I've finished my winter wax comparison test that some of you knew about, and the results are a bit shocking, maybe a bit confusing. I can believe Zaino beating Epic, but Klasse beating the pants off both seems unbelievable to me! I've posted to my blog but I'll include that all below. Please have a look at the full-size photos (which never do a great job at showing as much of a difference), and chime in with what you think.

The test was only on winter durability, appearance and summer durability tests will be performed in a few months and on a wider range of products too. (I will say the Epic was noticeably darker than the Zaino when applied...I really wanted it to win so I could switch!)

Anyway, on with the show:
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The major reason I use Zaino is its famous durability over many other waxes. When I apply it for the last time in the fall, my car is still beading water many months later in the spring. This spring I intend to do a large wax comparison test, but I wouldn't be able to test how well they hold up to harsh winter weather and salt. So on a warm day in January I applied two other top-rated waxes along with a fresh band of Zaino on my door and waited two months to see how each held up. Unfortunately, the results, though different, are a bit confusing and I'm not sure I can proclaim a winner or loser.

On January 13th, a warm day, I washed the MINI. I then taped off my door, one to the right of the side mirror, the other to the left of the door handle. I then used P21S Paintwork Cleanser (slightly abrasive) to clean off any existing wax and contaminants in that area--it actually made a noticeable difference in the paint. I then taped two more vertical strips to divide that area into thirds. On the left, I applied a single coat of Zaino Z2 Pro (without ZFX). In the middle a newcomer popular on NAM, Prima Epic. On the right, an old three-layer system of Klasse All-In-One, Klasse Sealant Glaze, and P21S Carnauba Wax. Application was made with the [URL=http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?autopia+Ea2DUz+son-dwpt-2+">Sonus Der Wunder Microfiber Polishing Towel[/URL] and buffing removal with the absolutely amazingly soft Monster Fluffy.



The next two months had plenty of single-digit temperatures, snow and ice storms, and lots of dirt and salt on the roads. I couldn't wash the car until it finally warmed up this week. The door was coated in salt and grim as pictured above for much of the time, without so much as a hose-off.

After finally getting a nice bucket wash with zaino car soap, I sprayed a fine mist of filtered water with my Mr. Clean Auto Dry as I always do at the end of a wash. This will usually show where wax is missing by a lack of beading. To my surprise, this is what I saw:



At first my expectations fooled my mind and told me the Klasse was gone, the Zaino partially worn away, and the Epic showing strong; then I realized the opposite may be true. However, every wax performs differently, especially on a vertical surface. In fact, all three were beading equally on the top of the door which rolls more horizontal (but doesn't see nearly as much grime, salt, and wear). Some sheet water away, others have various size beading properties. However, the three waxes are clearly different here. (Note the rest of the door and car have the existing double-layer coat of Z2 from October) I decided to remove a small portion of wax to confirm results by applying dish soap to my finger and rubbing it in about an inch strip in the middle across all three, as seen here:



As expected, there was no more beading in the Zaino portion. The Epic portion did not change, proving that there was none there to begin with. And amazingly the Klasse was almost unaffected...by dish soap!?! The results seem unbelievable to me. In fact, people have even been saying Klasse is less durable than ever after it was recently reformulated (and I just purchased it in December). So I turn it over to the Detailing forum on NAM, where I've started a thread here, to overanalyze these results and see if we can come to a better explanation.

See the full-size photos along with some others in the gallery.

 

great...interesting test... few questions though:

1) why only one layer of Z2 while there were the 2 layers of the Klasse system in addition to the carnuba topping? The usual zaino'ing is a layer of Z5 then 2 layers of Z2

2) why no zfx? since zaino takes so long to dry in cooler appliation temps, esp without zfx, is it possible that the Z2 hadn't dried fully so not the full one layer remained on the panel?

3) the polishing towel that you used to apply the Z2, might it have absorbed so much of the watery Z2 that the one layer was an overly thin layer? (I apply Z2 with a lightly misted with Z6 foam pad so not much product gets absorbed by the pad)

please note: I use the zaino system so I was hoping that zaino would win to justify my choice of product......

 

Thanks for the test and the info! I've seen others do this with sharpie markers on each layer of protectant; when the sharpie line disappears, then that means the layer is gone.

When I have the patience to apply it, I love Klasse. When I don't, I go with Collinite IW 845 or Blitz Wax. The Collinite lasts a very long time (less than Klasse).

mb

 

umberto:
I wanted to give Zaino a bit of a handicap. I often argue that one layer of Z2 with no extras will do more than most other waxes, and I intended to prove it. The Epic was also applied in one layer and without a polymer booster (ZFX, polycharger, etc). The idea here is bare minimum...the test is useless if both products are still completely there when it is over.

The waxes dried fully before removal. It was sixty degrees, and I had a space heater blowing on them, and left them for an hour and a half before removing. And of course the passed the finger swipe test.

I usually use an applicator which absorbs much more of the Z2. The towel was fully saturated to the other side, and I went both directions, so there is no application issue. And even Zaino says you can't go too thin...

As for the Klasse, it does not have three applications, it is simply a three-step system. I suppose I could have left the carnuba off, but I consider that part of most Klasse applications, and honestly doubt that layer lasted very long. I wasn't expecting klasse to stick around (heh) for long anyway.

 

Just a quick comment Josh, I have found that dish soap - Dawn, does not remove Epic as one might think. I have resorted to using a 50/50 Alcohol & water mix to strip the wax. Also I've noticed that during a wash Epic sheets water more than beads but returns to beading after a bit.
Great test however . You're still the testing king! Now how about testing Wizard...

 

Thanks for the test results

The 3 coats of Z2 applied to both MINIs in November are still holding up well. The Cabrio was not driven as much as the MC, so it only needed a few washes over the winter. The MC was washed at least once a week, all winter, and they both seem to bead water the same.

Mark

 

That result doesn't surprise me at all. I've used only Klasse (with occassional Soveran over it) since buying my car and it always beads and has a deep gloss. All I do is apply AIO and Sealant 2-3 times a year. That's it... The stuff is amazing. And it takes about an hour to apply because there is no need for taping trim or drying time (for the AIO).

 

good points.....I figured you had a reason for the one coat of Z2, seeing how thorough and detailed your trim review was.....my car, btw had 2 coats Z2 and made it through the winter looking like it was just waxed.....also, there were a couple of ice storms recently where I would just clunk my hand on the car and sheets of ice would break apart and slide off....no scratches that I could see from the sliding ice chunks since the finish is so slippery still

 

all this is nice, but at the end of the day, it is Hydro that wins it all.

 

That doesn't even make sense...stop snorting it! :p

 

Another possible factor: The area of the door closer to the front wheel does get more road splash from the wheel. So, the Zaino may have gotten more abuse. (This area is always dirtier when I QD the doors.)

 

you haven't tried Hydro, I see?

 

Since I use the Klasse Twins with great satisfaction on my Cooper and my Audi, I accept your test results without reservation Good job!

 

This is not surprising at all. I have no idea why people thing Klasse does not last as virtually every detailing sellers say something like this

Sealants like Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze can even last up to a year! http://www.autogeek.net/was.html

I always used the Klasse Twins followed by Sourveign as recommended on many detailing forums.

I think what your seeing here is the PS21 is probably gone. It wasn't really needed anyway other than to add depth and what was left was the Glaze. The glaze lasts a long time. I think some ppl dont like the Glaze because its "hard" to buff

 

ive also ran a similar test on my family's 2 cars, my mothers car has 2 layers of Klasse since october, while mine had 4 layers of Z2, with Z6 in between coats, and i hand wash

right now, i'd say even with constant machine wash in the mother's car, it still beads, it still looks awesome at the end, while the zaino car after a wash its brilliant, in the rear the dirt is really starting to stick

Klasse is defenitely the endurance champ when it comes down to it

 

Absolutely right - the Klasse glaze is very hard to buff if you use any more than the smallest amount after the one-step - One thing that really helps is to spray just the slightest amount of something like Autopia's spray glaze on your buffing towel. I used to put a coat of Souvereign or other quality carnauba atop the Klasse glaze as well, but on my Pepper White it just doesn't seem to make any real visual difference, so I reserve it for the black roof.

 

As for Klasse sealant...just do the whole car, wipe, and then go over the car with an acrylic spritz (i.e. Sonus). No problems with removal.

 

hydro smells better.

 

I've tried a few different synthetics, but always come back to Z2. For ease of application and durability, it rules.

My first winter, 05-06, my car was garaged. But this year it was not. In November 06 I applied two Z2/ZFX apps on day one, followed by a covering of Z2 sans ZFX the next.

Today was the first 70F day here in Northern New Jersey, and you can bet I was out there with a bucket of Zaino car wash. I was not disappointed. The Mini looked almost as good as it did last November...except for the boot lid. Even during the summer, that's the first to show wear.

I guess I'll be sticking with Z2.

 

Ken, because I concider you a friend, I think I need to be honest with you...you have a problem. However, there is hope. We are all here to help you. Drugs are bad.

 

I'm still reluctant to declare a winner. I would really like to hear the thoughts of Heather and Richard.

 

you got it all backwards. im here to help you to just hydro
and forget the tedious waxing.

yah, cause from wat i read (didn't read very carefully so correct me
if im wrong) you did a water bead test, not a alcohol wiped squeak
test comparison like me. you can splash WD40 on your car..
it will bead. jk

 

Yeah thanks for doing the testing. I use Klass AIO topped w/P21S & I have bought some Klasse SG to add to my routine next weekend when I do my bi-annual major detail so your results make me berryberry happy

 

are you a crackberry addict too?

 

No I don't feel important enough to own a crackberry