1st Time Z Usage - My Trek and Impressions

docker

docker

New member
(part of this was posted in another thread, but read on for new stuff)



Day 1 - Objective=Prep and apply 3 coats of Z5Pro



So far here is my feedback after 3 coats of Z5Pro. Tomorrow I will be applying 3 coats of Z2Pro and will throw some more feedback in this thread.



-Love the ZFX! What a concept! Get 3 coats on in a matter of a few hours instead of a few days. :getdown

*** Has anyone ever tried using the ZFX with other sealants. Hmmmm?

-To answer your question blkZ28Conv - Yes! Overall, much easier than I expected.

-So far the Z finish is looking good, really good. Can't wait to get lots more coats on!

-so far it reminds me alot of FMJ. Really does.

-After Day 1, the slickness does not seem up to FMJ, but I'll reserve judgement till I finish with the Z2Pro

-Application - after the first coat I ditched the Z applicator and went with a yellow foam pad applicator and found it to be much easier to work with.

-I'm not real hip on the Z wash - why do we need to use it anyway?

-I'm using Z8 inbetween layers today. This too reminds me of another Menzerna product, HGAS.

-Only used about 2/3 oz today. Killed me to throw some away, ugh.



Overall, I'm liking it so far. I will admit something I am disappointed with, and it's my own darn fault - when I was claying I must of got careless and caused a number of small, minute scratches. However, it looks like Z5Pro is filling them in. Tomorrow when I finish and get the car out in bright natural light I'll inspect and let you know how well they were filled in.



This is the first time I've ever washed with Dawn, WOW!, it really takes off the sealants and waxes. My honda had tons of WG, WG sealant spray, HGAS and the Dawn just stripped it away effortlessly. I put it in my foam gun, then followed up with a bucket/mitt wash of the stuff. The Dawn really foamed big time! I do have the Dawn foam gun piece on my camcorder, as I get some time I'll convert and post.



Day 2 - Objective = Apply 3 coats of Z2Pro, finish for the weekend



-Surface was slicker this morning than yesterday when I finished. Anyone else notice this the day after their Z application?

-Z2Pro is thinner and easier to use than Z5Pro. Using a yellow foam pad so the stuff went on pretty easily today. Came off pretty easy as well. blkZ28Conv gets my Z pads.

-Used Z6 between all layers and after completing today. Used Z8 on the hood one time and it streaked very badly for me. Much prefer HGAS so far, but, in all fairness to the Z gods I will give Z8 another chance. Yesterday over Z5Pro I did not have any problems with Z8. Hmmm... anyone?

-In the sun, I really do like the look! As I noted yesterday, it still reminds me of FMJ, but Z has a deeper gloss.

-The clay scratches I referred to yesterday are pretty much gone. Z5Pro did a pretty good job filling them in.

-Used about 2/3 oz today for the 3 coats, and thats even after forcing a thick coat on the 3rd application. On this 3rd application I let it sit an extra 45 minutes and the stuff came off exceptionally easily (still reminding me of FMJ).



Overall impressions after the 2 days...



- Like it and glad I got it, although some minor reservations. On my Honda I prefer a deepening look, like what you get from WG or BF, but if the durability is like I expect, and Z looks good on my daughters silver car, then its a keeper (My wife has already warned me not to remove WG from her Liberty). Otherwise, I'll be posting a F/S within a couple weeks.



- Applying and removing 6 coats by hand over 2 days, especially considering you only have 6 hour windows each day, is TUFF for an old man like me (45 feels old right now). I've always enjoyed applying a couple coats on my autos each week, but, cramming them into such time windows can be difficult.



Next weekend I'll add some more coats of Z2Pro then takes some pics. Hopefully.



Good day.
 
hadboosttroy said:
for me, with z2pro, I notice it always a lot slicker after a day or two. I think others find this as well.
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Yep, and I am finding the same thing. Today it is very slick.
 
ZaneO said:
Very interesting write-up. I'm sure you'll be very pleased in the long run, too.
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Thanks! I read in another thread that Z5Pro gives a more carnauba look, and Z2Pro is a clearer finish...if that level of flexibility is there, I am really excited about how tons of Z5Pro will look on my car and my wife's car (if she will give up WG to let me try Z), and do the Z2Pro on my daughter's silver (should look sweet!)
 
Yesterday upon further inspection in the daylight I noticed considerable streaking on the hood, and minor streaking on the trunk. So, last night I proceeded to try to remove the streaking via S&W, then reapplication of Z8 on the hood and Z6 on the trunk. The trunk looks fine, however, there is still a bunch of streaking on the hood.



Frustrating. I had had only minor problems streaking in the past, and that was a long time ago (way back in my super noob days) by applying too much product. I am very confident I did not use too much Z8. The vertical panels seem to be fine w/no streaking.



Can there be any other explaination besides applying too much Z8? The hood was pretty cool to the touch.



I'm hoping the streaking will wear off this week with some rain, then this weekend I'll wash the car and have hopes of adding more Z coats (probably Z2Pro cuz it's supposed to give a carnauba look). What do you think the odds are of the rain and a wash getting rid of the streaking?



?? HGAS compatibility with Z2 or Z5 Pros?? If I can't lick the Z8 streaking prob, do you think there would be any problem using HGAS instead and layering Z5 or Z2 on top?
 
ZaneO - Nope, it has not been washed yet. Did the 3x Sat, 3x Sun, Z8 Sun.... what 'ya thinking?



SpoiledMan - Dah! Man, I should have had a V8! Do like a 1/3 of the hood at a time, consequently a lot less product on the surface to potentially streak-up. BRILLIANT!





OK... Will Z6 get rid of the Z8 streaking? I've read about distilled water, etc. What's the best approach?
 
Z8 should be use in very small amounts. This stuff is pretty concentrated and 1/4 oz should be the max amount to do an entire vehicle (full-size SUV (Escalade). You might want to try a misting sprayer (2 oz size). I can do my C5 coupe with less than an 1/8 oz including glass and rims.



By the way docker, excellent write-up and thanks for the Z pads. :thx
 
docker said:
SpoiledMan - Dah! Man, I should have had a V8! Do like a 1/3 of the hood at a time, consequently a lot less product on the surface to potentially streak-up. BRILLIANT!





OK... Will Z6 get rid of the Z8 streaking? I've read about distilled water, etc. What's the best approach?
Click to expand...



Always remember that like removes like. A light spray in the affected area should take care of it. After you've finished the rest of the car, you may be able to just go over the area with the towel that you've been using after it's damp with Z8.
 
I had a hazing/clouding problem only on the hood of my car (the rest of the car was haze free) the very first time that I used Z5P (2X) and Z2P (1X) then topped with Z8. The Z8 was the problem because I did not see any hazing after the Z2P but before the Z8. I took a damp (distilled water) mf and away it went. The cause was too much Z8 spray. I have since learned that 2 very very thin coats of any Zaino product is better than 1 thin ++ coat.



Your problem is streaking which I never encountered. I would try all the suggestions. If they don't work hit it with Z-PC (or any water-based oil-free polish) and apply your Z.



Z-8 is so concentrated that 2-3 little mists should do the hood.
 
docker said:
ZaneO - Nope, it has not been washed yet. Did the 3x Sat, 3x Sun, Z8 Sun.... what 'ya thinking?
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The finish is "overloaded" right now. Give it a good wash before applying anything else.
 
blkZ28Conv said:
Z8 should be use in very small amounts. This stuff is pretty concentrated and 1/4 oz should be the max amount to do an entire vehicle (full-size SUV (Escalade). You might want to try a misting sprayer (2 oz size). I can do my C5 coupe with less than an 1/8 oz including glass and rims.



By the way docker, excellent write-up and thanks for the Z pads. :thx
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Thanks for the feedback along the way everyone! You'all are great !!



blkZ28Conv - My pleasure on the pads, man...
 
ZaneO said:
The finish is "overloaded" right now. Give it a good wash before applying anything else.
Click to expand...



Rock-N-Roll... pulling out the buckets and mitts tonight, gonna have me a car wash par-tay.



:birthday: (just imagine with "Happy Car Wash")
 
Day 4 - First Z Wash



Taking the advice of some of our fellow autopian's I washed the car this evening - my first Z wash. In case you haven't read all the recent posts, I was having some pretty severe streaking problems with Z8, so washing the car was recommended in hopes of easing the difficulty I was experiencing with the streaking.



I am so very amazed at how the wash went...



- dirt, grime and some bug guts just flew off with the initial rinse.

- The Z wash is not real impressive from a suds'ing standpoint, but I don't think it was very necessary because there was nothing on the surface to clean off after the rinse. No dirt in the wash bucket or rinse bucket.

- Final flood rinse resulted in very few droplets of water on the verticle or horizontal surfaces. Previously I thought that FMJ/HGAS produced excellent flood rinse results, well, Z surpased it big tiime.

- Using a WW I proceeded to dabble off the remaining water droplets. Effortless. Where I had to wipe, no prob as there was hardly any surface tension to leave a water trail.

- Slick as snot. Amazingly slick so far.



My next trick is to see how easily I can remove the streaking as I've written about, and see whether I can learn to apply Z8 light enough not to cause streaking. Ugh.



I'll keep posting my impressions along the way. Pics this coming weekend.



Disclaimer: I feel somewhat guilty speaking so highly about this product after having it on the care for only 4 days. These are my true feelings and impressions, which are formed relative to my experiences over the last year using many of very well known and well respected products that used by many of the posters here and on other boards. These are my opinions.
 
For some reason Zaino products cause these types of feeling most of the time. Zaino really is a wonderful and amazing product line.



To get the Z7 to produce more suds. First add a cap or 2 to about 2" of water in your bucket. Spray hose on the jet pattern and you should produce plenty of suds. Do you have hard water?? Not sure if that matters but my water supply is soft and I get plenty of suds.
 
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