash my 96 Civic so sometimes it gets waterspots that aren't noticeable until after I get done washing it. The car has been Zainoed 3-4 times. Well last week I got done claying it and I noticed some waterspots were still there. I figured I would try something I had read on another site, an "acid" wash with white vinegar for the hood where the spots were most noticeable. Poured some white vinegar on a clean sponge and applied it to the whole hood and let it sit for about a minute. I then used the Z-7 Car wash to wash it off, rinsed with clean water and toweled dry. Guess what? Perfectly clean. Re-applied Zaino ( don't know if it was necessary as the water beaded up when I rinsed it off, but I craved a whiff), took the Zaino off and I couldn't believe that this hood was perfect. Mentioned to my wife what I had done and she said it made sense as she uses vinegar in the dishwasher to get rid of bad waterspotting on glasses. Just thought I would pass this along to those who care.
You've got me beat. Timing wise, that is. But I'm older, take frequent breaks, and talk a lot too. This weekend I did the full treatment: - A complete wash - Clayed the entire car - Another wash - Applied Z1 - Applied Z5 (First time for me) - And Applied Z6
This was the first time I tried the Zaino Clay Bar, and I found it was a much better product than others I've used. It has very good consistency (easy to fold yet stiff enough to press into the finish). A slight negative: it comes wrapped in a plastic which is hard to removed before usage. I guess the plastic protects it prior to usage, but it was hard to get off. I also found that it was more effective with a relatively high concentration of Z7 in the lubricant. I used an old "Erazer" spray bottle and mixed about a cap full of Z7 to 8 ounces of water. My procedure was to squirt water on the finish, spray an area with my lub mixure, clay the area, and wash down with water.
I know some people have claimed to be a bit disappointed with their first Zaino application. I've now seen a range of results. In my case, if you really prepare the paint/clear coat surface well, then your results will be great. The time I spent claying and washing the car was absolutely worth every minute. It WAS time and labor intensive, but again, the resulting surface was in great (smooth [as in smooooooth!]) shape, and after just one coat of Z5, my car looked fantastic! Much better than when I had used two coats of Z2 in the past.
I let the Z1/Z5 combination dry overnight (it started raining in the Bershires Monday night and the humidity was way up.). On Tuesday morning (the 4th), I removed the Z5 residue. Actually used two towels - using a very clean towel surface is MOST important. I then let it 'cure' for a few more hours. I've found that after residue removal, the Z5 is still not totally dry. I used only a very slight (very) pressure on the towel. When I spotted a stray swirl type line, I brushed over it with a clean are of the towel with NO pressure. Result: NO swirl marks. When the Z5 was really dry, I applied Z6. This time I wiped the Z6 quickly but without any reall pressure on the towel.
The result is truly great. Like glass! Even my wife thought it looked wonderful. And one of my skeptical friends (who thinks I'm nuts at this point) was very impressed. And that's with just one coat of Z5. Wait till I apply Z2. More in a later post.
I, too, had a tough time with removing the wrapping from the clay. My first clay pack, I just threw away. There was nothing to salvage after I managed to get the paper off. Tonight, I took some time, and it was not easy, to get it off. On applying it, I was amazed at the ease. (I am not happy that I had to throw the first piece of clay away). I applied Z1 and Z2 and it is drying overnight. I will remove in the morning.
By the way, my neighbors think that I am a nut with my car. I have found myself hiding to take care of my car. It is an obsession. I feel as though I will have to go to Zaino AA.
Hi, I'm fastdriver and I'm a ZAINOHOLIC! LOL.... I can see it now. It is addicting, isn't it? Mmmmm.... wonder if there is SOMETHING to all those nice smells???
I've only used the clay once on my cousin's black BMW 2-seater convertible back in November and I don't recall having any problem getting it opened. I have a 94 Toyota Corolla that needs the FULL Zaino treatment since it sits outside 24/7 summer and winter. This will get the clay treatment one of these days soon. As for my 300M, I've never clayed it because when I first heard about Zaino in November of 98, I knew nothing about clay. Now that I have only one more year to go with Christine before she goes BACK to Chrysler, I don't think she'll get the clay treatment. She hasn't been good to me at all from day one! She looks shiny enough. Let the next guy do it!
I want to get some Zaino products but am confused on whether to get Z-2 or not because some sources say that Sterling Mist color (along with a few other light colors) are NON-clearcoat paint! Also, it's possible they mean not crosslink paint (whatever THAT means).
Can anyone help me - is the 2000 Nissan Maxima Sterling Mist color to be considered a clearcoated paint or non-clearcoated paint for purposes of ordering Zaino products?
Your best bet is to call Nissan OR e-mail Sal Zaino. Either way is quick and painless. You might also look at the window sticker on the car to see if anything is listed there. A "wild" guess would tell me that all current cars have clearcoat paint.
I agree with fastdriver, get Sal Zaino's advice. And I'll bet that your Maxima has a clear coat. Then again, 'trust but verify'!
fastdriver & trublu01: So you're a ZAINOHOLIC. My wife says I'm in the same boat, er, car! That's OK, its fun, good work, not 'anti-social', and you can see the results. I don't have an exotic car ('98 Accord Coupe), and it is subject to the normal wear and tear of harsh North Eastern roads (ie: pot holes, stones, salts, mud, and bugs). But I enjoy taking care of it, and of course, driving it. And since I've found out about these Zaino products, my results have been far above my original expectations. Except for Z6 on my front windshield.
pblevine--thanks for the input with your Zaino Clay experience. I've still got some Clay Magic that I use for "touch-ups", mainly getting tough bugs and tar off my finish. When it's worn out, I'll try some of Sal's clay.
I've experienced some longer drying times after applying Z2...particularly after I clay the entire car and start from scratch. After my initial coat, the Zaino seems to dry faster, though.
budhinckley--your Maxima definitely has clear coat. I looked at one before buying my present car in silver. Clearcoat is on it (as probably 99% of cars today).
trublu01--join all the rest of us who Zaino just for the heck of it.
fastdriver--I do believe that you are the most fanatical of us all.
LOL..... I can't help it. The shine with this Candy Apple Red is INCREDIBLE!! It is so wet-looking all the time that I want to keep it looking like that until she goes back to Chrysler next June! Remember, I never clayed this car because I didn't know about clay until AFTER I had several coats of Z on. I wasn't about to start over. I was thinking about doing the clay thing now, but decided that it looks good enough for a lease car. I'll just continue with the Z-2/Z-6.
I used all the Zaino products and they truly are the best. I did not clay the car the first time, and didn't want to go back and do it.
My question is this. What's the best way to use the clay and how can you tell if you are doing it correctly? I used it to take off some bugs from the front, but didn't seem much come off on the bar. I did use the spray as instructed before using the claybar.
The instructions which come with the Zaino Clay Bar are fine. Lub the surface and rub. I take a slight variation on that method. I used a higher concentration of Z7 in a spray bottle. Then I did the following for each each I clayed: - Squirt the area with water - Spray the Z7/water lub over the area - Rub the clay over the area following the same pattern I use for applying Z2 (ie: horizontal or vertical depending upon the panel). - Spray the area with water again to wash away the lub and any clay residue.
Afterwards I washed the car again to insure against any water spots. And dried the car quickly.
5 weeks after getting The Shipment, my 6 week old Y2K Odyssey finally was spending the weekend in the driveway!!! Weather was 75 degrees and low humidity - perfect.
Did Dawn, clay, Dawn, Z1, and Z2. I was surprised - it took me less time and effort than my old system of Mequaire's or Mother's cleaner, glaze, and carnuba.
Claying took about 2 hours (that's a big vehicle!!) and I was left with a clay ball. Amazing how much gunk it took out of the paint and it worked great at removing the "passengers" (bugs) we picked up in Maine over the 4th. I even used the clay on the windshield to remove some bugs that would not wash off. One thing that was difficult to gauge was how much lube to use. It seemed that I was soaking the car with the spray but the clay did its job.
Z1 and Z2 took about 30 minutes each. I let the Z1 dry about 1 hour before Z2 and Z2 had hazed by the time I was done applying it to the whole car. It was difficult to resist the temptation to use more material than I did. I used about a quarter of each doing the van which seems right.
Results - looks great. The Ody is white so it doesn't jump out at you. But, I get a true reflection out of it not just shine. First time I ever saw that on a white car.
Verdict - Am very impresses and satisfied. Looks great, was less work than expected and versus other products I've used. Will see how long it maintains the beading.
FYI - I bought 100% cotton, made in USA Cannon towels at Wal-Mart for a reasonable price. They were not the same super lush ones you get at the dept. stores, but my wife told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to buy towels at Macy's to wash the car with. After I was done, even she thought the van looked nice.
1992 Black Explorer, medium oxidation, no clear coat. Remove the roof rack. Dawn, clay, dawn, 3M Foam Pad Polishing Glaze to remove oxidation. Z1/Z5, Z6, Z5, Z6, Z3, Z6. Took about 4 days.
Excellent results! I didn't think the old oxidized paint could shine that well any more. It isn't the perfect deep shine of new black vehicles, but it's as good as 8-year-old paint will get. 3M product was great in removing oxidized paint, setting up surface for Zaino. Explorer has lots of surface area, especially on the roof, but removing the rack helped.
Great job. Wait till you see what 2 coats of Z2 looks like. And yes, my wife too thought I was nuts for buying 'good' towels for the car. I found a store that was having a '2 for 1' sale and got them at a reasonable price.
It rained last night and as I was standing there in the driveway looking at it (what and idiot I must have looked like!! - honest honey, I'm just making sure the stone shield and mud flaps are staying on.) I really noticed the beading. I really hope that the front and top repel dirt and bugs. The van has been to Maine 5 times in 7 weeks and the roof gets tree sap and pollen mixed together and bird droppings from raspberry bushes and the bugs on the nose are terrible!!!
I am going to Z2 again later this week - looking forward to an even better shine.
When you're spending big bucks for Zaino products, it might be wise to use the best soft towels. Sal Zaino warns about buying Fieldcrest or Cannon from KMart or WalMart -- he says they're inferior and will scratch.
Suggest you have your wife go along and ascertain that other less expensive, 100% cotton, made in USA towels are acceptably soft. I did just that, and caught $13 towels on sale at Macy's for $4.
Just don't do what another new Zaino user pulled -- he went into his wife's linen closet and used Ralph Lauren designer towels, and she almost killed him!
Suggest you don't cut off the edges. Fold them under and avoid all the unraveling and expensive plumber bills to clear the threading from the drains.
I've used Zaino on my truck since it was new, about a year ago, and have about 8 coats of Z-2 on it. I'm ready to clay it again but was wondering if I need to go through the whole process again, Dawn, clay, Dawn, Z-1, Z-2, Z-6, etc. Thanks, Gary
As I understand it, Dawn will not remove Zaino. So your choosing to clay again does not mean you have to Dawn wash the vehicle, i.e, "start all over again." This time, the clay will remove any contaminants that are sitting on top of or clinging to the coating of Zaino, rather than removing it from the unprotected paint. Don't know if the clay would remove what might have been sealed in by the Zaino if you either chose not to clay initially, or did not thoroughly clay the entire surface if you did.
Just wash the vehicle, with Z7, presumably, then clay it, then re-wash or thoroughly rinse and dry, then use whatever product you have a mind to use, Z6, or Z1, then Z5 , and/or Z2, or Z3, followed by Z6.
OK, I'm a novice to Zaino & need some advice. I (actually my wife) has a 2000 suburban (pewter) . . . we have 6K miles & live in Alaska. It has experienced the last part of winter, a rough breakup, and now summer is officially here. We have not waxed it yet. This is our first "new" car and want to give it the best treatment . . any suggestions would be appreciated.
The first thing I would do is to order the following from www.zainobros.com.
--Zaino clay --Z1 polish lok --Z2 polish --Z7 wash --Z6 shine enhancer --Sal Zaino will throw in a 100% wax applicator with your order
Get some blue Dawn dishwashing liquid as well as the "Absorber" synthetic chamois. Invest in a couple of 100% cotton towels (2 hand towels and two bath towels). Don't get cheap ones. Get Cannon or Fieldcrest brand that state they are 100% cotton on the label (the 100% cotton is important since others have synthetic threads that run through them that will scratch your clear coat.
--wash with Dawn (this will cut through all the grease, oil, dealer applied wax, etc. to get your truck completely free of dirt). Use one of the bath towels to wash. --clay (see the Zaino site for clay instructions) the entire vehicle until smooth. --Dawn wash again to get off clay residue and any other "stuff" that was missed the first time around --Dry the truck with the "absorber" --Apply a very thin layer of Z1 (trick here is to spray Z6 shine enhancer on the applicator first to slightly dampen it and then apply Z1 in a thin "X" on the applicator. Squeeze the applicator to the Z1 is spread evenly on the applicator. Wipe the Z1 in a front to back motion on all horizontal surfaces and up and down motion on all vertical surfaces (this enhances the optical shine). Reapply Z1 on the applicator in the "X" fashion for every panel (or whenever you can't see any polish on the surface). Remeber, thin even coats is the key. Heavier application of Z1 will net you nothing (it's not like regular wax). --DO NOT REMOVE THE Z1. Put Z2 on right over the Z1 in the manner described above. --Let Z1/Z2 dry. This could take a few hours or over night depending upon the humidity. Test a small area by running your finger over it to see if it's dry. If it's not dry, the Z1/Z2 will just "smear" and won't come off easily. --Once dry, use the 2nd bath towel to remove the Z1/Z2. It should just wipe right off without smearing. --Very lightly mist Z6 on a 2'X 2' area of each panel and immediately dry off with one of your hand towels. This will give you the ultimate "wet look" on your 'burban.
This is going to take some time since the Suburban is such a big vehicle, but well worth the effort. I'd say a good portion of a days work.
You will no longer need to clay the surface again (although keep the clay around to remove stubborn bugs or tar as a "touch up") or use Z1 again for another year (or 10 coats of Z2, whichever comes first).
Keep applying Z2 and Z6 to enhance the shine even more whenever you get the time. Wait 24 hours before you apply any more Z2 to let the Z1/Z2 "cure".
I use a hand towel or towels to wash the vehicle; a wet bath towel strikes me as difficult to handle.
If used carefully, the clay can can be used a number of times. Some even advocate using it every time you polish the vehicle; the fact that you got contaminants off the untreated paint initially does not stop the rail dust, brake dust, and other contaminants from adhering to the surface. You just don't have to use Dawn before you clay the same vehicle subsequent times.
The Z1 is supposed to be applied in a circular motion; as Graphicguy said, the Z2, Z3, and/or Z5 is applied directionally for best visual results. I'd not previously heard of applying Z6 to the applicator when applying Z1; I just dampen it with water to keep product from being absorbed into the sponge, and add the Z6 when applying 2, 3, or 5 to increase their spreadability.
For such a large vehicle, I'd consider doing all the steps only on a section at a time; maybe the hood and fenders, followed by the roof, followed by each side, then the tailgate. That way, you won't get discouraged part way through and maybe leave a panel unprotected.
Don't forget to use the products sparingly; not much is needed and it's easier to apply and remove when done in thin coats. Barely open the Z6 spray nozzle; you want an atomized spray, not a stream. Open it enough to be able to pull the trigger all the way back, though, otherwise you might get a drop or two falling straight downward.
OK Zaino-ites, how good is the Z-12 glass cleaner and can I use it on my darkened Sienna 2000 LE windows?. Do you use it inside and out?
Great job the the poster who Z'd the Odyssey... Keep up the good work. When I Z my husband's Camry, it's sooo much quicker that the Sienna. (Despite this, he still gets the less frequent treatment!) Both vehicles are the least likely to show great with Zaino, grey and tan. I'm having a whole lot of fun with the "boring" colors, but drive past some that I would love to see with a Zaino shine.
Any one have word on a group purchase coming up?
Any comments on the leather Z-9 and Z-10? Do I need both? 97 Camry seats have never been treated and/or cleaned but don't even look like they need it. I'm just hooked on the Z and want to try to make them even better.
I use both the Z9 and Z10. My 6 year old has a habit of putting her shoes on the seatback and put scuff marks on the leather (she's the only one who gets away with that!) and I thought I'd have to scrub to get it off. The Z9 takes it right off. I put the Z10 on with my fingers and just wipe off the excess. Maybe it's just me, but the leather feels better than it did when it was new (I own a 300M). And the SMELL keeps it smelling like a new car. I also use Z10 on the dash. It seems to keep it looking richer without looking shiny.
I've never used the Z12 so I can't comment on it other than to say that if it works as well as the other Z products, it's good.
I just got my Prelude back from the body shop after it got into a disagreement with a Ford Explorer. They repainted the driver's side. They said not to wax the car for a month. Anyone know if I really should let it just sit outside (no garage) for a month without re-Zainoing it? I would really appreciate the advice.
Having endured Polyglycoat applications at dealers and having applied a significant number of actual waxings (that would be the dreaded carnuba) to vehicles, can anyone explain the relative merits of Zaino to the competition?
This topic sounds like. . ."Wow! This is good!" To which many folks have little or no response.
What I'm looking for is "this is better than TBD . . . because. . ." Why is this stuff (which many of you say takes forever to apply) better than many of the one-step waxes? I would never dispute that it's good. My question is, why is it better?
It is simple. 1) It generally lasts longer. 2) The depth of shine is tremendous, and I mean tremendous. 3) Water repellency is almost entertaining. It's like you Rain-X'ed your whole car.
While other comparison aspects might be arguable and maybe not noticeable unless you had a true side by side setup, I think the ease of application (compared to other wax alternatives) makes Zaino my choice of product. Of course, that first dawn-clay-dawn-z1-z2 process does take several hours, but after that its a matter of minutes, no elbow grease and no residue left behind in every nook and cranny.
1. Very easy to apply 2. Protects against bugs, tar, etc. 3. Superior shine 4. Long lasting (4 months between applications - and even then - it didn't really "need" it) 5. Smells great!
cdnpinhead-up until Zaino, I had used just about every other "miracle" wax and "premium" waxes on the market. Used to have a whole garage full of half used wax products. In one way or the other, they never lived up to my expectations.
In general, I've found the following to be true about waxes:
--Carnuba waxes-decent shine, does not last as long as Zaino, leaves "white residue". The cheaper carnubas, don't last long at all. --all in one cleaner/waxes-usually contain abrasives in it that cleans off the "gunk" on your finish. These tend to leave swirls on the finish used over time. Zaino contains no abrasives. Even if a competing wax says they have no abrasives, if it's a cleaner/wax, how else can it "clean" your finish? It's better to clay to get your finish clean. --Zaino is a synthetic, and a good one. There are other synthetics on the market, but they don't give the depth of shine that zaino does. --most other waxes leave the "white powder residue" that is hard to remove in crevices and looks unsightly. Zaino does not. --Zaino gives the "wet look" I've been searching for in other waxes (but never able to achieve). --Zaino has better durability than any wax I've ever used. --After the initial application, Zaino is the easiest/quickest wax I've ever used (wipe on, let dry, wipe off....no buffing required). --My car stays cleaner, longer using Zaino. --Zaino has the best customer service from any company I've ever worked with for any product (what other company can you call and get the owner on the line to talk about your car care needs?) MOre often than not, when you call Zaino, you get Sal Zaino on the phone to help. --once you try Zaino, nothing else will compare.
Z9 and Z10--agree with everyone else. My leather seats look and feel better than new after using the products. I also love the leather smell.
hgiles--it depends on whether the paint job was "baked" on. Ask your body shop. If it was not, it's a good idea to let the paint "cure" for 2-3 weeks before applying any wax. If it was backed, you can put Zaino on any time.
Regarding your comment "which many of you say takes forever to apply." What is being conveyed in the comments you are summarizing has nothing to do with the product itself. As a car painter, Sal Zaino values preparation to get the best results of the application. The procedures he and others in the Edmunds Town Hall topics advocate is just good preparation, regardless of which product is used. Since that is more than the wash/wax/wipe/buff that we may have grown up with, it may seem time-consuming and tedious, but it pays off. It just pays off better with Zaino than with other products.
mbdriver: Towels: I should bring my wife to Macy's? Ha, you've got to be kidding, towels would be the least of it. But 4 bucks! That's great. I also don't cut the edges for two reasons: its very easy to fold them under and avoid scratching the new Z2 layer. And, those edges actually come in handy when removing residue from seams and those little spots a towel cannot easily reach.
gmw216: I just clayed for the second time. I didn't use Dawn, but I did do everything else. That's: wash, clay, wash, Z1, Z5, and Z6. As long as I wanted to put another layer of Z1 on the car (and it was about a year and a half since I first used Z1), I thought that claying the car again would help remove any brake dust that had embedded itself into my Z2 layers. Its possible that using Dawn again would be OK, but I just used my trusty Z7 to wash the car. The result are VERY good.
lynne29: Z's Leather Products: pjyoung says it best. I've used both Z9 (Spray Cleaner) and Z10 "Leather In A Bottle" (Conditioner). Both seem to work very well. Z9 does a great job of cleaning (and smells good too). And Z10 does soften the leather and makes it feel better. I've also used the Z12 Glass Polish on my windshield - inside and out. Its very good for removing that damn plastic residue from the inside of windows.
robr2: I hate tree sap. I think it was graphicguy who first recommended plain olde Z7 car wash to remove the sap spots. 'Works for me. I also tried Z6 Gloss Enhancer which works well but can easily leave some swirl marks when used to remove tree sap spots.
Thanks, folks -- appreciate all your responses. No one mentioned Polyglycoat, which may have been a Western (Arizona, etc.) thing, but my impression is that Zaino may be something similar.
In any event, I think I'm convinced and will in due course endure the Dawn, clay, Dawn, etc, etc ritual. The best point made in response to my posting is that once the base is laid, it's a really low-maintenance approach. Sounds good. The Polyglycoat, along with all its hype at the time, was similar.
Anyway, I'll be joining you all soon, somewhat reluctantly.
Comments
I like Z6 on windows, although it doesn't last very long.
in California. I was able to order some and
now am waiting for it to arrive.
Still, it looks very good. Assuming it holds up well, I will stick with it based upon the ease of use alone. Zaino goes on and comes off super easy.
charges a few cents more for each bottle than Zaino direct, but price includes sales tax, free applicator (over $50 purchase) and FAST delivery.
I used Dawn wash, Z-1 and Z-2 (no clay), and car looked better than when first delivered from dealer. Then got caught in a rainstorm, but water just rolled off. I've washed it only once with Z-7 -- now I just use Z-6 every week; it's garaged and there's practically no visible dirt on it, even after driving in the rain. I've applied several more coats of Z-2 after Z-6, and car always looks great. Biggest problem is brake dust on silver clearcoated wheels -- that gets washed off before I use the Z-6. BTW, I use Rain X Wheel Protectant to fight the brake dust problem and it works. The product is hard to find, though.
My wife has a 1977 Mercedes 300D, Light Ivory, beautiful condition, garaged and only 95,000 miles. I used Dawn, Z-1 and about 5 coats of Z-5 to minimize 23 years of swirls. Then switched to Z-3. Occasionally I Z-6 it and follow with Z-3. Thanks to Zaino, people keep trying to buy the car when my wife drives it!
As for towels, my first two really unraveled after I cut off the edges. In fact, we just paid a plumber $95 to snake out the towel frazzels from our basement drain fed by the drain from the washing machine. Now I just fold in the towel edges and it works fine. My Zaino distributor does the same.
Bottom line -- I've used various products on numerous cars over many years (I'm finally retired) and found Zaino to be unquestionably the best! But you have to use it regularly and keep the car clean to achieve the desired protection and keep the "wet look" shine.
I found this on the AudiWorld forums...
joe166...we're going to have to talk to Sal about adding "rock/paint chip protection" products.
mbdriver...there was an untrue rumor running around a few months ago that Zaino did nothing for "german" paint jobs. Guess you put that rumor to rest.
pblevein...I told you that I would time myself washing, Z2, Z6 my car. I did this yeterday. I've got a Grand Prix, dark burgandy metallic, so it's a mid size car.
Here's the results:
--wash=30 mins.
--dry=20 mins.
--Z2=20 mins.
--remove Z2=10 mins.
--Z6=20 mins.
While the Z2 was drying (humid day), I vacumed the interior, treated the leather seats, treated the tires, washed the windows. It took about 30 minutes for the Z2 to dry.
So total Z treatment took about an 1 3/4 hours, drying time withstanding. Another 30 minutes for other detailing functions and drying time. Start to finish, about 2 hours 15 minutes for a total detail.
- A complete wash
- Clayed the entire car
- Another wash
- Applied Z1
- Applied Z5 (First time for me)
- And Applied Z6
This was the first time I tried the Zaino Clay Bar, and I found it was a much better product than others I've used. It has very good consistency (easy to fold yet stiff enough to press into the finish). A slight negative: it comes wrapped in a plastic which is hard to removed before usage. I guess the plastic protects it prior to usage, but it was hard to get off. I also found that it was more effective with a relatively high concentration of Z7 in the lubricant. I used an old "Erazer" spray bottle and mixed about a cap full of Z7 to 8 ounces of water. My procedure was to squirt water on the finish, spray an area with my lub mixure, clay the area, and wash down with water.
I know some people have claimed to be a bit disappointed with their first Zaino application. I've now seen a range of results. In my case, if you really prepare the paint/clear coat surface well, then your results will be great. The time I spent claying and washing the car was absolutely worth every minute. It WAS time and labor intensive, but again, the resulting surface was in great (smooth [as in smooooooth!]) shape, and after just one coat of Z5, my car looked fantastic! Much better than when I had used two coats of Z2 in the past.
I let the Z1/Z5 combination dry overnight (it started raining in the Bershires Monday night and the humidity was way up.). On Tuesday morning (the 4th), I removed the Z5 residue. Actually used two towels - using a very clean towel surface is MOST important. I then let it 'cure' for a few more hours. I've found that after residue removal, the Z5 is still not totally dry. I used only a very slight (very) pressure on the towel. When I spotted a stray swirl type line, I brushed over it with a clean are of the towel with NO pressure. Result: NO swirl marks. When the Z5 was really dry, I applied Z6. This time I wiped the Z6 quickly but without any reall pressure on the towel.
The result is truly great. Like glass! Even my wife thought it looked wonderful. And one of my skeptical friends (who thinks I'm nuts at this point) was very impressed. And that's with just one coat of Z5. Wait till I apply Z2. More in a later post.
By the way, my neighbors think that I am a nut with my car. I have found myself hiding to take care of my car. It is an obsession. I feel as though I will have to go to Zaino AA.
Hi, I'm fastdriver and I'm a ZAINOHOLIC! LOL.... I can see it now. It is addicting, isn't it? Mmmmm.... wonder if there is SOMETHING to all those nice smells???
I've only used the clay once on my cousin's black BMW 2-seater convertible back in November and I don't recall having any problem getting it opened. I have a 94 Toyota Corolla that needs the FULL Zaino treatment since it sits outside 24/7 summer and winter. This will get the clay treatment one of these days soon. As for my 300M, I've never clayed it because when I first heard about Zaino in November of 98, I knew nothing about clay. Now that I have only one more year to go with Christine before she goes BACK to Chrysler, I don't think she'll get the clay treatment. She hasn't been good to me at all from day one! She looks shiny enough. Let the next guy do it!
fastdriver
Can anyone help me - is the 2000 Nissan Maxima Sterling Mist color to be considered a clearcoated paint or non-clearcoated paint for purposes of ordering Zaino products?
Bud Hinckley
Your best bet is to call Nissan OR e-mail Sal Zaino. Either way is quick and painless. You might also look at the window sticker on the car to see if anything is listed there. A "wild" guess would tell me that all current cars have clearcoat paint.
fastdriver
fastdriver & trublu01:
So you're a ZAINOHOLIC. My wife says I'm in the same boat, er, car! That's OK, its fun, good work, not 'anti-social', and you can see the results. I don't have an exotic car ('98 Accord Coupe), and it is subject to the normal wear and tear of harsh North Eastern roads (ie: pot holes, stones, salts, mud, and bugs). But I enjoy taking care of it, and of course, driving it. And since I've found out about these Zaino products, my results have been far above my original expectations. Except for Z6 on my front windshield.
I've experienced some longer drying times after applying Z2...particularly after I clay the entire car and start from scratch. After my initial coat, the Zaino seems to dry faster, though.
budhinckley--your Maxima definitely has clear coat. I looked at one before buying my present car in silver. Clearcoat is on it (as probably 99% of cars today).
trublu01--join all the rest of us who Zaino just for the heck of it.
fastdriver--I do believe that you are the most fanatical of us all.
LOL..... I can't help it. The shine with this Candy Apple Red is INCREDIBLE!! It is so wet-looking all the time that I want to keep it looking like that until she goes back to Chrysler next June! Remember, I never clayed this car because I didn't know about clay until AFTER I had several coats of Z on. I wasn't about to start over. I was thinking about doing the clay thing now, but decided that it looks good enough for a lease car. I'll just continue with the Z-2/Z-6.
fastdriver
WHERE are you??? Still waiting to hear IF you applied the ZAINO and if you're opening your moonroof!! LOL..... I want to see that INFERNO RED shine!
fastdriver
My question is this. What's the best way to use the clay and how can you tell if you are doing it correctly? I used it to take off some bugs from the front, but didn't seem much come off on the bar. I did use the spray as instructed before using the claybar.
- Squirt the area with water
- Spray the Z7/water lub over the area
- Rub the clay over the area following the same pattern I use for applying Z2 (ie: horizontal or vertical depending upon the panel).
- Spray the area with water again to wash away the lub and any clay residue.
Afterwards I washed the car again to insure against any water spots. And dried the car quickly.
Did Dawn, clay, Dawn, Z1, and Z2. I was surprised - it took me less time and effort than my old system of Mequaire's or Mother's cleaner, glaze, and carnuba.
Claying took about 2 hours (that's a big vehicle!!) and I was left with a clay ball. Amazing how much gunk it took out of the paint and it worked great at removing the "passengers" (bugs) we picked up in Maine over the 4th. I even used the clay on the windshield to remove some bugs that would not wash off. One thing that was difficult to gauge was how much lube to use. It seemed that I was soaking the car with the spray but the clay did its job.
Z1 and Z2 took about 30 minutes each. I let the Z1 dry about 1 hour before Z2 and Z2 had hazed by the time I was done applying it to the whole car. It was difficult to resist the temptation to use more material than I did. I used about a quarter of each doing the van which seems right.
Results - looks great. The Ody is white so it doesn't jump out at you. But, I get a true reflection out of it not just shine. First time I ever saw that on a white car.
Verdict - Am very impresses and satisfied. Looks great, was less work than expected and versus other products I've used. Will see how long it maintains the beading.
FYI - I bought 100% cotton, made in USA Cannon towels at Wal-Mart for a reasonable price. They were not the same super lush ones you get at the dept. stores, but my wife told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to buy towels at Macy's to wash the car with. After I was done, even she thought the van looked nice.
Excellent results! I didn't think the old oxidized paint could shine that well any more. It isn't the perfect deep shine of new black vehicles, but it's as good as 8-year-old paint will get. 3M product was great in removing oxidized paint, setting up surface for Zaino. Explorer has lots of surface area, especially on the roof, but removing the rack helped.
I am going to Z2 again later this week - looking forward to an even better shine.
Suggest you have your wife go along and ascertain that other less expensive, 100% cotton, made in USA towels are acceptably soft. I did just that, and caught $13 towels on sale at Macy's for $4.
Just don't do what another new Zaino user pulled -- he went into his wife's linen closet and used Ralph Lauren designer towels, and she almost killed him!
Suggest you don't cut off the edges. Fold them under and avoid all the unraveling and expensive plumber bills to clear the threading from the drains.
Just wash the vehicle, with Z7, presumably, then clay it, then re-wash or thoroughly rinse and dry, then use whatever product you have a mind to use, Z6, or Z1, then Z5 , and/or Z2, or Z3, followed by Z6.
Thanks in advance!!
The first thing I would do is to order the following from www.zainobros.com.
--Zaino clay
--Z1 polish lok
--Z2 polish
--Z7 wash
--Z6 shine enhancer
--Sal Zaino will throw in a 100% wax applicator with your order
Get some blue Dawn dishwashing liquid as well as the "Absorber" synthetic chamois. Invest in a couple of 100% cotton towels (2 hand towels and two bath towels). Don't get cheap ones. Get Cannon or Fieldcrest brand that state they are 100% cotton on the label (the 100% cotton is important since others have synthetic threads that run through them that will scratch your clear coat.
--wash with Dawn (this will cut through all the grease, oil, dealer applied wax, etc. to get your truck completely free of dirt). Use one of the bath towels to wash.
--clay (see the Zaino site for clay instructions) the entire vehicle until smooth.
--Dawn wash again to get off clay residue and any other "stuff" that was missed the first time around
--Dry the truck with the "absorber"
--Apply a very thin layer of Z1 (trick here is to spray Z6 shine enhancer on the applicator first to slightly dampen it and then apply Z1 in a thin "X" on the applicator. Squeeze the applicator to the Z1 is spread evenly on the applicator. Wipe the Z1 in a front to back motion on all horizontal surfaces and up and down motion on all vertical surfaces (this enhances the optical shine). Reapply Z1 on the applicator in the "X" fashion for every panel (or whenever you can't see any polish on the surface). Remeber, thin even coats is the key. Heavier application of Z1 will net you nothing (it's not like regular wax).
--DO NOT REMOVE THE Z1. Put Z2 on right over the Z1 in the manner described above.
--Let Z1/Z2 dry. This could take a few hours or over night depending upon the humidity. Test a small area by running your finger over it to see if it's dry. If it's not dry, the Z1/Z2 will just "smear" and won't come off easily.
--Once dry, use the 2nd bath towel to remove the Z1/Z2. It should just wipe right off without smearing.
--Very lightly mist Z6 on a 2'X 2' area of each panel and immediately dry off with one of your hand towels. This will give you the ultimate "wet look" on your 'burban.
This is going to take some time since the Suburban is such a big vehicle, but well worth the effort. I'd say a good portion of a days work.
You will no longer need to clay the surface again (although keep the clay around to remove stubborn bugs or tar as a "touch up") or use Z1 again for another year (or 10 coats of Z2, whichever comes first).
Keep applying Z2 and Z6 to enhance the shine even more whenever you get the time. Wait 24 hours before you apply any more Z2 to let the Z1/Z2 "cure".
Let us know if we can help!
I use a hand towel or towels to wash the vehicle; a wet bath towel strikes me as difficult to handle.
If used carefully, the clay can can be used a number of times. Some even advocate using it every time you polish the vehicle; the fact that you got contaminants off the untreated paint initially does not stop the rail dust, brake dust, and other contaminants from adhering to the surface. You just don't have to use Dawn before you clay the same vehicle subsequent times.
The Z1 is supposed to be applied in a circular motion; as Graphicguy said, the Z2, Z3, and/or Z5 is applied directionally for best visual results. I'd not previously heard of applying Z6 to the applicator when applying Z1; I just dampen it with water to keep product from being absorbed into the sponge, and add the Z6 when applying 2, 3, or 5 to increase their spreadability.
For such a large vehicle, I'd consider doing all the steps only on a section at a time; maybe the hood and fenders, followed by the roof, followed by each side, then the tailgate. That way, you won't get discouraged part way through and maybe leave a panel unprotected.
Don't forget to use the products sparingly; not much is needed and it's easier to apply and remove when done in thin coats. Barely open the Z6 spray nozzle; you want an atomized spray, not a stream. Open it enough to be able to pull the trigger all the way back, though, otherwise you might get a drop or two falling straight downward.
Great job the the poster who Z'd the Odyssey... Keep up the good work. When I Z my husband's Camry, it's sooo much quicker that the Sienna. (Despite this, he still gets the less frequent treatment!) Both vehicles are the least likely to show great with Zaino, grey and tan. I'm having a whole lot of fun with the "boring" colors, but drive past some that I would love to see with a Zaino shine.
Any one have word on a group purchase coming up?
Any comments on the leather Z-9 and Z-10? Do I need both? 97 Camry seats have never been treated and/or cleaned but don't even look like they need it. I'm just hooked on the Z and want to try to make them even better.
I've never used the Z12 so I can't comment on it other than to say that if it works as well as the other Z products, it's good.
I would really appreciate the advice.
This topic sounds like. . ."Wow! This is good!" To which many folks have little or no response.
What I'm looking for is "this is better than TBD . . . because. . ." Why is this stuff (which many of you say takes forever to apply) better than many of the one-step waxes? I would never dispute that it's good. My question is, why is it better?
Please forgive me for my heretical post.
1) It generally lasts longer.
2) The depth of shine is tremendous, and I mean tremendous.
3) Water repellency is almost entertaining. It's like you Rain-X'ed your whole car.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/Feb.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/newwestd/Zainoat3mo.html
It will be obvious
Jeff
2. Protects against bugs, tar, etc.
3. Superior shine
4. Long lasting (4 months between applications - and even then - it didn't really "need" it)
5. Smells great!
In general, I've found the following to be true about waxes:
--Carnuba waxes-decent shine, does not last as long as Zaino, leaves "white residue". The cheaper carnubas, don't last long at all.
--all in one cleaner/waxes-usually contain abrasives in it that cleans off the "gunk" on your finish. These tend to leave swirls on the finish used over time. Zaino contains no abrasives. Even if a competing wax says they have no abrasives, if it's a cleaner/wax, how else can it "clean" your finish? It's better to clay to get your finish clean.
--Zaino is a synthetic, and a good one. There are other synthetics on the market, but they don't give the depth of shine that zaino does.
--most other waxes leave the "white powder residue" that is hard to remove in crevices and looks unsightly. Zaino does not.
--Zaino gives the "wet look" I've been searching for in other waxes (but never able to achieve).
--Zaino has better durability than any wax I've ever used.
--After the initial application, Zaino is the easiest/quickest wax I've ever used (wipe on, let dry, wipe off....no buffing required).
--My car stays cleaner, longer using Zaino.
--Zaino has the best customer service from any company I've ever worked with for any product (what other company can you call and get the owner on the line to talk about your car care needs?) MOre often than not, when you call Zaino, you get Sal Zaino on the phone to help.
--once you try Zaino, nothing else will compare.
Z9 and Z10--agree with everyone else. My leather seats look and feel better than new after using the products. I also love the leather smell.
hgiles--it depends on whether the paint job was "baked" on. Ask your body shop. If it was not, it's a good idea to let the paint "cure" for 2-3 weeks before applying any wax. If it was backed, you can put Zaino on any time.
mbdriver: Towels: I should bring my wife to Macy's? Ha, you've got to be kidding, towels would be the least of it. But 4 bucks! That's great. I also don't cut the edges for two reasons: its very easy to fold them under and avoid scratching the new Z2 layer. And, those edges actually come in handy when removing residue from seams and those little spots a towel cannot easily reach.
gmw216: I just clayed for the second time. I didn't use Dawn, but I did do everything else. That's: wash, clay, wash, Z1, Z5, and Z6. As long as I wanted to put another layer of Z1 on the car (and it was about a year and a half since I first used Z1), I thought that claying the car again would help remove any brake dust that had embedded itself into my Z2 layers. Its possible that using Dawn again would be OK, but I just used my trusty Z7 to wash the car. The result are VERY good.
lynne29: Z's Leather Products: pjyoung says it best. I've used both Z9 (Spray Cleaner) and Z10 "Leather In A Bottle" (Conditioner). Both seem to work very well. Z9 does a great job of cleaning (and smells good too). And Z10 does soften the leather and makes it feel better. I've also used the Z12 Glass Polish on my windshield - inside and out. Its very good for removing that damn plastic residue from the inside of windows.
robr2: I hate tree sap. I think it was graphicguy who first recommended plain olde Z7 car wash to remove the sap spots. 'Works for me. I also tried Z6 Gloss Enhancer which works well but can easily leave some swirl marks when used to remove tree sap spots.
In any event, I think I'm convinced and will in due course endure the Dawn, clay, Dawn, etc, etc ritual. The best point made in response to my posting is that once the base is laid, it's a really low-maintenance approach. Sounds good. The Polyglycoat, along with all its hype at the time, was similar.
Anyway, I'll be joining you all soon, somewhat reluctantly.
Thanks again.