For anyone using Zaino products...
I went to their website and just got more confused . Which products are necessary for our Lightnings? What order to you use them and how often? I've seen pics of cars that use their products and they look outstanding.

 

If you paint is in great shape (no swirl marks), just get the Z2. If you've got some swirl marks, get the Z5 slap a few coats on until you're satisfied with the finsh then start with Z2. Mine was new, I have just used Z2 and the paint looks awesome.


Before your first coat: wash with Dawn, claybar it, wash with Dawn again, then Zaino. That simple.

 

From the Zaino website

TIPS & TRICKS TO MAKE YOUR CAR A SHOWCAR!

STEP ONE:

Make sure vehicle is clean. Apply a thin coat of Zaino Bros' Z-1 Polish Lok™ Pre-Cleaner and Gloss Conditioner in a circular motion, using a 100% cotton towel or applicator. No rubbing is necessary. Entire vehicle may be done at one time. Let haze, DO NOT REMOVE Polish Lok!

STEP TWO:

Apply Zaino Bros' Show Car Polish (Z2 or Z5) to a clean 100% cotton towel or applicator. We have found the best way of applying Show Car Polish is with our #314 Custom Polish applicator. Just slightly dampen the applicator with water or Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray. Apply Show Car Polish directly to applicator. This technique will help increase flow and spreadability on the paint surface and yield more coats per bottle. Apply directly over hazed Polish Lok, let dry approximately 30 to 40 minutes or longer. Please use Show Car Polish on all wheels, metal, chrome, painted trim and plastic lenses. Remove with a clean 100% (Made in USA) Large Bath size White cotton towel, turning towel frequently until all polish is removed. A large towel is necessary to completely remove polish. You will see a "wet-looking" crystal-clear, ultra deep gloss. Note: It is not necessary to use Z-1 Polish Lok™ every time you polish your vehicle. Z-1 Polish Lok™ is recommended the first time you do your vehicle and thereafter, once a year for show cars and twice a year for everyday vehicles.

Wash truck with dawn and water
Put on Z1, let it dry wipe it off.
Put on Z2, let it dry wip it off.
Spot clean with z6.
Always use white 100% white made in the USA cotton towels. I bought nice new ones at K-mart on sale. My wife got tired of me stealing our good ones and they wern't white anyway.
You'll end up buying all their products anyway because they are all the best stuff I've ever used.

Whats complicated about this??????????????????????????
noelvm

 

Here is what I do. When I first got my L in the Spring of 2000, I used the clay bar to get rid of any rail dust caused by transporting it by train. I then washed it with the car wash. I then waxed it 3 times with the car polish for clear-coated paint and the Polish Lok pre-cleaner and gloss conditioner. Between each wax I sprayed it with the Gloss enhancer spray. If you are going to show your L, then definitely get the gloss enhancer spray. Now that I've had it one year, all I use is the car polish and the car wash. I waxed it 3 times this spring, and I wash it with the car wash whenever necessary. I just ordered 2 more bottles of car wash. I got a little ticked off that they charge $6.95 for shipping and handling for only 2 bottles of wash. If I had it to do over again, I would have ordered more wash with my initial order. I have only gone through less than one bottle of the car polish, and about one bottle of the wash. If I was you, I would order 3 to 4 bottles of wash, 2 bottles of car polish, one of the pre-lok, one gloss enhancer spray, and one clay bar. If your L is not brand new, you may want to also get the Z-5 polish for scratches. Tom

 

I did some research on this question too this past weekend and this is what I came up with:

1. Wash truck with Dawn (to remove all other waxes or polishes)
2. (optional) Clay bar, Z-18 on their order form.
3. Wash after Clay bar, with Z-7 (Zaino car wash of course )
4. Apply Z-1 Polish LoK (do not remove, just leave it on)

if paint has no scratches, skip to step 6.
5. Apply Z-5, let dry (30 - 40 min), remove; Apply Z-6 in 1' x 1' sections wiping down with a towel immediately - don't let Z-6 dry otherwise you just need to use more Z-6 to get it wet and remove.

repeat step 5 until satisfied (1 - 5 times) with quality of paint surface: scratches and swirl marks.
6. Apply Z-2 Show Polish, let dry (30 - 40 min), remove; Apply Z-6 the same as above

repeat until satisfied! The site also mentions waiting 24 hours between coats, but doesnt seem too consistent about that detail... anyone have recommendations about the time between coats??

Plan to do my Zaino weekend in a few more weeks here... can't wait to see the results. I read a review that someone wrote up (I believe it was on an NSX board) and the guy kept saying that after each coat he was more and more impressed, and that it surprised him how much better it got each time!

 

The Zaino Bros. products are awesome. I just applied the system to my HD last weekend. Be prepared to use a little elbow grease when you use this system for the first time. Even though my truck is a 00 i still applied 4 coats of the Z5 (swirl remover) and 1 coat of the Z2 (polish). If you add up all the trips around the truck: 2 drying, 4 coats of Z5, 3 coats of the gloss enhancer, and 1 coat of Z2, I buffed the entire truck 10 times over a period of 3 days. This really kicked my a$$ but the shine is awesome I plan on using just the Z2 for the remainder of the year then hit it with the Z1 (polish lok) again in the spring with 1 or 2 coats the Z5 and Z2.

 

The 24 hour deal had to do with really high humidity where the wax wouldn't set up. Some times it only takes a few minute to dry if its not very humid. I think this has more to do with the z1 than the Z2.
noelvm