Zaino CS @ 6 Months - Durability Update

mgm2003

mgm2003

New member
I wanted to share my durability experience with Zaino Clear Seal (Beta) at the 6 month mark. (October – March).



For testing, I decided to apply CS over freshly polished ‘Bare’ paint.



Prep:



* Z7 Wash

* Clay

* Z-PC Polish



LSP:



* Clear Seal x 1

* 4 mists covered the roof, using a Zaino applicator, applied by hand.

* CS was applied to the paint, roof rack, and plastic trim pieces.



Testing Protocol:



* Weekly Wash by hand (Z7, Foam Gun & Sheepskin Mitts)



* My wife ran the Tahoe through a touch-less machine wash 4 times over the winter, when the temps were below freezing. When black paint looks chalk white (salt), you have to do what you have to do �. This was usually done on Fridays, so I could re-wash by hand on Sat.



Drying & Maintenance:



* The roof was dried with a WW drying towel only.



* No QD, Spray Wax, etc…. It killed me, but I wanted to observe durability from a single coat of Zaino Clear Seal. The roof is out of site, so it was the one panel that wouldn’t drive me nuts.



Results/Impressions:



After 6 months, the beading isn’t as tight & tall as the initial application, but that is expected after running a daily driver through harsh winter conditions (salt, sand, touch less washes, etc).



* CS is still protecting the paint (but will need to be re-applied in late Spring)

* Winter contaminants didn’t stick/bond to the paint surface.

* The gloss/shine held up (i.e still looks great)

* I didn’t pick up any staining on the paint (hard water, salt, etc…)



Initially I was impressed with the ease of use & time savings that CS offered.

Now I’m more impressed with the durability, ease of maintenance, and eye appealing gloss after a season of crappy weather.



Here are a few beading shots of the roof at the 6mos mark.



IMG_0053.jpg


IMG_0054.jpg
 
that beads better after winter and 6 months then some of the junk I've seen other people put on cars..I give it a :goodjob
 
Wow, that's some amazing beading for a product at 6 months, especially one that you can just apply and walk away! If only I could afford it :(
 
very nice...

I'm going wash my car and see how tight is the bead after a week of CS:chuckle:
 
Nice writeup! I know the paint you felt by not touching the panel. :)



I am going through the same with my dads truck. I am going to run it until the CS is gone. It will be painful, very much so in fact, but educational.



Greg
 
dmxsoulja3 said:
that beads better after winter and 6 months then some of the junk I've seen other people put on cars..I give it a :goodjob
Click to expand...



+1.



Sal does his homework and it shows.



Many products have 'great initial appearance' -that's the easy part.



Very few hold up to the 'test of time'.



I have the experience of running CS x 1 during winter conditions, and the results tell the story.



CS is durable, looks great, and I have more free time on my hands to do other things.



At this point I could care less if CS lasts > than 6mos.



It has served its purpose.:2thumbs:



Hats off to Sal :usa
 
6 months of solid protection and you didn't even have to buff it off, what more could you ask for? I guess maybe a all in one car wash that washes, polishes and protects (lol). Mike...
 
Excellent review John. :goodjob

Your results reflect what's happening with my 6 month on going test on our SUV. Our weather has been mild all winter so I can not comment on durability for a severe winter (no snow/ice this year, not a flake).:bounce



Are you not amazed on the water beadings on plastic and rubber trim and how the trim remains shiny after months of exposure.



CS not only saves time at the application stage but also down the road on it's ability to constantly look great and the time saving during washing and post drying. CS is one of the top 5 purchases I have made for vehicle protection and appearance augmentation. Amazing how many applications are in this bottle. Way more that would be needed for personal usage when maintaining a 3 registered car fleet. I predict at least 2-3 years if one can refrain from applying after each wash :o and apply only every 4-6 months to maintain "max" protection. :D
 
Your CS looks better at six months then mine does at one week, I haven't experienced that great of beading, still looks like initial application though.
 
AZ Ferrari Man said:
Great, cant wait to try it out! May I ask the application process that you use on the car, ie: pumps per door, type of applicator etc...



Thanks for the help
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I've had good luck with tight loop cotton applicators with the Carand plastic hand grip. Mist CS on the pad and wipe. First initial area will have a saturated look. Continue to spread the product as long as it glides(even if you can't see it). When it begins to drag do another pump and continue.



Size of the water beads are dependant on several factors. Even after a fresh application I rarely get beads as small as in those pics. The curves of panels, air polution and smoothness of the paint all affect beading.
 
AZ Ferrari Man said:
Great, cant wait to try it out! May I ask the application process that you use on the car, ie: pumps per door, type of applicator etc...



Thanks for the help
Click to expand...





Here's how I've been applying CS:



The Zaino applicator or a MF applicator work best for me. You want to start with a new ‘virgin’ applicator, and store it in a zip lock bag between uses. If you pick up some dirt, etc… retire the applicator for other duties. Do not use a previously washed applicator, or one that has been used to apply another product.



1-2 mists per panel (on DRY surfaces) will cover a small/midsized vehicle. Oversized vehicles (Trucks, SUV’s) will require a bit more.



Wipe CS from front to back on top panels (hood, roof, trunk), and up and down on your vertical panels (doors, fenders). Work a section at a time, using a few passes per section covered.
 
blkZ28Conv said:
Are you not amazed on the water beadings on plastic and rubber trim and how the trim remains shiny after months of exposure. . :D
Click to expand...



Very amazed.



CS works excellent on trim, rubber seals, plastic trim, glass, lighting, etc..

I've also been running CS in the engine bay and it has been holding up very well.



My neighbor has CS on his Acura-MDX running boards, and they look freshly dressed after each wash.



CS is a lot more than a paint sealer. The range of applications is much more impressive to me vs. the ability to wipe on and walk away.:xyxthumbs
 
mgm121499 said:
Very amazed.



CS works excellent on trim, rubber seals, plastic trim, glass, lighting, etc..

I've also been running CS in the engine bay and it has been holding up very well.



My neighbor has CS on his Acura-MDX running boards, and they look freshly dressed after each wash.



CS is a lot more than a paint sealer. The range of applications is much more impressive to me vs. the ability to wipe on and walk away.:xyxthumbs
Click to expand...









:aww: I thought I was the only one using CS in the engine bay. This stuff really make my red engine cover and air intake "POP"!:bigups



John, I have been running a test on cotton applicator re-usage after segregated CS usage and washing. Liquid detergent and a cap full of bleach and white vinegar (~2 oz) and after a second rinse with another 2 oz vinegar, I place in dryer. Works great and no ill-effects on next CS application (drying time, smearing and clarity). Pads remove soft and perform identical to new pads.

I cycle thru 10 CS pads between washings.:wavey
 
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