Durable AIO 4-way test

[Dan]

Thanks.



AG is having a 20% off sale on orders over $95 through tomorrow, so I will be buying an AIO tomorrow and must make a decision.



For someone who will always apply a wax or sealant after using an AIO, and only needs the cleaning/polishing ability, which would you recommend: the FK, Poli-Seal, or D151?

If you only need the cleaning and polishing ability, personally, I'd just go with Powerfinish and top, but if you must have a very strong AIO, D151. If you like Optimum products, its hard to knock Poli-seal. Or PM me, I have all 3, maybe we can workout some sort of trade.

 

[Scottwax]

I'm the last to preach about spending $$$ since I've been purchasing detailing supplies, but it would be hard for me to shell out $26.95 + shipping for ZAIO with much of its competition costing 1/2 as much or less.

Get some Duragloss 101, you won't be able to tell the difference and you will save $$$.

 

[Dan]

Get some Duragloss 101, you won't be able to tell the difference and you will save $$$.

Granted I have a much older bottle of DG101, but in my opinion, its not the same stuff as ZAIO. DG101 looks much wetter than ZAIO. My theory about Zaino and DG stuff is that they are indeed the same chemistry but slightly different formulations and/or concentrations, in some cases possibly just to say they are different. In some cases some of the products are 1-1 matches, ie the soap and the quick detailer, in some cases slightly different, I think DG501 looks closer to ZAIO, but is an even better cleaner and slightly stronger abrasive. That said, I agree with Scottwax, if you want to save a few bucks, grab DG101 or even DG501. I doubt you would be disappointed with either.

 

[imported_Larry A]

It is suppriseing how durable 501 is for a cleaner wax/sealant.

 

[Rob Tomlin]

If you only need the cleaning and polishing ability, personally, I'd just go with Powerfinish and top, but if you must have a very strong AIO, D151. If you like Optimum products, its hard to knock Poli-seal. Or PM me, I have all 3, maybe we can workout some sort of trade.

Cool, I will put a list of extra stuff I have together and will send you a PM later.

 

[imported_Picus]

Wow - This is a great test Yakky. Thanks for putting this together. AIO's are definately growing on me. I personally like using SRP and would have loved it if you found a place in your comparison for it. Regardless I've bookmarked this and will be following it.

Ya, I agree. I'd like to see that and DG 101, but I understand yakky's doing this just for kicks, so no worries.



I've used all the ones mentioned except nufinish, and have a clear favorite, but I will withhold comment until the test is done!

 

[imported_NHBFAN]

Wonder how KAIO would have faired.

 

[Dan]

Some preliminary water beading shots. After one week, ~250 miles, 3 rain showers and some hot days thrown in there.



FK215

ZAIO

Poli-seal

NuFinish

Observations:

-ZAIO has the tightest beads

-Poliseal's has already lost some of its looks



Just to clarify, this is in the rain, car has still not been washed.

 

[Alexshimshimhae]

Probably not well considering they don't seem to have much in the protection dept

 

[imported_NHBFAN]

Observations:

-ZAIO has the tightest beads

-Poliseal's has already lost some of its looks



Just to clarify, this is in the rain, car has still not been washed.

Not sure what "beading" is telling you since most of the products are designed to sheet.



Meg's #80 polish beads like crazy due to the polishing oils, but I'm not sure how much protection it provides.

Probably not well considering they don't seem to have much in the protection dept

the better AIO's, e.g. KAIO & ZAIO probably protect as well as most LSP's on the market (excluding possibly Collinite and the better sealants).

 

[Dan]

Not sure what "beading" is telling you since most of the products are designed to sheet.

How can you tell what is designed to bead and what is designed to sheet?

 

[gigondaz]

Not sure what "beading" is telling you since most of the products are designed to sheet.



Meg's #80 polish beads like crazy due to the polishing oils, but I'm not sure how much protection it provides.

the better AIO's, e.g. KAIO & ZAIO probably protect as well as most LSP's on the market (excluding possibly Collinite and the better sealants).

When it comes to protection, I feel that most waxes and sealants (not including the high-end coatings), offer only limited protection.

If bird droppings, lime deposits from leaky ceilings overhead (very caustic), tree sap etc are not washed off immediately, there's a chance it'll leave behind a mark that must either be polished out or compounded out.



In one of my bird droppings test many years ago, I parked 2 cars under a tree known for its crows!

Car 1 had Klasse AIO only.

Car 2 had 3 applications of S100



Bird droppings were left there for 6hrs. Both cars experienced staining that needed some machine work to remove.



So, on "higher-than-average" jobs, my detailing shop always use high-end coatings for the horizontal surfaces, cos they are hottest, and most vulnerable to contaminants. Much better protection than sealants and waxes.

 

[imported_tim]

So, on "higher-than-average" jobs, my detailing shop always use high-end coatings for the vertical surfaces, cos they are hottest, and most vulnerable to contaminants. Much better protection than sealants and waxes.

What "high end coatings" are you using? And, don't ya mean horizontal surfaces.?

 

[Accumulator]

Meg's #80 polish beads like crazy due to the polishing oils, but I'm not sure how much protection it provides...

The protection in #80 comes from the fresh paint-safe polymers, not the oils..dunno which one does more for the beading but I bet you're right about the oils being primarily responsible.

the better AIO's, e.g. KAIO & ZAIO probably protect as well as most LSP's on the market (excluding possibly Collinite and the better sealants).

Well, I dunno...KAIO never seems to offer much protection for me when I leave it untopped; bugs eat right through it in no time, for instance.

 

[Alfisti]

Thanks for taking the time yakky. I look forward to updates. And kudos for including NuFinish..not because I think it's great (never used it so can't comment) but because many OTC consumer products are sniffily dismissed on many forums as being beneath them. Definitely happens here.

the better AIO's, e.g. KAIO & ZAIO probably protect as well as most LSP's on the market (excluding possibly Collinite and the better sealants).

I've never found KAIO to have much protection/durability. Maybe a few short weeks if your lucky. Great product but more a cleaner and base for a proper LSP like SG.

 

[wannafbody]

ZAIO is the one product that I use the most often. Add some Z8 once a month and your set until you decide to strip it off. Everytime I use ZAIO I wonder how Sal makes any money on the product. Literally one or two T H I N lines on a foam applicator will cover an entire panel. Just work it in and keep moving. I can cover an entire vehicle with about 1/4 ounce of product.

 

[Accumulator]

wannafbody- IIRC, you generally let the ZAIO do your final polishing/burnishing/jeweling too, right?

 

[wannafbody]

How can you tell what is designed to bead and what is designed to sheet?

Even products designed to sheet will bead in the rain. As that beading lessens something is washing away or degrading.

 

[wannafbody]

wannafbody- IIRC, you generally let the ZAIO do your final polishing/burnishing/jeweling too, right?

In most cases I use a foam applicator by hand but I have used ZAIO by machine with impressive results.

 

[Dan]

Even products designed to sheet will bead in the rain. As that beading lessens something is washing away or degrading.

Agreed, though, getting the truth on what is designed to sheet is like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are two products I have ever seen that claimed to sheet, and really, only one bottle, and that was some TW stuff a loooong time ago, in the late 90's. The other was FMJ, but that was on CMA's website, not even on the container. I think Megs mentions on their forums NXT1 and M21v1 were supposed to sheet also, but that was no where in the sales materials.



As mentioned in my initial post in this thread, beading does not equal protection. I have noticed with Z2 the protection falls off much sooner than the beading ends. However, since everyone likes to see beading shots, you got them. I think one of the biggest (valid) complaints people got in the mega-super comparo on the horse hauler was that there were no progressive shots.