I'm going inZaino today....

[bighouse]

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...

[Jayhawker]

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

[bighouse]

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?

[PriusRos]

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.

[liverbomb88]

+1

Originally Posted by PriusRos

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.

[HI MPG]

Originally Posted by bighouse

OK, sounds like I do this:


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.

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.

[usbseawolf2000]

I was going to ask you to wait because winter is coming but you are in CA, so ... nm.

[bighouse]

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.

[Faraday]

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!

[Pohaku]

Originally Posted by Faraday

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!

2010 Prius Mud Flaps???