Zymol FAQ

ZYMOL FAQ

What is Carnauba and where does it come from?

Carnauba is a vegetable wax (fat) obtained from the leaves of the Carnauba Palm. Carnauba has an affinity to water, the ability to retain oil and has excellent gloss properties making it applicable in a vast variety of industries. Carnauba is widely used in cosmetics, particularly in stick applications. Carnauba is the hardest natural wax and lustrous composition, making it the leading choice for food coatings, pharmaceutical coatings and polishes. Number One Grade Carnauba varies from a very pale yellow (white), through a greenish brown (yellow). The color and quality are governed by the age of the leaves and the care used in processing the wax. In addition to color, the wax is also graded according to area of origin – Parnahyba, Pious, Ceara and Bahai.

Carnauba Wax is exuded by the leaves of the Brazilian “Tree of Life” (Copernica Cerifera to converse precious moisture. This Carnauba Palm grows in northern and north-eastern Brazil along the river banks, valleys and lagoons where the soil is dark and fertile. The tree needs very little water to grow, is very prolific and attains a height of 40-50 feet after fifty years. The natives use the tree for many necessities in their lives; hence the name “Tree of Life”. Only in northern Brazil does the Carnauba Palm produce the wax.

Leaves containing the wax are cut off during the period from September to March. (This process in no way endangers the tree.) The leaves are soaked in kerosene or turpentine to soften the wax, resulting in a thick liquid that is poured into moulds and allowed to solidify. The Carnauba ?IJLumps?Ĵ are weighed and coded for sale to processors.

Being a natural plant by-product it will not react with any paint, Carnauba provides a very hard film over your car’s surface to protect against airborne contaminants such as acid rain residue, catalytic converter emissions, bug tar, road grime, salt and bird droppings. Carnauba swells and closes its pores when exposed to water. Carnauba also dramatically reduces paint oxidation by diffusing (refracting) UV and infrared radiation from the sun which can oxidize and dull your paint finish. Carnauba sounds good, but how much is contained in Zymöl Typical competitor’s waxes contain 3 to 5% Carnauba (not necessarily Brazilian No. 1 Carnauba) by volume. The greater the concentration of Carnauba the greater the level of protection and the higher the level of shine. Zym??l contains between 37% and 61% by volume, so now you can see why Zym??l is so effective in keeping your car in showroom condition.

What is unique about the Zymöl Container?

The Zymöl container is a 21st century application of the canning jar, made from pharmaceutical grade recyclable polystyrene. The high strength cap is designed to provide adequate air capture while closing. This allows a thin film of wax to begin the self-vacuumising process. The neoprene o-ring allows enzyme gasses to be released during self-vacuumising. This prevents the entry of outside air due to decreased internal pressure. The size, shape and weight of the base were designed for ease of handling, convenient storage and maximum protection of the ingredients.

Do I need to HD-Cleanse my new Car?

Yes you do. Although you may have a new car, there are many reasons as to why you still need to HD-Cleanse the vehicle. New cars are liable to having contamination on the paintwork such as fall out which may remain in the lacquer or paint. The preparation stages that car manufacturers put your car through are more often chemical based and involve buffing machines and polishing agents. All of these processes will accelerate oxidization.

Do I need to HD-Cleanse before waxing?

Even if it looks clean it probably is not. You just will not be able to see it. Waxing a surface that has not been properly cleaned will only result in a shiny wax layer over dull, dirty paint – not the deep smooth, crystalline finish Zymöl is capable of obtaining.

Why is HD-Cleanse better than other Pre-Wax cleaners? Most competitive products incorporate abrasive “grit” to “scrub” the surface clean. HD-Cleanse uses Montan oil (a natural solvent that will not penetrate clean paint), apricot kernel oil, and lemon seed oil spun to a very thin consistency. As you apply HD-Cleanse, the oils penetrate and breakdown everything on the surface of the paint encapsulating grime impurities and dead paint so they can be wiped off without scratching the top paint layer. HD-Cleanse uncovers a lower level of paint with life and luster without any solvents, abrasives or caustic materials.

Can I use Zymöl on metallic paints?

Yes, Zymöl contains no harsh petrochemical solvents, making it safe to apply on all paint finishes including brand new cars.

Is the wheel cleaner safe to use on Chrome Alloys? Yes, Zymöl Wheel Cleaner is a non-corrosive, phosphorous-free wheel wash that is 100% safe for all chrome, painted, coated alloy, aluminum or steel wheels. Brake dust will permanently damage the finish of your wheels. The adhesive used to mould brake pads will etch and pit the wheels if you allow it to remain in contact with your heated wheel surfaces.

How long do the products last?

You need to be sure that your products are fresh. Assuming that you are referring to the Liquids; the shelf life will be around 18 months and the Waxes/Glazes; Indefinitely. To ensure this happens store Waxes and Glazes in a cool dark place or in the refrigerator.

Can I reduce swirl marks?

Yes you can reduce swirl marks. Some professional paint specialists are able to remove them entirely. Using Zymöl HD-Cleanse can aid in helping to reduce or remove swirl marks. Swirl marks are microscopic scratches in the finish that are normally round or oval in pattern. These are often caused by the preparation of the paint after the spray booth (Manufacturer or otherwise), the use of buffing machines, even more so with the wrong type of polishing pad and in particular automatic car washes!

To help prevent swirl marks, thoroughly wash all dirt particles from your finish before applying wax. Use HD-Cleanse regularly and use a 100% terry cotton towel, because its fibers and weave draw any contaminants on the surface of the paint up into the towel instead of letting them scratch the paint or lacquer.

What’s the difference between an ordinary Polish and a Wax?Polishes are paint cleaners that generally use abrasives or chemicals to remove paint that has been discolored by impurities and oxidization. Zymöl Cleaner Wax uses superior micro-fine cleaners to remove unsightly scratches and oxidization while leaving behind a simple and effective Beeswax protection.

Ordinary cleaner/waxes contain many of the same abrasives and chemicals that polishes do with the addition of silicones or solvent resins to mask scratches and imitate what a “real” wax should do. Real wax, like the waxes of the Zymöl 2-step process are non-abrasive and non-solvent, highly reflective and protective coatings for your paint.

HD-Cleanse, the first step of the Zymöl 2-step process, provides deep cleaning without removing precious paint, restores valuable oils to the paint, eliminates fine scratches and creates an incredible high gloss not possible with ordinary polishes or waxes.

For your everyday car you will see dramatic differences if you use Zymöl Hand-Crafted Waxes and Glazes. Your special car will be transformed if you use Zymöl HD-Cleanse. For maximum protection, use Zymöl waxes to complete the Zymöl process.

Why should I use Zymöl buffing towels and microwipes Zymöl towels are made without sizing. “Sizing” chemically fluffs up a towel, but can cause fine scratches in the paint. Zymöl towels provide extra insurance against damaging the paint while removing excess wax and buffing the surface. Zymöl microwipes are the 21st Century alternative with a nylon + nytril quad axial woven material that repels the wax, forcing all of your Zymöl wax or glaze to bond during application. Zymöl microwipes do not contain polyester.

Can I wash and re-use my Zymöl towels and microwipes?

Wash your Zymöl terry towels and/or microwipes using standard clothes washing detergents without fabric softener (most softeners contain silicones). Wash and rinse in warm water >60C. Rinse twice! Machine dry without dryer sheets or fabric softener.

Why should I use Zymöl over other less expensive chalk based products?

Zymöl contains no harsh petrochemical solvents, making it safe to apply on all paint finishes including brand new cars. Zymöl has an extremely high Carnauba content (33 to 70%) and the Carnauba used is the very highest available grade – Brazilian No. 1 Yellow and White Carnauba. This gives both greater protection and increased depth of shine as compared with other products. Zymöl is an enzyme mixture until it is actually applied to the car. Only at that point, when oxygen acts as the catalyst, does Zymöl become ‘wax’ and start bonding to the car’s surface. Zymöl wax is very easy to apply and remove and will not leave any white “residue’ along seams, in cracks or on black plastic trim.

Will Zymöl remove stone chips and heavy scratching?

Unfortunately not. This is because Zymöl is natural and clear. If used correctly Zymöl will only help to reduce the amount of damage caused to your paintwork but will not stop the damage being caused. Using a colored based polish/wax will only mask the problem and if it is a polish will wear off after short period of time. To correct stone chips and heavy scratching we would suggest that you consult a professional paint specialist.

Why use Zymöl Clear Auto bathe?

Zymöl Clear is a maintenance car wash containing surface conditioners and protective oils that will remove surface grime yet will not strip off the wax.

Most competitive products utilize chemical (sodium) etching to remove dirt. These chemicals also remove wax and natural oils, and can actually accelerate paint oxidation. Zymöl Clear uses PH adjusted, spun tallow soap and pure lemon extract to release grit and contaminants from the surface. Natural coconut oils break down into millions of beads which cling to and encapsulate the dirt and allow it to slide off the surface without scratching or removing existing wax. Zymöl Clear contains no sodium or solvents and will not attack existing wax.