Trying hard to avoid swirl marks

E

Ethan

Member
Location
Philadelphia
So this is my 2nd black car (first was an '06 M35x) and I swore I would never buy another black one again. But this time around I'm trying what I can to avoid the swirl marks on our paint.

I try to usually wash the car myself and dry it with the "absorber" which seems to be ok. But it's been too cold out to wash so i've taken it to an automatic touchless car wash. They use a combination of water sprays and air blowers but nothing ever touches the car.

Will that aid in helping prevent swirl marks? Are those type of car washes good?
 
I never use touchless car washes or let the Dealer wash it. I have heard the cleaners that they use in their water is extremely harsh and whatever wax or sealant you have put on your ride to protect it will be removed after a few trips there.
 
They are fine and I do the same thing during the colder months. Most also offer a 'spray on wax' as well which is fine until you can get a good wax on. Just make sure to only use them above the freezing mark unless the blowers have an extended dry time (2 mins+)

Randy
 
Get a product called Wizard Final cut, it is a polymer wax that will remove swirl marks and will not leave any white residue and can either be applied by hand or buffer. It is a must have for any dark colored car.
 
GEE35FX said:
I never use touchless car washes or let the Dealer wash it. I have heard the cleaners that they use in their water is extremely harsh and whatever wax or sealant you have put on your ride to protect it will be removed after a few trips there.
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How often do u wash yours and do you wash it in the winters? Do you have any swirl marks?

I let the dealer wash mine on oil changes and noticed I do have swirls if I look in the perfect light. I love getter the car clean from the dealer but am now considering maybe telling them hand wash. I'm sure even if I hand wash I will create swirls. I think it's hard not to especially with dirt/salt on the car when I try to remove it. Sometimes I need to scrub quite a bit to remove it all!
 
jdTrader said:
How often do u wash yours and do you wash it in the winters? Do you have any swirl marks?

I let the dealer wash mine on oil changes and noticed I do have swirls if I look in the perfect light. I love getter the car clean from the dealer but am now considering maybe telling them hand wash. I'm sure even if I hand wash I will create swirls. I think it's hard not to especially with dirt/salt on the car when I try to remove it. Sometimes I need to scrub quite a bit to remove it all!
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Jonas, I always have a couple of coats of Zaino Z2 Sealant for protection, it lasts the whole winter, the water beads up all over after a long winter. I think a good sealant is the most important step.
Remember my FX sits outside year round. You saw it after I returned from my 6 week Cross Canada trip, you commented on the shine and finish at your house. I never did give it a real thorough hand wash during that trip, just quickies.
I washed it on the trip the same way I do in winter. I have my wash pail, and Zaino Car wash and lambs wool mitt and Zaino Z6 Gloss Enhancer with me. I go to the DIY car wash, fill my wash pail and rinse pails up with rinse water, then hose the car down to get the heavy slush, and deposits off. I then wash the top half of the car and rinse it then do the bottom half. This is a quick job, but on the road and during winter it gets the majority of grime off the car.
You know I am no spring chicken, and I have always done it this way and in my many years of driving have never used an automatic car wash on any of my cars.

Have you watched the Dealers wash your car, it would horrify you. You have the perfect setup for washing, I saw it in the back of your FX, you should do it that way. If you can't I would find a good detailer that is in your local area and have him hand wash it every few weeks.
 
GEE35FX said:
Jonas, I always have a couple of coats of Zaino Z2 Sealant for protection, it lasts the whole winter, the water beads up all over after a long winter. I think a good sealant is the most important step.
Remember my FX sits outside year round. You saw it after I returned from my 6 week Cross Canada trip, you commented on the shine and finish at your house. I never did give it a real thorough hand wash during that trip, just quickies.
I washed it on the trip the same way I do in winter. I have my wash pail, and Zaino Car wash and lambs wool mitt and Zaino Z6 Gloss Enhancer with me. I go to the DIY car wash, fill my wash pail and rinse pails up with rinse water, then hose the car down to get the heavy slush, and deposits off. I then wash the top half of the car and rinse it then do the bottom half. This is a quick job, but on the road and during winter it gets the majority of grime off the car.
You know I am no spring chicken, and I have always done it this way and in my many years of driving have never used an automatic car wash on any of my cars.

Have you watched the Dealers wash your car, it would horrify you. You have the perfect setup for washing, I saw it in the back of your FX, you should do it that way. If you can't I would find a good detailer that is in your local area and have him hand wash it every few weeks.
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Great advice and thank you for the details. No more than at the dealer. I remember being very impressed with how clean/shiny yours was. So you must have no swirls at all if you have a sealant on all year? Probably one coat before winter and one in the spring? I put blackfire sealant on before winter (I've read on a few sources it's the longest lasting) and keep up the wax with the optimum wax spray

These are the two products I use for waxing:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Blackfire-M32/Wet-Diamond-P205/16-oz-S1/ - sealant I put on usually twice a year...before this winter I applied it twice and let it sit a few hours in between both times.
http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum-OPT-M36/Car-Wax-P280/17-oz-S1/ - after my most recent DIY bucket wash.

I ask if you have swirls because I'm curious if mine are 100% from dealer, or if some are from my own doing as well.
 
My Fx isn't perfect, but I usually do get positive comments about the finish.
This is the products I use on my car: http://www.zainostore.com/
I usually use the Ricardos clay (like the one you got from me) once a year, then I give it a couple of coats of Zaino Z2.
Some guys like to top it of with a good wax for the extra shine, but I don't bother. I always top it off with Zaino Z6 which is a gloss enhancer, after every wash. I even do all my windows with the Z6, it works as good as Rain X for them
 
I've noticed just rubbing my finger on the paint causes marks. Our paint is notorious for being easy to scratch and hard to correct. The perfect storm.

2 coats of a good sealant will work wonders though. I had caked on road dust, dirt, debris, god knows what for the past 3 months, and one was and it all look like nothing was ever there. Only thing I had to do was clay off some road tar looking stuff.

---------- Post added at 12:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

Also, I've heard Duragloss and Zaino are basically the same thing. Even so far as made in the same factory.

111 is apparently the one that is like Z2, and it's 4 bucks more. Plus Zaino is so hard to get, while Duragloss is more available.

http://www.duragloss.com/Exterior-P...ish/8-oz.---Duragloss-CCP-(Clear-Coat-Polish)
 
Here is a pic of my 09 taken this afternoon, just to show how it has a reasonable shine (I don't own a garage. It's in all kinds of weather and Zaino products are basically all I have used on it. The FX was given a quick hand wash (as I described above) about a week and a half ago. It has not been driven much since then but the sealant really does help.
The easiest way to get Zaino is to order it online.
IMG_2275_1.jpg
 
Wow the paint looks wet! Lighter colored vehicles like yours don't usually show gloss too much, but your does. That says something ;) Looking good Wayne!
 
PMG 705 said:
I don't believe you... Wayne needs to show me in person :-)
Rooted Samsung Galaxy S2 on
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Come on up Ian, you are welcome to stay at my place. But you better hurry, we leave in 22 days for 5 weeks in the Mayan Riviera.
Or I'll see you in the Spring when we all go to Hell, Michigan.
 
Wayne, did you see they have a Zaino Z5 product? I might try that out before a layer of Z2 in the spring to see if it will remove some swirls. Have you tried it?

I use Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner for the inside...what do you use and has worked well for me. What do you use?
[h=1][/h]I think my problem is the car wash soap I use is probably to harsh (really gets tar and other things off well - Meguiars soap) and the dealer soap in combination probably gets the sealants/waxes of recently just enough to create some slight swirls. I'll try the Zaino soap.
 
jdTrader said:
Wayne, did you see they have a Zaino Z5 product? I might try that out before a layer of Z2 in the spring to see if it will remove some swirls. Have you tried it?

I use Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner for the inside...what do you use and has worked well for me. What do you use?
I think my problem is the car wash soap I use is probably to harsh (really gets tar and other things off well - Meguiars soap) and the dealer soap in combination probably gets the sealants/waxes of recently just enough to create some slight swirls. I'll try the Zaino soap.
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Yes, I used to use the Zaino Z5 on my 05 G35 sedan which was Lakeshore Slate, a darker color. If the car has minor swirls, especially on darker colors, they do recommend it. Then my 07 G35 was a light color and I used all the Z5 up and have been using Z2 ever since. Actually next week I may be picking up more Zaino supplies and I will be getting some Z2, Z5, and Z6 (gloss enhancer) and Z7(car wash). I really like the Z7 car wash. I use it as instructed and also add half a cap of Optimum No Rinse to the wash water as well.
As to cleaning leather, I just wipe it down with a damp cloth and finish it off with the Zaino Z10 (leather treatment and conditioner) but it is the one Zaino product I'm not real crazy about. I would like to find something else, I have thought of Leatherique, but have never tried it.
tioner.
lol, it would sound like I work for Zaino but I don't.
 
I actually like the zaino leather products and always get complemented that my car still has that "New car smell" after applying it. I have leatherique right now and do like it, but doesn't smell that great.

Sent from my EVO View
 
Nor Cal said:
I actually like the zaino leather products and always get complemented that my car still has that "New car smell" after applying it. I have leatherique right now and do like it, but doesn't smell that great.

Sent from my EVO View
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Where do you get your Zaino from? I think I saw there's actually a local dealer in LG.
 
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