I've never been so impressed with a car-care
product in my life.

I just put the first coat of Z-5 down yesterday.
It was a lot of work to get to that first coat,
but it was worth it. I can see the beginning of a
superior shine. I have alot of swirl marks, so
it will take a few coats to get them out.

Here's everything I did yesterday:

- wash with Dawn
- clay bar entire car
- wash with Z-7
- Z-1
- Z-5
- buff
- grin like a mental patient ;-)

That clay bar is so good, it's scary. You wouldn't
believe the nasty stuff that comes off your paint
when you use it. I knew I had some trouble spots,
but I couldn't believe how dirty the clay got and
how smooth the paint was afterwards.

Anyway, enough fawning over Zaino, those of you who
use it know how awesome it is. Here's my question:
I do alot of highway driving and I've already got
some passengers on my bumper from this morning's
ride. What do you use to take them off? I can't
imagine that using the tar/bug remover stuff I've
always used will be compatible with the Zaino. What
do you use instead?

 

I'm a Zaino user and I actually use bug/tar remover (Turtle Wax brand). Simple washing doesn't remove the bugs for me. I wish there were a better product, but that is the only thing I've found to work so far.

 

That's what I was using pre-Zaino. How does the
finish hold up to the Turtle wax bug/tar remover?
If you use it and then wash the car, does the bumper
look dull?

I'm just looking for data points here...

 

You did it backwards...Z5 before Z1.....then 2 coats of Z1 after the Z5 and your car will look better. It was in the instructions.

 

I'm pretty sure he did it right - unless you got diff. instructions than me!

I just did Zaino for the first time last weekend.

Z1 is polish lock and goes on first. z5 is swirl remover and can go on before/after/in any combo with z2 (highest optics). More coats of z5/z2 increase shine.

 

Hmmmm. I'm pretty sure you want the Polish-Lok (Z-1)
*before* the Z-5 (swirl-remover polish). Are you
thinking of Z-2 (clear-coat polish)?

http://www.zainobros.com./files/application.htm

I won't be ready for Z-2 until I get rid of the
swirls.

What are you using to get the bugs off? (Or are you
just dropping in to attempt to bust on my
reading skills?) ;-)

 

Z5 must be doen before Z2 on the first coat, it will give different results if you do not. Z5 is swirl removal, if you use Z2, it covers the part that Z5 needed to get too and now Z5 will not go a great job as it would have if you did it first. I have been using Zainos ince 99, this is the proper method on using it.

 

Ugg my bad, Z1, Z5, then Z2's....I had my brain cells twisted for a moment... lol

 

I forget who makes it, but its a bug and tar remover...works really well.

 

I am a Zaino user and use the same Bug/Tar Remover that mdeal mentioned (Turtle Wax Brand in a black bottle). I have a black car and this is my procedure to use it.

Spray dirty car (full of bugs)
Spray bug/tar remover on bumper
Let sit for 30 seconds - 1 minute
Scrub with mesh sponge that has some texture to get all the big juice off but make sure it is clear coat safe.
Rinse bug/tar remover off
Wash with Zaino car wash all over
No dullness and all the bug juice is gone - the paint chips are still there, but it works pretty well.

 

We must have different bugs here in VA, because mine wash right off with a little elbow grease and the Zaino car wash. But I also try not to let them get baked on caked on between washes.

 

I got Zaino last fall but didn't clay the car because it was new. The weather got cold and I never got a chance to get into the full routine. Friday I picked up a clay bar on the way home and lo and behold my wife snapped the darn faucet off the side of the house. I spent 5 hours saturday trying to solder it and then tried compression fittings. It was so hard to get at that I couldn't prep the pipe properly. I'll try again tonight.

 

lol. Your wife sounds strong! I bet you are scared for your life when she is mad and you're in the doghouse.

 

I see alot of us black max folks are using zaino!

It is amazing. Best of all way my car stays clear for 2 days now - not 2 hours!!

 

Yeah Max_Gator...I have noticed that it seems to stay cleaner longer than it did before Zaino. I really dig that detail spray stuff. Some of that after a wash and....boom. Looks like it was just waxed.

 

Why would you not simply use the clay bar if water and soap will not work?? The prewaxcleaner also works great and follow up with a little z2. We have lovebugs in Florida, and they will eat through paint in a day so during the season it is clean....clean....clean!! My Zaino finish seems to help keep the finish cleaner longer also..

 

I've read a number of you raving about the Zaino products. Thanks for the link to their website. I'm printing off information now, and plan to try out their product line very soon. I'm a fanatic about my car and paint quality, and I'm always searching for a better product. To date, I just stumbled onto and have been pleased with Meguires products, but reading these comments, and then the description of them at the web site gets me excited about trying them.

thanks, again. And I'll be sure to let the forum know if I have similar results...although it sure sounds like a lot of work! But, I already do a 4 step process, so, this may not be so much different.

srm

 

I used Zaino for the first time 2 weeks ago and the car looks great. However, even after 4 coats of polish, the first bird dropping that sat on the car for an afternoon ate down to the clear coat (just like the wax based products I've used). A) Does anyone else experience this problem? B) Has anyone found a product that will protect the clearcoat for at least an 8 hour workday?

 

Some of us who have been using Zaino for a while have learned the mantra of "Call Sal...Call Sal...Call Sal..." and have found him singularly helpful in answering any and all Zaino related questions, not only those related to application sequence, but also about the problems like bugs/birds) which crop up.

Sal is Sal Zaino, and is the inventor/guru. He has usually answered the phone when I've called, knows his stuff, and doesn't just pimp for his products. Go to the www.zainobros.com website for the phone number (or send him an e-mail), and he should be able to answer the bug/bird question.

 

Hello all. For those of you who use Zaino, do you put Z5 on, let dry, buff, and then Z2? Or do you put Z5, let dry, then put Z2, let dry, and then buff? Thanks.

5thGen

 

I haven't switched to Z2 because my swirl marks
are not gone yet. I have 2 coats of Z5 on right now.
I believe you are supposed to remove the dried polish
between coats. You are also supposed to wait at
least 24 hours between coats. (This is all from
memory - it's all in excruciating detail on the Zaino
web site.)

 

Buff in between applications but you need to wait 24 hrs in between applications. The first time you apply anything, you first use Z1 then apply either z5 or z2 directly over it without first buffing. Then you buff that out and apply your next coats, buffing in between.

 

Be careful with that mesh sponge. I got a little crazy and now have a few light scratch marks that I hope a couple of coats of Zaino will remove.

 

When you say "buff", are you saying you apply and/or wipe off in a circular motion? If so, that is a no-no. Circular motion causes swirl marks. Apply and take off in straight lines. No rubbing is needed. If rubbing is needed, then you got a problem.

 

Thanks for all the answers. I'll try that this weekend. I waxed the car for the 1st time last weekend and wasn't sure about the application of Z2 and Z5. The instructions indicate that they're 100% compatible so I thought I could put Z5, let dry, then Z2, let dry, and then wipe off. The results were still amazing though (maybe 'cause I have a black max); all my friends were totally impressed. Most of my small scratches and swirls are gone. Can't say much about the rock chips though. Thanks again!

5thGen
BC, Canada

 

You know, I just wash the bugs off as best I can, then I clay bar the front bumper. It seems to remove those critter pieces just fine.