I have seen in a few posts about detailing your Z, that some people will be using an ABC system, and others, zaino and such. I told my dealership I don't want anyone washing my car, I will do it myself. Will it be sufficient to wash the car with Dawn liquid soap to make sure to strip any wax and remove the cosmalyne (sp?) they use on the car when shipping overseas?

Oh I have also seen where some people say they are going to also clay their car. Is this necessary on a new car? What contaminants would the new paint have on it that normal soap would not remove?

 

I didn't think that claying was necessary on a new car, but researching it I heard (from Zaino and elsewhere) that it's especially important to clay a new car to remove metal dust from the ship.

 

They dont use cosmoline anyome, but yes, your car is far from clean after its thousands of mile trip to your house. Dawn is Ok to use, its very good at removing grease but its caustic, meaning that if you use it often over the years, its will dull and weaken the paint. I HIGHLY recomend the ABC system from Auto International. Its not a comsumer product and VERY few people know about it. It was designed to clean up cars at the dealer after they whave been deliverd. Its obviously perfect for you aplication (cleaning your brand new car) but down the road when its time to clean her up again and re-wax/zaino ect, its nice to really clean the paint of months of contamination, and the ABC system is perfect for this.

 

I just asked my dealer (general sales manager)...and voi la!

Sal Zaino tells me that claying is not necessarry. My dealer tells me he will apply 2 coats of z-5 and 1 coat z-2 as per my direction (as per Zal Zaino's instruction). NO CHARGE!! (I will supply the products)

 

About using the Dawn, that would strictly be used like you say only rarely, like in the case of a new car... Other than that I have Meguiars car solution to wash it with. I looked at the company website for the ABC system but there was no dealer in Louisiana, and how would I be able to get a hold of some of this stuff? That would be the best thing, but if it's expensive, then dawn will just have to do.

What I planned on doing was washing once with dawn, dry with Absorber, then start Zaino Z2 mixed with ZFX and apply 3 coats and after that take MANY MANY pictures.

 

You can buy the stuff online. Just enter "catalouge/store" and select "Neutralization System" I would recoemdn getting two buckets that are marked by the gallon, and three squirt botles (ketchup bottles, or like I did, old car wash bottles and marked them using a marker and a measuring cup). Folow the great instructions that come with it and you should be set. These three gallon jugs will last ou a LONG time on one car. This is something that must be measured out properly and SHOULDN'T be guestimated. Other than that it's very easy to use. Also, read over the "Detailing Session: 1 & 3" on this site.

 

Correction, you must click Store, then click "enter the store" Heres the link anyway: http://online.supern.com/acb/showpro...jectGroup_ID=5

Remember, you must use all three for it to be effective. Except when it comes to weekly washing when the C is used alone.

 

Brad4rdHay,

Thanks for the info. Would it be ok if I didn't buy the "pH 7.0 Surface Conditioner" and just used my regular Meguiars Gold Class car wash shampoo and conditioner in place?

Cash 1,

What kind of clay bar system did you buy? I remember doing my Accord a while back with the Meguiars clay bar system and it had to have taken me 2+ hours. I bet your Z looks like the shia! You can't beat the looks of a clean freshly waxed black car.

 

Quick note - Dawn dishwashing detergent is not as caustic as it use to be after changing formulations early in 2001. Regardless, using Dawn 2-4 times a year will never hurt the finish of a car even after 30+ years of use (athough back in the day it was either Ivory or Joy and was consistantly washed with it). We've got 3 concourse cars in the family that we've had since the 50s and 60s on original paint. My uncles 56 Bel-Air was repainted in 1985 and still wins B.O.S. at almost every non-concourse show event. the other 3 consistantly trophy in concourse shows.

 

Dawns new formula is safer, but it still will eat away at the plasticisers in the paint. Twice a year is OK, but it isn't nearly as affective as the ABC system, and its not as safe.

Both ABC and clay will remove IFO specs of the paint giving it that smooth feeling everyonme likes. Clay does it better but does nothing for chemicaly. I.E., when a bird craps on your beautiful Z, its acids seep into the paint. Thats bad enough, but a year later after a rainstorm, the reaction will start again, etching deeper into the paint, which will require abrasive polishing, which you want to try and avoid. BOTH have their place, and being a detailer, I have both...but to your average enthusiast, who keeps his car clean, ABC covors most of your needs.

I have talked to the chemist (online) who made the stuff, he honestly recomends that you usse C instead of another car wash. Most car washes out there arn't as pH balanced as the "C' and have lots of un-needed "extras" in them, where as the C is as pure a car wash as you can get. I recomend you get it beacause its great to use as a weekly wash, suds up nice.