Durability of Optimum vs. Zaino AIO's and Sealants

L

levander

New member
New to detailing, deciding what products I want to use. Right now, I'm just gonna wash, clay, AIO, seal.



I like what I've read about the Optimum washing products. The versatility of ONR and have seen a lotta good things about the power of Optimum Power Cleaner.



Now, I'm trying to choose an AIO and sealant. From reading around here, it's pretty much down to Optimum's OPS and OS or Zaino's ZAIO and Z2 (I have a lighter colored car, it's silver, a lighter shade of silver).



One thing that makes me wanna go with the OPS and OS is that if I manage to keep up with washing my car once a month, I'm gonna use the ONR diluted to car wash strength. And, as a QD I'll use ONR at the QD dilution. Is this going to strengthen the protection I get with OS? Is it going to make a difference?



But, not sure how often I'll really clean it. So, durability of the product is more important to me than it would be to you guys who love to go out and wash your car every week. I might be a once-a-month guy, we'll see.



From various numbers I've seen around the board, without taking anything about ONR into account, it seems like you can get ~8 months of protection out of ZAIO and Z2. ~5 months out of OPS and OS. Is this about right?



From what I've read it seems like more people say you get longer lasting protection out of the Zaino products than the Optimum products. So, I'd go with Zaino. But, how much of a difference does it make to OPS and OS's durability if you're using ONR for QD'ing and regular washing?



Also, I want to use the same AIO and sealant on the wheels as I do the paint. But, if you find the ones you like for the paint, you can just use the same ones on the wheels?



I could ask about looks, but, from reading, the responses seem even more varied than those of durability. From the descriptions, I know I would not prefer what people describe as the "plasticy" look of Klasse. And, Werkstatt is supposed to improve on that look, but still be the same idea. I'd definitely want the look people talk about on the Zaino products with them being "deeper" I think is what they say. I'm not sure what they say about OPS and OS's look.



If it's 3 months of protection difference between the Zaino products and the Optimum products, I'd go with Zaino.



But, if it's really just the Autopian audiophiles who thinks there's that much difference and it's really closer than that in practise, I'd probably just go with the Optimum products. You can just buy them at Autogeek and I've already gotta bottle of OS I won't have to return. But, I don't mind returning it to get what I want. And, this paragraph assumes the looks are close.



I am someone who's picky about looks. So, you guys who say "I can't see a difference". I'm probably not one of you guys.



Also, is there a better place to buy Zaino products than zainostore.com? It's the only place I see on the internet that sells the product.
 
There are no fillers in ZAIO. From what 3 highly regarded professional detailer have told me Poli-seal is loaded with silicones, so much so that it's very hard to remove the residue from your polishing pads. This may or may not be a concern to you.



I use QEW on my zaino protected cars all the time. No issues at all.
 
Zaino does have silicones but they are of the safe type, as do many products.



Poli-Seal will act as a filler if used by hand because it's not being broken down fully, which I believe would be the same for many products designed for machine but used by hand. Poli-Seal is not an intentional filler, like a glaze product.



So lots of products have silicone but we have safe, paint safe silicone and we have bad silicone.



There's a big thread on this somewhere on Autopia where more indepth replies are given than my attempt.



Anthony
 
I don't own a polisher. I'll be applying it by hand. I don't even quite understand how a filling works, so no, I'm not particularly worried about that. I plan to get more and more into paint correction, but I'm not there yet. It seems there's plenty to learn before you get there. And, I need to get my hands dirty and start using the knowledge I have gained to sink it in my head some.



What I'm mainly asking about is durability of the two products. Like, how much does regular washing with ONR improve the durability you get with OPS and OS? And, I'm asking about the looks. But, as mentioned above, from descriptions on Autopia, I know I'd prefer Zaino to Klasse. And, since Scottwax says he's preferred product on lighter colored cars is OPS and OS, and I have a lighter colored car, I'm sure that product will look good enough for me. Of the really knowledgable people on this board, Scottwax's preferences in products seem to jibe mostly with my own. Well, except for how much he says he likes Werkstatt, which is an update over Klasse. And, I've read quite a bit about the look differences between Klasse and Zaino. I know I'd prefer how Zaino looks. So, maybe I wouldn't be in line with Scottwax's preference of OPS and OS over ZAIO and Z2 as well?
 
levander said:
I don't own a polisher. I'll be applying it by hand. I don't even quite understand how a filling works, so no, I'm not particularly worried about that. I plan to get more and more into paint correction, but I'm not there yet. It seems there's plenty to learn before you get there. And, I need to get my hands dirty and start using the knowledge I have gained to sink it in my head some.



What I'm mainly asking about is durability of the two products. Like, how much does regular washing with ONR improve the durability you get with OPS and OS? And, I'm asking about the looks. But, as mentioned above, from descriptions on Autopia, I know I'd prefer Zaino to Klasse. And, since Scottwax says he's preferred product on lighter colored cars is OPS and OS, and I have a lighter colored car, I'm sure that product will look good enough for me. Of the really knowledgable people on this board, Scottwax's preferences in products seem to jibe mostly with my own. Well, except for how much he says he likes Werkstatt, which is an update over Klasse. And, I've read quite a bit about the look differences between Klasse and Zaino. I know I'd prefer how Zaino looks. So, maybe I wouldn't be in line with Scottwax's preference of OPS and OS over ZAIO and Z2 as well?
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Never had any issue getting poli seal out of my pads.



Also note that many highly regarded pros think that Duragloss is as good if not the same as zaino.



Both Optimum and zaino will look great and last a long time. However, where you live and the color of the car will affect durability. It isn't uniform.
 
If you want a product to last, wash the vehicle at least twice per month. Removing the contaminants from the surface will indeed extent the life of the protection. Good luck in your rejuvenation efforts.....working with silver wont give you a good understanding of surface difficulties. Silver containing the least amount of pigments of any color can be easy if there are no surface marks in it. Try to teach yourself on darker colors once you get confident. I find Zaino a good product but dont feel it lasts 8 months.
 
Okay, thanks guys. I knew I was over thinking it. But, I'm reading my OP. Wow, I'm over thinking this!



People on this board are raving about the durability of Zaino. And, from the descriptions, I know I"ll really like the way it looks. So, why over think it and see if there's an angle where I would want to go with Optimum instead?



paintxpert, I kind of think it may even be better to start with silver. Kind of what I'm thinking is I've got this old car with 130K miles on it. I'll learn to take care of it better, maybe work on some friends and families cars that don't take care of their car better. Then, next time I lay down a load of cash for a new car, I'll know what I'm doing and take care of it better.



Kind of what started me out on this quest is there's no good readily available guide for people on what the minimum they can do to take care of their car well. I didn't even know what polishing was before I came on this board. I knew what wax was, but had never really put it together that it's functional role is to protect the paint. Although, I had heard about beading.



Thanks for all the comments guys.
 
But, if someone does have a reason I should go with Optimum instead of Zaino, I'm all ears! :)



The main reason I can think of would just be consistency with the product line. You know when Optimum goes in and tests their product to figure out how to improve it, they're testing it against the rest of the products in their catalog.



But, right now I'm thinking that doesn't make so much difference all the time. Right now, Optimum for washing, Zaino for AIO and sealing.
 
Truthfully you can't go wrong with either choice.



People, as in customers, may recognize the Zaino name more so than the Optimum name but again both lines work as needed.....and there's no rule that says you can't use both lines!



Anthony
 
levander said:
Also, is there a better place to buy Zaino products than zainostore.com? It's the only place I see on the internet that sells the product.
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Look for Duragloss products at your local auto parts store (Advance Auto carries them). I've used both Duragloss and Zaino products and I can't tell a difference between them with regards to ease of use and results...and that is doing side by side, panel by panel comparisons immediately upon application and a couple months down the road.



I think Z2/Z5 last a bit longer than Opti-Seal, but they don't seem to protect any better. If you would have to apply Zaino twice a year, you'd have to apply OS 3 times a year for best results. OS does darken the paint a bit more, but otherwise appearances are very similar.



ONR will definitely keep any LSP looking good and beading longer than traditional washing methods, so if you wash your cars with it, durability not might be a big issue with you.
 
Damn, the one guy who seems to pick products that after way too much research I end up liking the best, pops in and changes my mind yet again after I've decided on Zaino...



But, if they're the same, I know better than to spend more money on something because it's trendy. But, the word "Zaino", it is a really cool name...



As a replacement for ZAIO, it looks like you use Duragloss #101? And, as a replacement for Z2, use Duragloss #111? From looking at their web site, I don't see the difference between Duragloss TPP (#105) and Duragloss #111, but it seems like most people on here are talking about #111, so I'm thinking that's what I'm supposed to use.
 
Anthony, maybe I'm reading something into your post that's just not there. But, are you thinking maybe I'm trying to do this for pay? Do guys as newbie as I am go out and start making money off this stuff?
 
levander said:
Anthony, maybe I'm reading something into your post that's just not there. But, are you thinking maybe I'm trying to do this for pay? Do guys as newbie as I am go out and start making money off this stuff?
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My bad, I though you were doing this for profit. Many amateurs do this for side money.



Anthony
 
Dude, just pick one. If one doesnt perform up to your expectations, try the next one.



What do you intend to get out of the AIO working it by hand?



And I suggest the Duragloss line as well. It may not have a cool name or be bottled

up fancy, but I would bet that you or I couldnt tell the difference it the finished product.



And really, I dont think product line consistency matters all that much, except for how

it looks in your collection. With the possible exception of Zaino, which many would say is a redundant process anyways. But using ONR with Zaino isnt going to hurt anything.
 
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