OMG...ClayBar and Zaino = )

I'm a Zaino zealot too, I love the longevity. A word of caution. Do not use too much Dawn nor use it often because it will actually strip the oils out of all the rubber weather trim in your car. I found this out the hard way, as a car I did had discolored rubber weather stripping.

 

I thought I would get in on the party too.

I've used Zaino off and on for the past 3 years or so and since they came out with their new products. Z-AIO and Z-CS. I ordered them and got them last Friday.

I bought my Prius a year ago and did not wax it because I'm so stinking lazy, I have all these Zaino products and I even have a PC with all the pads. But the Z-AIO and Z-CS got me interested so I put them on last saturday.

My steps:
1. Dawn wash, leave wet
2. Z-18 Clay bar, I usually use Clay Magic but bought some Z-18 just to check it out.
3. Z-7 car soap wash, dry car
4. Z-6 wipe down
5. Z-AIO
6. Z-6 wipe down
7. Z-5 Pro with ZFX
8. Z-6 wipe down
7. Z-2 Pro no ZFX
7. Z-CS
8. Z-8 wipe down after 12 hours

I could of done an extra layer of either Z-5 or Z-2 but I was getting tired so I only did the hood and roof with a 3rd layer of Z-5.
I do have Z-PC and since the car wasn't waxed since I bought it a year ago. I was going to Porter Cable it with an orange pad and Z-PC but I have a silver pine mica color so it's hard to see any swirls. Also, I always hand washed my car so there was a good chance I never got swirls in the first place.

I'm going to change my Zaino routine though. Once I run out of Z-5 and Z-2, I'm not going to buy it anymore. Z-AIO does a good enough job for me. After the application of Z-AIO, the paint of sorta slick and I think it's good enough for the lazy like me. Top off the Z-AIO with Z-CS and it's good as done and you save money in the process because Z-5, Z-2 and Zfx at least $60 shipped.

After a layer of Z-5 pro the paint was much slicker but I have a feeling that putting on Z-CS should be enough.

I don't know if it is the new Z-8 spray or the Z-CS but one of those make Zaino alot brighter and slicker than before. I used to do the standard 3 layers of Z-2/Z-5 and stop but I have to say that Z-CS is an awesome product. I don't know if it will last 9 months like they claim but the paint is looks better after you put it on and if it does last 9 months, a lazy guy like me will be using it always.

Also, I don't know if its the Z-8 or Z-CS but my car is staying dust free longer here in Los Angeles. After my usual Zaino, I used to top it off with Z-6 and the dust would gather on the car after a day but with Z-CS and the Z-8, it is a noticeable difference after 3 days.

Alex

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(moolman @ Feb 27 2007, 07:22 PM) [snapback]397610[/snapback]</div>

What is the point of a Z-6 wipe down before the AIO, given that the cleaners and abrasives in the AIO are going to remove it? I could see doing that if you had done the previous steps the day before, and wanted to get the dust off, but I can't think of any other reason why you'd put the Z-6 on, only to remove it. Well, maybe if the water is hard where you live, a Z-6 wipedown as part of a final dry would prevent water spots. What was your reason?

 

The Z-6 before the Z-AIO was for a couple of reasons. I use tap water and the water in LA is very hard. I did it just in case some dust got on the car before I put a cotton applicator of the Z-AIO and cause some scratching. Also putting a layer of Z-6 removes any possible clay residue or soap residue that could still be on the car. And finally, it gives a good surface to apply the Z-AIO after the wash.

Alex