Washing the new MO

[strummer2k]

Ok, I have been lurking around here trying to absorb as much as I can before asking something stupid, but my new MO arrives either Thurs or Friday ('04 MidNight beautiful Blue Pearl SL AWD w/Touring Package, thanks for asking!!) and I want to keep her looking good.

Seems the majority like the Zaino or Klase products (think I will try the Zaino, but geez $$$). And now I understand the reason for using Dawn on that first wash, so here is my question...what do you use to wash the car with to prevent any swirls? Are those car wash mits safe (assuming they are clean) or should you use a cotton towel or a sponge for washing (I know you use it for drying)?
Thanks.

P.S. - also how long does it take to do that first Zaino treatment from wash to claybar to coats of Z2/Z5 etc. ? How much time should I set aside?

[esemes]

pre-congratulations............



the mits (provided they are 100% new) should be okay....


the softer the better.........

always wash the roof/hood first, and work your way down (to help prevent bringing road debris/grime up to the top surfaces).....


i generally use a second mit / sponge todo the lower half (below the mid. of the door) as the sand from our roadways always seems to accumilate there.....

wash it (mitt or sponge) thoroughly, and try drying the car with the "absorber" (rubber mat..., comes in a plastic tubelike container - look in the chamois section).... this is best (imo) as you can machine wash it afterwards (jus dont put it in the dryer)

post pix when the delivery is taken!

S

[Halo]

The Zaino treatment will depend on

1. how many coats you put on (which is, in turn related to how obsessive you are and the color of your car)
2. the temp/humidity.

As an example, the first time I did it (on my black S2K), it took me a whole weekend. It was cold and humid so each drying cycle took almost an hour! I was doing other things around the house so it was no big deal. The steps were:
Wash with Dawn
Rinse/Dry
Clay bar
Rinse/Dry
Z1
Z5
Z2 x 6

I know, 6 coats of Z2 seems excessive EXCEPT that the finish just kept getting better with each coat.

I did the MO in one half day this weekend. It's been warm and dry around here and the car has much more surface area so by the time I was finished applying one coat of Zwhatever, it was dry enough to rub off. Also, there was almost no rail dust so the clay bar step went very fast. I skipped Z1 entirely. Finally, since my MO is silver (and the S is black) after 2 coats of Z2, I just didn't see any improvement so I stopped.

So those are probably good examples of the two extremes you might expect with the product.

[thecanuck]

Can someone please tell me (in simpleton terms) what the deal is with the clay bar? I've always been a wash-dry-polish-wax guy but I have no idea what the bar is for nor any idea how to use it. ANY info would be great. Thanx.

[dmako]

Although I've never even used a clay bar. I think the clay 'pulls' dirt out from the paint leaving you with a smooth surface.

[hfelknor]

You should use a clay Bar on every new car you ever buy...........if you are anal.

And I am, so..........

Here is an article that does a nice job explaining what a clay bar is, what it's used for, and how to use it.

http://tinyurl.com/ssbo

How do you know if you need to do it?
Well, if you have never done it on your car you need to do it.
Or, if you want proof, take some plastic wrap like Clingwrap, or even a Glad Bag, wrap it around your hand and drag your hand across the hood or the side of your Murano. IF it is smooth, you don't need to clay. If, on the other hand it grips and grabs, you need to clay.

I use a spray bottle with a capful of Dawn as the lubricant.
Just move the clay back and forth until the area you are working on is smooth. It doesn't take any pressure at all.
The article explains the rest.


I like the Zaino Clay (Twice as much as some vendors) and ClayMagic.
Meguiars "may" be alright, but they have had problems with their clay.

Homer

[thecanuck]

Thanx Homer. That link was just the idiot-proof explanation I needed. Now to find a clay bar. I'm not sure who, if anybody, distributes Zaino stuff here in Canada, so I may have to try another. One last question: is there a requirement to do it in a cool shady place like what's required for waxing?

[strummer2k]

I can hardly stand it. The new MO should arrive Friday and I plan on spending some quality with her on Saturday
I just wanted to make sure I could get through the wash, claybar and coats of Z in one day.

[hfelknor]

No req to claybar in the shade but it works better that way.
There are only 10 secrets to Claybarring.
1- only do about a 2'x2' area at a time, MAX.
2- use lots of lubricant
3- don't press down. You are NOT "Buffing" the car. IF there are contaminants, the clay will "Pull" them out.
4- "turn and fold" the clay often when it starts to discolor.
5- use lots of lubricant

Secrets 2 & 5 thru 10 are, use lots of lubricant.


Be prepared to be surprised to see how filthy a "new" car is.

As to doing it all in one day.
Just some comments.
The #1 reason for failure with Zaino is TOO MUCH Zaino being used per coat.
There have been many failures because there was TOO MUCH Zaino used.
There has never been a failure because there was too little used.
Use TOO much and it WILL smear.


The #2 reason for failure is NOT WAITING LONG ENOUGH for the Zaino to dry. Try to buff it out TOO SOON and it WILL SMEAR.
You must wait until you can drag a finger thru it and it is dry and doesn't smear. Could be 15 minutes, could be a hour, could be a day as Halo mentioned.

Now having said all that, there is a thread here that talks about how much to use.
Look at the thread called "ZAINO APPLICATION" for some hints about what is too much and what is just right amounts of Z.

And once you have done it once, you are an expert. It's really easy to do, it's just that people are so used to slopping on some wax and THIS IS NOT WAX.

Homer

[strummer2k]

Thanks Homer, yeah, I have read that other thread about the amount to use. I have been trying to read as much of this forum as possible before posting. Thanks for the tips ( I hate doing things twice) so those will really help.

[Mosh]

Originally posted by Halo
The steps were:
Wash with Dawn
Rinse/Dry
Clay bar
Rinse/Dry
Z1
Z5
Z2

Does everyone agree that this is the proper order? I've never used the stuff before and they have a dizzying array of products. Anything else anyone can recommend? What about for glass and chrome?

Thanks

[jetnbye]

For CDN folks looking for a distributor for Zaino products contact:


Canadian customers:
Mike Adams
Crown Auto Emporium
325 Eramosa Rd.
Guelph, Ontario N1E 2N1
(519)763-8473
Email: mike@zaino.ca

[hfelknor]

I don't necessarily agree with this sequence

Originally posted by Halo
The steps were:
Wash with Dawn
Rinse/Dry
Clay bar
Rinse/Dry
Z1
Z5
Z2


Z5 is a Swirl treatment.
It does NG if you don't have swirls in your paint.
And it runs the cost up an additional 16.95

NOw if you do have swirls then you need it.

Homer

[Halo]

I agree.

If you read my post, I skipped the Z5 on the MO because it was brand new and had no swirls. The fact that it's silver may have also helped that fact.

However, what I described above was for my S, and being a black car, I definitely noticed some swirls the first time I Zaino'd it (it was about 6 months old by then and had only seen Carnuba).

I also suspect that any new car that hasn't been washed/toweled/waxed with some crappy synthetic towel, Z5 would be unnecessary.

[Mosh]

Thanks Halo and Homer.
Looks like I'll be making a purchase from the Zaino site soon.

Now, what about glass (inside and outside) and chrome rims?
Also (and I know I'm pushing my luck here but I want to treat it right when it comes in) leather and the plastic dash etc. on the inside.

Thanks again