zymol cleaner wax

Joined
3 November 2003
Messages
408
Location
Chicago, IL
I'm having problems with the zymol cleaner wax.

I wash the car, dry it, and apply the zymol cleaner wax. After buffing it, it feels nice and smooth, but the if you look at an angle, there is a "shadowing" or darker type finish to the car. I actually had to use Mothers cleaner wax to get it off.

Anybody know what I am talking about? I even "lightly misted the car with clean water" and it did not work. Any advice?
 
What color is your car? Maybe you're using too much wax. Misting and wiping the paint always worked for me to get a smooth & shiny finish, at least on my red & black cars.
 
I find that wax dries quickly,and will haze and streak if you try to wax too large an area at once and don't buf it immediately.
 
mystican said:
I have a black car.

Maybe I am using too much wax... how much do you use?
I use *very* little. I find that applying too much requires too much effort to remove. What I do is apply a small amount, then wipe it off before it gets too hard. Per the Zymol website:

"Zymöl wax is designed to provide maximum results with minimum product application. Apply small amounts of Zymöl wax for each application. Caution: Do not allow any Zymöl wax to entirely dry before wiping."
 
mystican said:
I'm having problems with the zymol cleaner wax.

I wash the car, dry it, and apply the zymol cleaner wax. After buffing it, it feels nice and smooth, but the if you look at an angle, there is a "shadowing" or darker type finish to the car. I actually had to use Mothers cleaner wax to get it off.

Anybody know what I am talking about? I even "lightly misted the car with clean water" and it did not work. Any advice?

Is the Zymol cleaner wax you are using a liquid in a bottle? If so, that product is made by Turtle Wax, and is not as good as their (Zymol) hard cake waxes. Try the Japon by Zymol, it will work wonders over the liquid gooooo.
 
mystican said:
I'm having problems with the zymol cleaner wax.

I wash the car, dry it, and apply the zymol cleaner wax. After buffing it, it feels nice and smooth, but the if you look at an angle, there is a "shadowing" or darker type finish to the car. I actually had to use Mothers cleaner wax to get it off.

Anybody know what I am talking about? I even "lightly misted the car with clean water" and it did not work. Any advice?

It does the same thing to me, so I quit using it.
 
Well I have emailed customer service at Zymol...they said a response will be given...

But I am still having problems with this cleaner/wax product...it is the blue liquid...bought at AutoZone...

It seems like if I push too hard during application, then I am more apt to causing the "shadow"

Anybody else with this problem...maybe I should go back to Mothers.
 
Hmm...how old is your car, and when was the last time you clayed it?

Maybe someone else like Nick (from detailersparadise.com) or Brian2by2 can comment.
 
My NSX is a black 1991 with 18K on it... and I have not clayed the car...I have heard of this type of method, but I have never tried it... Is it better to use?
 
It's difficult to tell from the photo exactly what is going on with your finish. I have seen highly-oxidized finishes where the use of a wax, particularly after prepping with a claying/cleansing product, creates a different "look" (and, sometimes, color/darkness) to the paint, because the prepped/waxed area has the gloss and depth of wax, and the other area doesn't.

mystican said:
I have not clayed the car...I have heard of this type of method, but I have never tried it... Is it better to use?
It depends on what you are trying to achieve.

I agree that you will get MUCH better results if you use separate products, in separate steps, for each purpose in the detailing process.

- Polishing/compound products: These are abrasive (varying from lightly abrasive to highly abrasive) and should be used only if your car has problems, such as scratches or swirl marks, which require the use of an abrasive to smooth down the finish.

- Wash products: For washing the car of surface dirt and grime.

- Cleansing products: For removing oxidation, tire and tar marks, and other impurities that washing won't get.

- Protection products (e.g. wax): For increasing gloss/depth and for protecting the finish from the elements.

Clay is a "cleansing product" and will remove oxidation and other surface impurities. If you run your finger lightly along your finish after washing the car, it should feel smooth, and you shouldn't feel any particles or anything to indicate that there might be embedded on the finish. Also, the finish should appear highly reflective, without any dullness to it. If this is not the case, then you should use a cleansing product, such as clay and/or Zymol HD-Cleanse.

The above applies to all brands of detailing products. For more information about Zymol HD-Cleanse and the rest of the line of Zymol products (not their one-step cleaner-wax, but the individual products for specific purposes), click here.
 
I agree with nsxtasy.

Try this:

Get a thin plastic sandwich bag and put it on your hand like a glove. Run the plastic "glove" over your hood, etc.
If you feel any grit, you need to clay your car.
After claying, your finish should be perfectly smooth and squeaky clean.
I clay my car about every several months or yearly.
My car is hand washed almost every week and covered in the garage.
If it were my daily driver instead of the weekend car, I would clay more often.
 
well, looks like the "cloud" that you showing is exactly what this wax does to your paint, after you finished the whole panel, this "cloud" is what gives your car the wet look... I waxed mine with this Zymol wax, and I like it very much, I don't have any problem with my red but with my wife's blue and my buddy's blk finish, I have to be more careful on "streaks" which does not show on your pictures... seems like it's a combination of the build up 'grits' and too much wax. I had never used clay either, so my method is polish then wax, when streaks showed, I just put more water and then wipe it more with my clean towel...

The streak should go away, if not, don't worry, after couple wash and drying, those streaks will disappear, Just as Zymol said on the box.
 
Give Mike Lee a call if the foundation appears to be the problem. His Detailing Dynamics cleansing product does wonders. He has posted some before after pictures on this forum. If it could take care of my etched water spots, I am sure it will work for you too. The Zymol product you have is good for maintenance, but Mike's waxing and finishing products appear to be superior.

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37422

Mike can be reached at:

Mike Lee
1-866-DET-DyNA (1-866-338-3962)
www.detailingdynamics.com
 
I think that I know exactly what you are talking about since I have used that product on my Black ex-BMW.

As others have already mentioned, I noticed that it happened when I applied too much amount or too little amount. In other words, the inconsistency in the amount of wax that you apply to various panel of your car may cause different shades.
 
mystican said:
Here it is

Look like you might need more buffing, you should be able to buff it out.

I had same experience on my black roof with Zymol cleaner wax, had to buff it really hard to get the dark cloud off.
 
Unfortunately, not all products are compatible with each other and maybe it's something you've used before that is causing that problem. Good example is if you use Zaino products, there are many products that will not work on that Zaino treated paint unless you strip it off. That's why most good detailers will strip all the old wax, etc. before starting their reconditioning process.

You may also try an use an instant detailer or gloss enhancer spray to help you buff and even out the cleaner wax you've used to remove streaking. That's what we recommend with our system so maybe worth a shot for you.
 
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