Zaino Clear seal on F150 @ 5 months - First wash

[imported_GregCavi]

Hello everyone! After all of the crappy temperatures and weather we have been getting in Minnesota, we finally have a nice weekend with temps hitting near 50F. I wanted to share with you today’s wash of my Dad’s f150 that was done back in October with 1 coat of Zcs. I am ashamed to say it, but the truck has not been washed since. It has gone through the Minnesota winter for 5 months… without a wash. The official snow total thus far (not done yet I’m sure) is 33.6 inches, but I am led to believe we have received a bit more. Anyone who lives in Minnesota can back me up in saying the road crews throw down tons of sand and salt that basically eats through most paint protection. Now that the temps have warmed up to the point where I can actually pull out a hose, I gave it a wash, hoping for the best. I thought to myself before the wash, if there is any protection left, I will be happy.



Before pics:



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford1.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford2.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford3.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford4.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford5.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford6.jpg

[imported_GregCavi]

Process:



Wash Wheels with z7 mixture and pressure washer

Pressure Wash all panels

Presoak with foam gun and Z7

Wash with Z7 and shmitt

Dry with Pakshak waffle-weave



(No z6, z8, or any other QD-was was applied)



What I found:



I was shocked to find that CS still had tight beading, was definitely protecting, and still maintained some slickness. I would never have believed before this that a product could last 5 months in Minnesota winter with the abrasive sand and salts, and still have further protection to boot. The paint is still glossy and deep and although isn’t as slick as the day applied, maintains slickness. I will continue to monitor the protection of 1 coat of clear seal without QD’s or spray waxes and see how far it can go.





After Pics:



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford7.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford8.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford9.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford10.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford11.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford12.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford13.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford14.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford15.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford16.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/gregcavi/Ford17.jpg





Questions/Comments?



Greg

[docker]

A great testiment to CS ! Good job Greg...

[imported_memnuts]

Greg,

No washes (QEW, ONR, etc) or QD`ing in 5 months. You should be ashame of yourself. Thank goodness for products like Zaino CS to protect your father`s truck and cover your lazy butt! ;)



Thanks for the accurate update. :bow

[imported_GregCavi]

Greg,

No washes (QEW, ONR, etc) or QD`ing in 5 months. You should be ashame of yourself. Thank goodness for products like Zaino CS to protect your father`s truck and cover your lazy butt! ;)



Thanks for the accurate update. :bow



Yes definitely ashamed lol. I wanted to go 3 months to really test it, but when it came time to wash, it was about -15 F.



Greg

[dogma]

Wow, awesome shine !!

[imported_memnuts]

Yes definitely ashamed lol. I wanted to go 3 months to really test it, but when it came time to wash, it was about -15 F.



Greg





Actually Greg, I thought you were doing this on purpose as part of the beta testing the CS. Just wanted to tease you a little. :dance



I am doing a 7 month test on my Escalade with just CS and have only washed twice all winter (0" snow :bounce but alot of rain). It still looks great in terms of appearance and beading. Of course I can`t wait to do a full detail this Spring.

[JaCkaL829]

Looks good Greg, what did you use to polish/prep the truck in October? Is there any Z2, Z5 or any other sealant underneith the CS?

[imported_GregCavi]

Blackfire SRC finishing polish to prep, IPA wipedown, then 1 coat of CS. No other sealants. I am glad the CS is holding up because I don`t like taking care of the black truck lol.



Greg

[LeadingEdgeDetail]

The same wax can last 6 months if washed twice, or 1 month washed twice a week.

[imported_GregCavi]

The same wax can last 6 months if washed twice, or 1 month washed twice a week.



Yes very true. As a car gets washed, the protection slowly deteriorates due to friction with the mitt, towel, etc; however, the point of this thread was to show how the CS stood up to the Minnesota winter which is a word or two is VERY ABRASIVE. The ability of CS to still be protecting after all of the abrasive sand, salt, and other chemical is impressive in my book.



Greg

[mgm2003]

I can`t imagine going 5 months without a wash!



How did the paint feel vs. the initial application? Are you planning to add another coat, top with Z8, or keep going with the initial application of CS?



CS definitely maintained the `just detailed` look. I pulled up your original post and the paint looks just as good now as it did then.



If CS is holding up that well in your climate conditions it makes me feel even more confident running it during the winter months when the roads are loaded with salt.



I honestly didn`t expect to hear that it held up well against road salt, because the winter chemicals that the D.O.T. folks lay down are VERY harsh on paint. I do my best to get it off ASAP. Thank God winter is almost over! Now we need a good week of rain to clean the roads.



Thanks for the update Greg.



p.s. Did you try the P.S. drying towel on the truck? Thoughts?

[gmblack3]

Looks great Greg!



Thanks for the update on CS.

[joe.p]

Greg the truck looks great ..I have used z5pro with a touch up of z8 x3 with only a few washes thru out the winter and zaino has help up great..i look foward to applying the CS and testing its durability and looks..



Good Job

[Scottwax]

5 months under those conditions is impressive for any product. :)



What I find even more impressive is that your prep work held up so well. Even in the sun shots it looks swirl free. :up