I've been an avid Zaino user for about 2 years, now. Z2 Pro has been my LSP of choice, along with Z6 and Z8. I Z2 the car (2002 Honda Accord) on average, every 2 months. The paint looks great and beads water like crazy. Over the past year or so, I've noticed water spot etching on all of the horizontal surfaces. After doing a little research here I discovered that Zaino doesn't "protect" that well. I'm very disappointed because I really loved this product. I'm considering 845 as my new LSP but I'm still concerned about the use of Z8. With Z8 on top of 845 will it still be susceptible to etching. I have to do something soon because I just noticed etching on my new car, also.
Zaino Protection?
- Thread starter mborner
- Start date
imported_agentf11
New member
Where did you hear Zaino does not protect well? 
I found Zaino to protect just as well and for much longer than any carnuaba product. That said, nothing is going to protect you from acid rain, bugs or bird droppings if they are left on the paint long enough.
I found Zaino to protect just as well and for much longer than any carnuaba product. That said, nothing is going to protect you from acid rain, bugs or bird droppings if they are left on the paint long enough.
imported_memnuts
New member
Must be the environment???:nixweiss I detail my co-worker's Honda Accord every 6 months and this vehicle has never required etching repair. Claying and paint cleansing yes, but afterwards blemish-free. I warn all my customers that frequent bird dropping removal is essential. This is true for all the LSP's (some still prefer wax) that I apply to their vehicles. As mentioned by Z06 above, NO product will prevent damage against extreme assaults beyond a very short period of time. Some slightly longer than others but no product will deter damage indefinitely.
Are you sure this is etching? The blemishes you are seeing may be the "rim" of mineral deposits that need removal by claying and/or cleansing (mild polishing). Test a spot.
Are you sure this is etching? The blemishes you are seeing may be the "rim" of mineral deposits that need removal by claying and/or cleansing (mild polishing). Test a spot.
imported_DieselMDX
New member
good point on mild polishing
budman3
Detail time!
In general, sealants typically do not protect the paint from the elements, like water spotting, bird bombs, fall out, etc. This is where having a layer of carnauba wax is superior. If you live in a harsh environment with fall out and the above, topping a sealant with a carnauba is a good idea. As stated above you will want to remove contamination ASAP but with a wax you have a little more leeway. Sealants protect from sun damage and look great for a long time but do not necessarily protect against physical fall out and such.
z06meister said:Where did you hear Zaino does not protect well?
Right here on this web site. I did a search and turned up tons of stuff about Zaino and water spot etching.
Anyway, even though Z8 is a Zaino product, I'm wondering if the use of Z8 will still be susceptible to etching, even with 845IW underneath.
I'm not blasting Zaino in any way. Like I said earlier, I'm really bummed because I love the stuff, but I have to do what I have to do to protect my cars.
I live in Florida. It's hot.... it rains for 20mins....the sun comes out.....it's hot as hell, and everything dries up in a matter of mins. What can I do about waterspots??
A. Wash the car as soon as I come home...
B. Wait till next weekend?
Nothing will protect waterspots unless you treat the spots before they become damaging. That's my only problem here in Florida. I say to myself... it it's going to rain, it better rain all freakin day!.
As far as I'm concerned when this happens to me after a quick thunderstorm. I'm more concerned with my windows more than my paint when it comes to waterspots. I usually have a damp MF and wipe the windows down before the sun can bake it in.
As far as the paint.. I can handle the waterspot issues with a weekend wash, but I try not to let it sit there too long... especially the hood because I'll need to either clay, or polish the waterspots out, and put another LSP on... which I don't like to keep doing.
A. Wash the car as soon as I come home...
B. Wait till next weekend?
Nothing will protect waterspots unless you treat the spots before they become damaging. That's my only problem here in Florida. I say to myself... it it's going to rain, it better rain all freakin day!.
As far as I'm concerned when this happens to me after a quick thunderstorm. I'm more concerned with my windows more than my paint when it comes to waterspots. I usually have a damp MF and wipe the windows down before the sun can bake it in.
As far as the paint.. I can handle the waterspot issues with a weekend wash, but I try not to let it sit there too long... especially the hood because I'll need to either clay, or polish the waterspots out, and put another LSP on... which I don't like to keep doing.
imported_DennisH
New member
I think that Zaino strong point of “high and tight beading� is also its weak point also. The higher and tighter the beading increases waters dwell time and increases the chance of water etching. I also believe that Zaino is not the only sealant that has rain-etching problems but Zaino does have one of the best beading sealants out there increasing chances of having a etching problems. Check out Corvette Forums car care section and water etching is major problem over there. I have also used Zaino for 3 years and had it on at least one of my cars during that time so I have personally witness how Zaino reacts. I personally believe that a nuba protect better in the short term but needs to be applied often to maintain that protection.
Macruz19 said:
I live in S. Slorida, also. That may be part of my problem. It does rain or sometimes drizzles and then the sun just bakes down on the paint. I've heard that Collinite 845IW protects extremely well against this scenario and I was just wondering if Z8 on top of 845 would take that ability away. Does anybody know? I really want to keep using Z8 but if it is part of the problem I will stop using it.
SuperBee364
New member
I must admit, I'm one of the naysayers when it comes to Zaino and it's lack of environmental protection. I used it for years. I really hated the fact that it looked so nice, while protecting so little. I ended up getting some pretty severe water etching on several of my cars due to the fact that I was counting on Zaino to give me some environmental protection.
Relying on a QD spray for environmental protection isn't a very good idea, either.
You'll find a general consensus here that carnauba LSP's (not hybrid carnauba/polymer types. I'm talking 100% carnauba, no polymers) will give you the best environmental protection. That's not to say that there isn't some good polymer/sealants out there (I'm particularly impressed with UPGP ability to provide good protection), but *as a general rule* it's hard to beat carnauba for protection from the environment.
Relying on a QD spray for environmental protection isn't a very good idea, either.
You'll find a general consensus here that carnauba LSP's (not hybrid carnauba/polymer types. I'm talking 100% carnauba, no polymers) will give you the best environmental protection. That's not to say that there isn't some good polymer/sealants out there (I'm particularly impressed with UPGP ability to provide good protection), but *as a general rule* it's hard to beat carnauba for protection from the environment.
Having used Zaino for many years, I can attest that Zaino resists crud/grime better than most anything I've every tried. The paint just stays cleaner over a longer period and more contaminant free than with any carnauba or sealant product I have used. This is evident to me particularly when washing the car, as it takes minimal effort to actually clean the paint as grime just doesn't seem to adhere. Way back when I used carnauba (preZaino days), I can remember having to scrub the car to release the grime, which in turn created greater marrring. I personally have no doubts as to Zaino's long term protection for my paint.
As for water spotting/etching, yeah, it's a catch 22 with Zaino. Yes, it beads/protects incredibly well, but that beading can lead to some spotting occassionally. I have experienced it also, but you know what, the spotting has never once failed to usually come right off with a wash or QD. I can't remember a time, while using Zaino, that I had to actually polish or compound the car to remove water etching. I think a majority of the spotting you see is in the Zaino layer, not the actual paint surface. Even so, I love the beading and even with some spotting every once and a while, wouldn't want it any other way!
Mike
As for water spotting/etching, yeah, it's a catch 22 with Zaino. Yes, it beads/protects incredibly well, but that beading can lead to some spotting occassionally. I have experienced it also, but you know what, the spotting has never once failed to usually come right off with a wash or QD. I can't remember a time, while using Zaino, that I had to actually polish or compound the car to remove water etching. I think a majority of the spotting you see is in the Zaino layer, not the actual paint surface. Even so, I love the beading and even with some spotting every once and a while, wouldn't want it any other way!
Mike
SuperBee364
New member
TigerMike said:
Right here is a great example of someone having a completely opposite experience from another. *My* experience has always been that Zaino was very hard to clean (wouldn't readily release contaminants), and that carnaubas have always been very easy to clean. I have also experienced little to no envirnonmental protection from Zaino. Again, completely opposite experience from TigerMike. Not arguing here, just pointing out different experiences.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is use the product and form your own opinions. Try putting Zaino up against some other sealants and some other carnaubas, and find something that *you* like; something that gives *you* satisfactory looks and protection.
SuperBee364 said:
Ditto. If there is one thing I think is *extremely* important in the detailing world (and I try to tell people as often as possible), I think it is to gain experience with many products, and take all opinions as just that, until your own experience validates or disproves what you have "heard" about one thing or another. I absolutely advocate people form their own opinion through experience, if for no other reason than because, yes, people have such seemingly opposite experiences with things in life. The experience will only make the user all the wiser, and not completely at the mercy of a bunch of opinions.
SuperBee364
New member
TigerMike said:
Cool.. we agree about something! :bigups
I've had problems with waterspots when the LSP was a carnuaba (476s, Natty Blue, M26, PS) and sealants (Zaino, PGP, Danase Sealant). I think it had more to do with the content of minerals or solids in the water.
Was the water etching/spotting present before you began using Zaino, is it a previous issue, or has it happened/noticed just recently?
Grab a tin or bottle of Collinite, do a mild polish to get rid of the spots, apply, and see if you have any better luck. Collinite rocks, I would recommend 476s over 845, but its a matter of preference.
Was the water etching/spotting present before you began using Zaino, is it a previous issue, or has it happened/noticed just recently?
Grab a tin or bottle of Collinite, do a mild polish to get rid of the spots, apply, and see if you have any better luck. Collinite rocks, I would recommend 476s over 845, but its a matter of preference.
imported_weekendwarrior
New member
Collinite 845 and Meguiar's 16 are the absolute best products I have used for protection, and ease of washing.
imported_DennisH
New member
TigerMike I do agree with you that Zaino releases dirt and is easy to cleanup and Z8 is probably the best QD for a sealant out there. But I have to disagree about nuba - I have never had a problem washing that caused marring to remove dirt because of nuba. I have used dusters and bug cleanup using PB Spray and Wipe without maring the surface. I use PS, VW, #16, and 50/50 quite a bit because I like to look of nuba's.
A QD for me when I have waterspots, or a ONR wash is good enough for me to prevent waterspots etched into my paint. Glad I only have 1 car to worry 
When I first used Zaino, my first impression was: Wow no waterspots after a storm!!
Now, I have water spots to worry about when I have to leave my car out in the sun. I wonder why...
When I first used Zaino, my first impression was: Wow no waterspots after a storm!!
Now, I have water spots to worry about when I have to leave my car out in the sun. I wonder why...
SuperBee364 said:
It's funny that you mention this because Zaino always rinsed almost completey cean for me until I tried CS. I used it once, and will never use it again. It took about 6 coats of Z2 Pro to get the rinsing action back to normal. I have a near full bottle of CS if anybody wants it.