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I'm going inZaino today....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by bighouse, Oct 4, 2009.

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  1. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    Later in the day after the sun has lowered far enough in the western sky behind my house and trees I'm going to wash and prepare my car for the Zaino treatment many here have recommended.
    My kit from Zaino contains:
    ClayBars
    Z-2 Pro
    New Z-5 Pro
    Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer
    Z-7 Show Car Wash
    Z-fx Special Effects Accelerator Show Car Polish

    I have my Dawn ready too.

    So, after I wash with Dawn, and then use the claybar with some Z7 diluted for lubricant, do you rinse the car again or do you simply dry wipe off any residue from the claybarring before proceeding to the next step? And just what is the next step???

    2010 Barcellona Red IV...
     
    #1 bighouse, Oct 4, 2009
  2. Jayhawker

    Jayhawker New Member

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    After you clay each panel I would just wipe it off with a quality microfiber towel. Regarding the Zaino steps, I am not sure how they work. I know Zaino recommends Dawn but I think as long as you have a quality car wash detergent, you will be fine. If using Dawn, make sure you use enough to make it very sudzy, and rinse it well before you clay.

    Below is a link from Autopia (detailing forum) where a member outlined the steps. Hope it helps.

    Zaino manual - Autopia.org
     
    #2 Jayhawker, Oct 4, 2009
  3. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    OK, sounds like I do this:

    1. Wash car with Dawn, say 2-3 oz in a gallon of water with sheepskin mitt from Griot's.
    2. Rinse thoroughly but complete drying isn't essential- though I likely will so as to remove any possible waterspotting (hard water)...may even spray with RO water from a garden sparyer after initial rinse to give it a final rinse so any standing water droplets won't be as likely to leave hardwater spots.
    3. Mix a bit of Z7 car wash into a spray bottle and kneed the claybar and go at it, spraying the surface/bar along the way. Cover all painted surfaces..(Does this include glass surfaces or the solar roof?) Microfiber wipe away residue as I go. Feel for smoothness...
    4. Mix 2 oz of Z2 or Z5 (Barcellona Red paint- is one preferred to the other???) along with 4-5 drops of accellerator into vial and shake it up for a while..then apply a dime size onto the Zaino cotton applicator. Work the mixture into the paint in straight line movements. Cover all areas of the car's painted surface. Allow to dry to a haze then remove with a microfiber cloth.
    5. Repeat application of mixture as in step 4 again- no need to wait between coats due to the accellerator...

    Does this sound about right?
     
    #3 bighouse, Oct 4, 2009
  4. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Use Dawn for the first time you wash it before applying Zaino. Dawn will strip any wax that might have been applied to the car before and allow the Zaino to bond better with the car's finish. You won't use Dawn for subsequent washes.

    After claybarring, I'd suggest rinsing it down again. Then you have to make sure the car is completely dry before starting with the polishes. I'm not sure what to advise about using Z-2 versus Z-5 first, or whether you really need both. But, whichever one you use, mix it with the Z-FX accelerant (follow directions carefully). The Z-FX lets it dry much faster, otherwise you have to wait hours between coats. After you've applied one or two layers of the Z-2 and/or Z-5, finish up with the Z-6. This is the easiest step. You spray on and wipe it until dry, so you don't have to wait for it to dry. It gets rid of any polish residue you might have missed and enhances the gloss.

    By the way, start early -- don't wait until it's too late because you might not be able to complete everything before dark. Unlike wax, Zaino actually likes the heat. Putting it on in the sun won't cause it to bake on and get too hard to remove.
     
    #4 PriusRos, Oct 4, 2009
  5. liverbomb88

    liverbomb88 Push the Button!

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    +1

     
    #5 liverbomb88, Oct 4, 2009
  6. HI MPG

    HI MPG Active Member

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    Per the Zaino website, the Z5 is for darker colors, so it's good for hiding swirl marks. As your car is new, I would think that using the Z2 is okay. The color on mine is Winter Gray Metallic, so I applied one coat of Z5 when I first got it. However, as the paint was new, I don't think the Z5 was as effective as advertised. So the next time I just went straight with the Z2, wiping down with Z6 in between coats.
    As for applying, I think you apply as you would with normal wax, in circles, first (to ensure coverage), and then finish with straight line movements (back and forth-horizontal surface and up and down-vertical surface).
    As PriusRos said, you might want to start early. Even with the Accelerator, it does take a good deal of time to wash, clay, apply and remove. Hope you have fun! Post pictures when you are done. :thumb:
     
    #6 HI MPG, Oct 4, 2009
  7. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I was going to ask you to wait because winter is coming but you are in CA, so ... nm.
     
    #7 usbseawolf2000, Oct 4, 2009
  8. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    OK...I lied the other day about going all Zaino that day...just didn't have the time...but today I washed with Dawn...Claybar'd with Z8 wash dilute...Washed with Z8...and then when all dried, put on a coat of Z5 with the FX admixture...then another coat after that one was removed...and now I'm waiting for the final coat of F2 to dry and I'll remove it. :)

    Oh, I also put on my front mudflaps...may tackle the rears tonight too.

    It was basically an all-day process for me.
     
    #8 bighouse, Oct 11, 2009
  9. Faraday

    Faraday New Member

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    Where and how did you get mud flaps for the 2010? Also, what did they cost? I'm interested in getting them for my V. Thanks!
     
    #9 Faraday, Oct 11, 2009
  10. Pohaku

    Pohaku Member

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    #10 Pohaku, Oct 11, 2009
  11. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    Attached Files:

    #11 bighouse, Oct 11, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  12. HI MPG

    HI MPG Active Member

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    Looking good! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
     
    #12 HI MPG, Oct 12, 2009
  13. Randall Rash

    Randall Rash Member

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    Take it easy on your back. I know it wore mine out.
     
    #13 Randall Rash, Oct 12, 2009
  14. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    Drove one block from dealer to our shop's detail bay last night. Got up at 0-dark-30 this morning to put on two coats of Z-2 before it went outside. :)

    Pass the Percocet, please.
     
    #14 chrisj428, Oct 13, 2009
  15. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    My back still has that achy "I really need a massage" feel two days later.

    I wanted to get three coats of Zaino on my Prius before the rain arrived. More to protect it from the redwood seeds that leave little reddish brown stains where they land and get wet than to protect it against the rain itself. Well, last night 2" of rain fell...with more to come.

    I feel with the Zaino coats I put on the car's paint is probably better protected than any "Permashielding" could have done at the dealership- but I'm wondering how often I should wash with my Z8 and recoat with Z5/Z2? I've also got the Z6 stuff too. I think on a clear day I'll wash with Z8 and finish with Z6...is this a good strategy?
     
    #15 bighouse, Oct 13, 2009
  16. Randall Rash

    Randall Rash Member

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    Actually, Z-7 is the carwash, Z-8 is the Grand Finale spray. Your plan is good. I have the Z-8 to follow Z-7 washes, but Z-6 may be the way I go when the Z-8 is gone.
     
    #16 Randall Rash, Oct 13, 2009
  17. feslope

    feslope Junior Member

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    Always a good idea to wash after clay bar. At the very least use a good rinse. You want the surface clear of any specks of clay or traces of claylube before using polish or final finish (LSP).
     
    #17 feslope, Oct 18, 2009
  18. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    Just put another two coats on last night. Blizzard just about glows in the dark.

    Added photos. Two more coats planned to go on this weekend.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    #18 chrisj428, Nov 3, 2009
  19. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    Just an aside, you should NEVER rub the paint surface in a circle. Straight lines only, always. Scratches are easier to see when they are in a circle because they always catch the light no matter what angle you look at the car. Never in a circle...never any swirls.

    Car looks awesome by the way!
     
    #19 SW03ES, Nov 5, 2009
  20. HI MPG

    HI MPG Active Member

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    That would make sense about the scratches.

    I remember reading the directions from Zaino, which did say to apply in circles first finishing with straight lines... :(. Maybe I'm wrong...
     
    #20 HI MPG, Nov 5, 2009
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