Zymol question

fig911 · 02-25-2003, 02:46 PM

I have always thought that zymol was a very expensive and very good quality wax. I was at the local auto parts store the other day and saw some on the shelf for $4 or $5 bucks...

What gives???

Do they have a cheap version of there good stuff?

I think it was called "polish/wax."

Fig

pwd72s · 02-25-2003, 02:49 PM

You mean the blue bottle stuff? I used up the one I bought on our Detriot Iron, but not going to buy another. IMHO, Meguires, Mother's Cali gold, and a host of others work as well, if not better...

sammyg2 · 02-25-2003, 03:02 PM

I have some of the cheaper Zymol wax, it's not bad. Not the best wax out there, but it does shine much, much, much better than the Meguire's carnuba cleaner wax I have. That stuff is junk. It lasts about two weeks and the shine sux and it doesn't hide fine scratches. Anyone want a slightly used can of the stuff? I won't even use it on my white pick up. I tried a side by side comparison between the two waxes and the zymol was the obvious choice hands down.

I haven't tried the Meguire's non cleaner type wax, it might be better, I can't say.

Anyway, the zymol does a pretty good job of hiding fine scratches (on black paint) and has a much deeper shine that most. It is a pain because if you don't get it on evenly it will show dark streaks. It's easy to apply, but you have to get it on evenly. I think it is because it has a little oil in it. it seems to last a couple months at least. The dark shine (on black paint) starts to fade slightly after about a week or two, again probably due to the oils evaporating.
unless you are into concours it is a good value.

NYSCAR · 02-25-2003, 03:03 PM

From what I've heard, the blue stuff isn't the real thing, but made by turtle wax.

Randy Webb · 02-25-2003, 04:14 PM

Yes, it is often called "Zurtle" wax. The spendy Zymol may look good but is said it will not last for more than a week unless you keep the car in a museum.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Xymol used to make a decent wax in a bottle available in stores, but now all you can find is the cleaner wax, which I think is mildly abrasive so I wouldn't use it often. The only good Xymol is the expensive stuff in the small containers...

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

Hooray, a car wax thread. Can spring be far behind? I hope not.

BTW, I use Klasse; and the cheap Zymol is NOT the same as the spendy stuff.

Jerry M
'78 SC

pwd72s · 02-25-2003, 05:01 PM

Yep, spring is about to spring...and Sammy G is right, I'm really a novice when it comes to wax jobs...I only work with decades old paint...

stone43 · 02-25-2003, 05:07 PM

I used Zymol on my black car, what a pain in the arse!!

I then bought a bottle of that 3M stuff (Imperial Glaze) everyone swears by on the board--works really well, but still a pain in the arse! Then I bought the Mother's Cali Gold, Easy on, Easy off, but it does not last long. So now it is the 3M Imperial Glaze when I have some real time and then Mother's inbetween.

I am always open to suggestions, especially by owners with black cars since they are the true challenge.

makaio · 02-25-2003, 05:13 PM

I know it's a little more $, but I use the Groits Garage brand of polishes & waxes. A little of their Speed Shine after a wash job and, and the wax holds up a good for 4 months.

TimT · 02-25-2003, 05:17 PM

Which supplier does Griots relable?

pwd72s · 02-25-2003, 05:29 PM

Heck, ANY wax is better than none..

fig911 · 02-25-2003, 05:41 PM

Well, while we are at it...which wax is best for the P-car???

TimT · 02-25-2003, 05:44 PM

oh well ill flick a booger on my car and make it shine........ J/K

Zymol, and Malms are popular.... and you cant go wrong with meguiars

NYSCAR · 02-25-2003, 06:21 PM

My recipe: wash with good soap, 3M imperial hand glaze, followed by P21S Concours caranuba wax

sammyg2 · 07:08 PM

Hold on there pwd72s, I never called anyone a novice, I never said anything about anyone. I compared the cheap Zymol to the Meguires carniba cleaner wax after I did a side by side test on my car. I even put in a disclaimer that I've never tried Meguire's top of the line wax so I don't know how well it works.
no offense was meant, so please don't take it.
While were on the topic of waxes, a friend of mine suggested a product called one grand blitz or something like that. Ring a bell?

BTW, I also use a product called 3M Perfect-it. Very good stuff. Mild enough to not take paint off (much) but it really makes teh black paint look deep. Also a PITA to use but the results are good.

BGCarrera32 · 07:25 PM

I've used the Zymol paste that smells nice and comes in a nifty little clear container with the o-ring seal in the past. I think its kinda like fancy doggy treats...they make it look tasty for humans (cause' you're the one buying it for the dog). It leaves a nice deep shine, but I didn't find that it holds up particularly well to day in day out driving, and its a pain in the a-- to put on...you're suppose to put it on and take it off before it dries...I found it got "pilly" on me and I put more fine scratches in the paint trying to get this stuff off or spread evenly. I also don't buy into Zymol's "care and feeding" of your paint crap. I'm no polymer chemist, but I think keeping your paint contaminant free and protected with anything is more important than smearing it with "blends of banana and coconut extracts". Last time I checked I saw a lot of stuff I couldn't pronounce in PPG paint, but fruit extracts weren't one of them.

I use "Super Glaze" made by the wax shop available at Pep Boys. Easy on, easy off, great shine.

-BG

pwd72s · 02-25-2003, 07:40 PM

Sammy, sorry if I overreacted...one grand blitz wax is a good carnuba based wax, without cleaners added...

Rich L · 02-25-2003, 07:44 PM

Here's some really good info from Car Care Specialties:

http://www.carcareonline.com/viewarticle.aspx?art=9

ckelly · 02-25-2003, 07:55 PM

Try the mequiars, go with the Show Car Glaze (their highest gloss), followed by their Medallian wax (their longest lasting), this was recommend to me at a tech session and seems to work great.