Zaino Z-PC First Impressions

[Dave N]

Since the "other" detailing site seems to be down for the count, I found my way over here to post my first impressions of Zaino Z-PC.

I guess I'm just lucky in the respect that UPS gets my orders from the Zaino store to me in 2 days. I ordered a bottle of Z-PC on Wednesday and it arrived on Friday, just in time to detail my parents' minivan for Father's Day.

The aim of this detail was to clean and seal the paint -- no swirl removal. Here's what I did:

2004 Town & Country light blue minivan

Dawn wash
Light clay
Z-PC w/Sonus orange pad
Z-6 wipe-down
Z-2 Pro (x1)
Z-8

Here are my observations regarding Z-PC

Consistency - Out of the bottle it reminds me of #80 Speed Glaze. It has a medium consistency with little bead-like chunks in it (I guess those are the "ultra-intelligent abrasives"). The color is green/yellow and it has a sickening mellon scent (I personally despise "scents" in detailing products, but I'm sure others will love the smell).

Application - I kept the speed of my PC at 4.5 the whole time, and tried to keep the pad just a little damp by periodically spritzing with Z-6. I found that the Z-PC broke down too quickly for my liking with a dry pad, but with just a little extra moisture I could easily work it for twice as long.


Performance - In all honesty, I must say that this is one of the most effective paint cleaners that I have ever used. I know that people rave about AIO, but I've just never been able to get AIO to actually "clean" well for me. Maybe it was the Sonus orange pad (my first time using this brand of OP, but I've used others in the past), or a combination of the pad and the Z-PC, but this stuff really cleaned the paint well. There were several spots of tar, etc. that I missed with the clay, and they came off easier than I have ever experienced with a little pressure and a couple of extra passes. With other cleaners/polishes, I can make several passes over similar contaminants without much results. Product removal was very easy, and the Z-PC left the paint with a silky smooth feel, compared to the "squeaky-clean" feel like Menzerna polishes.

Dusting - Z-PC dusts just about as badly as anything I've used. I suppose it has to do with the fact that it is water based and doesn't contain any oils. I found that I could minimize dusting by removing it immediately after application.

Pad Clogging - As long as I kept the pad moist, it didn't seem to get too gummed up. Half way through, I rinsed the pad out with the hose, and all of the Z-PC residue came out nicely. However, after I was through cleaning the paint, I let the pad sit for a couple of hours while I applied the Z-2. Big mistake! The dried Z-PC was VERY difficult to remove, even with Dawn and hot water, and in fact it is still soaking.

Z-2 Application - One final note here -- I have had a fair amount of experience applying Zaino sealants (three different versions of Z-2 and two versions of Z-5), and this time the Z-2 Pro went on more easily than I have ever experienced. A LOT more easily. I always use the same type of applicator (Meguiar's yellow foam pad), so that wasn't a factor. The only thing I can think of that was different this time was the Z-PC.

Well, there are my initial thoughts on Z-PC. I can't comment on the swirl-removing qualities because I wasn't trying to remove swirls, just clean the paint. As a result, I didn't spend a lot of time on any one panel, or crank the PC up. But for paint cleaning it worked very well, in my opinion. I will definitely use this product again.

Here's a final +/- overview:

Pluses
Cleans paint very well
Easy to apply
Easy to remove
Made Z-2 Pro application very easy
Rinses out of pad with cold water (if not dry)

Minuses
Dusting
Very difficult to clean out of pad if left to dry

Sorry, no pics...

[Scott P]

Is the Dawn Wash still needed and/or called for? It would seem that it the new cleaner would eliminate the need for that step.

[Dave N]

I would guess a Dawn wash is not needed, but since this was a non-Autop... err, non-DCitizen-kept car so I wanted to get it as clean as possible with the first wash.

[CharlesW]

Welcome to DC!

Originally Posted by Dave N

Rinses out of pad with cold water (if not dry)

That would seem to support the theory that most sealants should have a chance to dry/cure before being exposed to rain.

Originally Posted by Dave N

Very difficult to clean out of pad if left to dry

That would seem to support the theory of sealants being water, (and detergent), resistant after they have dried/cured.

Charles

[JaredPointer]

Is the new polish geared toward tackling any moderate swirling?

[Dave N]

Originally Posted by CharlesW

That would seem to support the theory that most sealants should have a chance to dry/cure before being exposed to rain.

One would think so... But a Zaino beta-tester stated in a thread on Autopia that Sal Z. told him there is no sealant in Z-PC. It sure dried hard though.

Is the new polish geared toward tackling any moderate swirling?

Yes, the full name for this product is "Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover" and the Zaino description clearly indicates it is intended for swirl removal. I just wanted to make clear that I wasn't trying to remove swirls with it for this detail. I'm sure we'll know in a few weeks, from other users, how well it works on light/moderate/heavy swirls.

[CharlesW]

Originally Posted by Dave N

One would think so... But a Zaino beta-tester stated in a thread on Autopia that Sal Z. told him there is no sealant in Z-PC. It sure dried hard though.

My bad.
I was thinking you were cleaning the Z2Pro from your pads.
Obviously I wasn't really thinking.

Charles

[JeffM]

For a mild SMR any dusting in this stage of the game for a new product to be released is unacceptable.

There are quite a few WB polishes that dont hardly dust, if at all.

Whats the theroy of using a polish that is able to accept a LSP without bonding issues, if there is a chance that you may have to rewash? If thats the case, use whatever you want and do a dawn wash....right?

My .02, i appreaciate your review

[caddyE]

Originally Posted by JeffM

For a mild SMR any dusting in this stage of the game for a new product to be released is unacceptable.

There are quite a few WB polishes that dont hardly dust, if at all.

Whats the theroy of using a polish that is able to accept a LSP without bonding issues, if there is a chance that you may have to rewash? If thats the case, use whatever you want and do a dawn wash....right?

My .02, i appreaciate your review

Personally, I aways rinse down afterwards to check my work and remove any dusting from the previous use of heavier (more abrasive) polishes. This removes any dust from nocks and crannies and also allows for a final inspection before applying the LSP.

Probably as we get more experience using this product (I should have mine on Wednesday ), we will be able to find the right dosage in which the dust production will cease. I have used PB SSR1 and AIO and both produced dust when I initially used these products. As I became more familiar with these products the dust production ended with equivalent swirl removal as the dusting dose.

Until that point where we learn to use Z-PC properly a rinse may be necessary or a regular car shampoo. Definitively, no need for Dawn.

Dawn does not equal dust removal.
Dawn does equal oil/silicone/glaze/carnuaba containing products removal from finish. :onthespot

[JeffM]

Cars with near perfect finishes already, like mine, only need a quick, light SMR every 4-6 months. Why would i want to wash after giving the paint a quicky, when i goto my LSP right now without washing?


Last week when i did my Zaino-ing, i simply used 3m PI 3000 SMR, and put z2 pro right ontop. As long as the 3m doesnt get hit with any sun at all, on speed 4-5, no dust.

I dont know if it is compatible....but it is beading like mad dogs hahah, so i guess thats proof enough for me

Hopefully someone will determine that on a speed of 5 or less, out of the sun, it doesnt dust.