I like the Absorber too, but it leaves a light film of water no matter how much you wring it out. I use it on my light colored cars, but it shows up on the black cars (Z included). If I do use it on the black cars, I always follow up with the Wipe and Shine and get rid of the streaks. I use the air compressor if I'm going to drive the car the same day, blow out the rim lug holes, badges, etc... What color are your cars?

 

When washing my mom's killer '92 R/S Camero T-top 350 V8 (the most fun i have ever had driving a car), i prefer to whip (and i do mean "whip") the car around the block a few times and when i get back, it is a quick 5 minute job with the Absorber.

I am interested in picking some Zaino (this forum is the first i have heard/seen of it), so i wil probably move onto that if i can convince my dad it give it a try.

If it works out well, he will probably make me put a few coats on his 1970 Plymouth GTX 440 (lime green w/ twin black racing stripes, never driven it before but my dad has it in his will that i get it once he dies).

 

Syclone=Black
GTP=Black
350Z=Blue

It does leave a very slight bit of water, but if it isn't too cool or too late in the evening (when dew is starting), it dries in about a minute with no spotting or streaks for me. I'd say it was more like a hazing for a few seconds on the second pass with a well wrung out Absorber.

Maybe it is water differences between us. Hard and soft water dry differently. If the vehicle is all waxed up (even the black ones), no problems. If it doesn't have a good layer of wax/Zaino, it is a bit more troublesome.

 

I have three black vehicles and I use Absorbers on all of them with no streaking or spotting.

I find a big part of it's functionality is wringing the water out of it very firmly and making sure it's stored properly.

 

I try to wash mine in the evening and let it sit overnight in the garage before I drive it the next day. I actually have a soft water outlet installed in the garage (specifically for car washing). I've got issues... It's not very humid here and the water may be drying too quick thus leaving streaks...AZ aaaaaaarid! I store it as directed and have used them for years. I have noticed streaks and as I said earlier I follow it with "Wipe and Shine" regardless of how I dry it. I like the microfiber towels for the final wipe down. As for the posts where the guys like to drive it around the block...I found that NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE the car picks up just enough particles from the road (especially when wet) to lightly scratch the paint while drying. My advice would be to look at the drying apparatus when finished and if it has ANY discoloration (black) whatsoever chances are you're scratching the paint.

 

Yeah, I agree.

Driving it around the block while it's wet then trying to dry it is a really really bad idea.

 

On my black Z.. using a big blue towel.. you drag the towel across the surface (not rub.. drag it laid out) and there is a slight streak of water left.. but it dries in under 30 seconds with no water marks or streaks.

The key is to use the hose to sheet 80% of the water off the car first... my nozzle has a 'soaker' setting which works great... then use your towel of choice. I find dragging it works 10x better then rubbing. I only rub it for areas I can not drag or swat the towel at.. the towel dries the car much faster dragging then rubbing it.

 

The water dries so fast here in the desert that the dragging method usually streaks. A small amount of water turns into no water before you are even done dragging. But it's 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky through a good portion of the winter.

I guess it's one of those trade-offs .

 

Use the water sheeting method, then an electric leaf blower. Takes less time than any other method, dries all the nooks and crannies, and nothing touches the car, that is as long as you do not drop the blower on the hood.

 

I've found this to be the easiest and by far the quickest way to get rid of the water after washing.

First, pull your car out of the driveway into the street. Watch for other vehicles and pedestrians. Rev up to 3 grand, pop the clutch and run though the gears, oh between 140 and 150, jam on the brakes. Walla, when the vehicle stops, she will be dry.

The principle behind this technique is that the rapped acceleration will make all the water run to the rear of the car. Once at speeds above 90 mph, the winds and turbulence will blow 90 to 95 percent of the water off the vehicle. Upon rapid deceleration, any water left on the rear of the car will be jolted to the front of the car and if polished with Zaino will not be able to retain its surface tension and will fly off the vehicle.

My next post will instruct on how to polish/wax your car in less than 60 seconds.

Zonny . . . Touring, 6mt, all opts. except areo

 

a leaf blower works well too, just blow thw water off, sounds funky but works well!