Sealing without polishing, even though it needs it

L

levander

New member
It's been years since I've cleaned my car. I really need to do the whole works to the paint, it really needs to be polished. I haven't even looked closely and noticed some light scratch marks on the hood. And, I see spots here and there all over the car that didn't come off with just a pressure wash the other day.



What I'm wondering, if I clean it really well with Optimum Power Cleaner and ONR, then just go ahead and seal it with opti-seal after that, am I somehow damaging the paint? It does need to be polished. But, I've got no interest in buying a polisher right now. I might do it next time I spend time detailing my car. Plus, I've learned so much over the last month, I'm kind of burnt out, not interested in learning more right now.



But, will I be damaging the paint in anyway by going ahead and washing and sealing it without polishing it right now?
 
I was in the same boat, wanted to get some protection on my truck for winter, but weather doesn't leave a lot of time for polishing right now, and I don't have a garage.



I'd recommend claying the vehicle, and then hitting it with a cleaner wax since it's been so long. It will clean up your paint a bit, and leave protection behind. I used Megs ColorX, and I'm happy with the results for now. This spring I'll give it a proper detail with paint correction.



A cleaner wax alone will be better than nothing, but probably won't last as long if you don't clay first.
 
Another vote for one-stepping it with something that'll clean and leave some protection behind.



I'd go with KAIO (best chemical cleaning), ZAIO (best, though still minimal, correction), or Autoglym SRP (best filling and protection). But yeah, the Color-X would be a simple OTC solution that'd work well too.
 
Okay, great, thanks guys. I think I'm getting better at this because this is the 1st thread I've started that I understand all the answers.



I'll clay and do ColorX Or KAIO this time.



Accumulator - from the criteria you've listed, that Autoglym sounds interesting too, but I'm looking at their web site. Their product line is huge. Don't understand it at all, nor is it available at AutoGeek. I wonder if they typically do bulk supply to shops or something. Way too much to figure out. And, since the car is filthy, the description you've got for KAIO, "best chemical cleaning", sounds like what I want before trying to correct or fill anyway.
 
Just because they dont sell it at Autogeek doesnt mean its not a good product.



Autoglym is HUGE in the UK. Thats practically all they use. SRP is like a god over there...
 
Autoglym may at some point appear at the likes of Autogeek, it has been on ProperAutoCare and is again.



Autoglym was not avalible mass market in the USA b/c things like EGP was not able to be shipped by airmail. Also i believe some products did not fall with in US guidelines for chemicals used in the products.
 
A number of places in the US sell Autoglym, and like steelwind101 one that comes most readily to my mind is Autoglym Super Resin Polish, 11 oz.



SRP has been around since forever, and for good reason. All in all, it's probably my favorite AIO type product, but hey, that's just my subjective take on it.
 
several people have said they have found it at their local walmart.



i am checking mine when i get off work tonight.



Also, someone from autogeek chimed in that they spoke with autoglym, and they are getting into the "big box" market....anyhow, i will let yall know if I find any at my local stores.
 
I still haven't gotten to this. Went to buy something online tonight, but one more question. The reason I was gonna go with Opti-seal was because after washing my wheels, I was gonna seal it with that.



But, now that I'm thinking AIO to protect the car, how good of an idea is it to use that to protect the wheels too? Using it on the wheels, would that make you guys that much more prone towards getting a sealant too?



And, I just saw a Klasse vs. Zaino thread. From reading it, think I'd rather go with ZAIO. But, googling around the internet, not very many good places to buy it. There's zainostore.com. But, they charge a flat $10 shipping rate. Maybe I shouldn't be so adverse to shipping? But, I just hate paying that. Is there a better place to buy it?



This is a new hobby to me. I'm just starting with the basics and make sure I stick with it before I put even more money in, like buying a polisher. I don't want to buy a bunch of products because they're neat and have them kicking around my house forever because I paid for them and don't want to throw them out. Basically, I'm looking for products that are as general purpose (wide array of applications) and as durable as possible, keeping cost in mind.
 
levander-IME AIO products aren't all that great when it comes to lasting protection; they're better at cleaning/etc. and don't leave all *that* much protection behind.



That said, I use various AIOs under both waxes and sealants, including on wheels. Depending on the application, I like KAIO, ZAIO, and Autoglym SRP; each one brings something a little different to the table.
 
Yeah, I got that. I thought they weren't great at polishing or cleaning either, it's just the convenience of the product. And, I thought most people in here were recommending 1.) wash, 2.) clay, then 3.) AIO. Was I just just supposed to assume that there's a 4.) seal in the basic idea? I know you can seal after the 1st 3, I just didn't think people were recommending it was what they would do in the situation I'm in.



Also, I'm searching all over the forums looking at this Zaino stuff. Everybody says, "I zaino'd this" or "I zaino'd that!" The thing is, there's like 10 Zaino products. When you say you zaino'd something, does that mean you used "the zaino system of products", does it mean you used ZAIO or maybe it's just Z2?
 
Well, I think I figured this out. I'm spending way too much time on this forum and all the techniques start swirling around in my head.



When you say you "zaino'd" something, it means you used the Zaino system of products.



And, all I need is ZAIO and Z2 or Z5. Z2 for me because the only two cars I'd be working on initially are lighter colored.



A thing that confused me is that Z2 and Z5 are called polishes on the Zaino store web site. But, everyone talks about them here like they are sealants. And, I'm thinking in the generic sense word, they are sealants.



Still haven't found a great place to find Zaino products, only the zaino store.
 
Just head to your nearest auto parts store and get either Meguiar's ColorX or Meguiar's regular cleaner/wax that comes in the burgundy bottle. Git-r-done. Enough talk.



Tom :cool:
 
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