Should I mix soap with a pressure washer?

[joed1228]

I have a pressure washer that looks just like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2074942267

expect it has a holding tank for soap.

This is my problem; it is around 13 degree's with the wind chill around Boston, MA but I really need to wash my car. I have never done this before but I am thinking I could put the soap in the soap container and as I spray nice warm water all over my car the soap will mix itself. Sounds pretty straight foward and safe........... thats why I am worried. Don't like things when they are easy, there must be a catch to my plan.

The car is not that dirty, looks to me like more dust from driving around in dry weather. After I clean I was hoping to apply a layer of Platinum sealent. Do you think the pressure washer would remove all of the dirt for me?

[stoneweed1]

how much PSI? what kind of soap/shampoo will you be mixing? will you be mixing some special made for the pressure washer car shampoo or a regular car shampoo? you'd still need to dry by hand then to take out the stuff the presssure washer doesn't or you could also quickly use you hand to run a soapy sponge over it.

by not using your hand you will not get the same results

[joed1228]

Originally posted by stoneweed1
by not using your hand you will not get the same results

Thanks, guess I won't be taking my chances.

[Jman5000]

If you prep the surface properly and use the right soap, you CAN get amazing results.

My winter prep...

-Wash
-Eagle One clay
-2 coats Klasse AIO
-2 coats Klasse SG
-2 coats Blitz

It's too cold now to wash in the driveway, but there's a coin-op place nearby.

I clean the car there, rinse, and race home.

I kick on my 25,000 btu heater for 20 minutes and my garage is tropical.

Then I detail wipe w/QD and...here's my point...the MFT's are NOT coming up dirty at all.

I do agree that if you just pressure wash, you can leave a layer of dirt...ever wipe down a "clean" car from a coin op only to find that you're wiping away that fine, invisible layer of grime?

Properly prepped paint can "release" all the dirt w/out manual intervention.