Wash your PT with water only

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by Mark1

Water alone will remove the polish. One study said an avarage coat of wax will be gone after 7 rains. So unless you wax your car after every seven times it gets wet, you are losing polish anyway.

Not to be picky, but POLISHES and WAXES are usually different products. Waxes tend to last longer than polishes, and are usually applied over/after polishes.

The HOT SUN will also vaporize waxes, as well as plain water.

I agree though- several coats of a polish/wax is the best way to keep things shining.

[KR8Z4BULEEPT]

Originally Posted by PT_Sean

Not to be picky, but POLISHES and WAXES are usually different products. Waxes tend to last longer than polishes, and are usually applied over/after polishes.

The HOT SUN will also vaporize waxes, as well as plain water.

I agree though- several coats of a polish/wax is the best way to keep things shining.

Not to be picky too I thought polishes (Zaino is considered a "polish" right?) last longer then waxes? I remember reading someone (here?) that an average wax is history after about 30 days of sun,wind and rain, whereas a good polish might last 3 months?

[patpur]

SMCruizer - I have done that since day one with both my PT's. With the exception of the 1 wash with Dawn to prep for the Zaino I always use water and it works fine. This weekend will be a real test. My car has never been as dirty as it is and hopefully it will come clean with just the water I plan on using. I have about 6 coats of Zaino on the car right now.
Pat

[PT Frank]

By the way, Dawn does very little to clear off any past residue or wax (well...perhaps if you washed it all day long it would). I don't know how that little idea got started. All soaps are basically made up of the same components with some exceptions. Granted, Dawn might cut through some grease a little better, but it's really negligible. The water only idea is one of the the most ridiculous things I've read here yet. You're doing more harm than good. And yes, just as previous poster explained, ANY wax (even the beloved Zanio here) will burn off and evapoate in few weeks (even shorter) regardless of your water only wash. But to each his own.

[patpur]

Frank I have the luxury of only being a mile from work so my car usually doesn't get that dirty. I used water on my LTD for three years and the finish was like glass. One thing I am very careful to do is rinse thoroughly before touching the car with a sponge.
Unfortunately its been so cold I haven't been able to do my weekly car washing since Christmas so there is a fair build up of salt and dirt. I may go with soap this time just to get it clean and start over in the spring with the clay bar.
I usually get comments from the neighbors "why you washing it again? Its so clean?"
Pat

[PT Frank]

Originally Posted by patpur

The Dawn is recommended by the folks at Zaino. What's the problem with water only? I've done it for three years and its worked fine???
Pat

I know it is. It's widely available and everyone knows where to get it. So he recommends it as a good pre-wax cleaning product. However, it does no more (or less) than any other good soap. It's really been hyped to death.

[PT Frank]

Originally Posted by patpur

Frank I have the luxury of only being a mile from work so my car usually doesn't get that dirty. I used water on my LTD for three years and the finish was like glass. One thing I am very careful to do is rinse thoroughly before touching the car with a sponge.
Unfortunately its been so cold I haven't been able to do my weekly car washing since Christmas so there is a fair build up of salt and dirt. I may go with soap this time just to get it clean and start over in the spring with the clay bar.
I usually get comments from the neighbors "why you washing it again? Its so clean?"
Pat

As I mentioned before, you are not lubricatiing the surface against scratches with water only.

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by KR8Z4BULEEPT

Not to be picky too I thought polishes (Zaino is considered a "polish" right?) last longer then waxes? I remember reading someone (here?) that an average wax is history after about 30 days of sun,wind and rain, whereas a good polish might last 3 months?

Tuuche!!


Zaino 5 is a polish, Zaino 2 is the wax.

Sometimes, I JUST polish, I find the shine is deeper, AND the swirl marks from the inferior DC paint job, dissapear better. When washing, the water beads for the first wash, then after that, no more. When I WAX however, the water will bead at least 2 weeks (read: 5 washes. )

This is my finding, nothing scientific really. Your mileage may vary, literally!!!

[AndyKay]

Originally Posted by Frank's PT

By the way, Dawn does very little to clear off any past residue or wax (well...perhaps if you washed it all day long it would). I don't know how that little idea got started.

Oh My God! Everybody else is apparently wrong about this:

Zaino website –
How do I get started with Zaino?
Wash the car using Dawn dishwashing liquid soap. Dawn will strip off the old wax and other grease/grime build up so your paint will be clean for your first application of Zaino.

Ferrari Chat.com –
It could also depend on what kind of wax is currently on the car.
If it is a regular carb wax...then Dawn will work the best.

Siouxfallsracing.com –
First wash with Dawn, the blue original formula. Dawn works the best to remove old carnuba wax, and leaves the synthetic wax on the car.

Cadillacforums.com –
The only reason that you should not use dishwashing liquid on your car is that it will strip off 99% of all the waxes sold.

I am busy posting on all these forums to let them know that this is not so and they should stop stripping wax with Dawn immediately. Oh well.

[PT Frank]

Originally Posted by AndyKay

Oh My God! Everybody else is apparently wrong about this:

Zaino website –
How do I get started with Zaino?
Wash the car using Dawn dishwashing liquid soap. Dawn will strip off the old wax and other grease/grime build up so your paint will be clean for your first application of Zaino.

Ferrari Chat.com –
It could also depend on what kind of wax is currently on the car.
If it is a regular carb wax...then Dawn will work the best.

Siouxfallsracing.com –
First wash with Dawn, the blue original formula. Dawn works the best to remove old carnuba wax, and leaves the synthetic wax on the car.

Cadillacforums.com –
The only reason that you should not use dishwashing liquid on your car is that it will strip off 99% of all the waxes sold.

I am busy posting on all these forums to let them know that this is not so and they should stop stripping wax with Dawn immediately. Oh well.

Wow. Each one of those quotes says something different about it's properties. My point exactly. It's all hype. It's soap. Period. I especialy like the one about "stripping off 99% of waxes sold". Very entertaining.