Pressure Washers!

SuperBee364 · 05-12-07, 08:04

I love pressure washers. I've gone through three of the (reatively speaking) low cost ones available from Costco and Home Depot. Adds up to about $500 spent over the last four years, with nothing to show for it.

So a few days ago, I made the mistake of getting a Lowes Card. Since I had already made that mistake, I figured another one couldn't hurt, so I put a John Deere gas powered pressure washer on my freshly minted Lowe's Card.

If you're seriously thinking about getting a pressure washer, I highly recommend biting the bullet and putting up the cash for a good one right off the bat. The cheap electric Karcher, Huskey, etc. WILL NOT LAST. Promise. They'll break down within a year, tops. And good luck on trying to get warranty repairs. See the "No Hassle Exhange" sticker on the outside of the Karcher? They LIE! And the reason it's there? They know they are selling crap merchandise. I'd love to hear other's experiences with these cheap little toys. I'm sure there will be a few (and a very few at that) that haven't had any problems with them (yet), but I'd be shocked and amazed if anyone had one that had lasted more than two years with any amount of usage.

Another reason to stay away from the cheap electric pressure washers: they make good pressure, but their total Gallons Per Minute (GPM) rating suuuuucks. Makes it much more time consuming to wash your car. Think about using a hand squirt bottle to rinse your vehicle, and you'll know what I mean. GPM is very important. I think 1.8 GPM is the absolute minimum for a decent car wash.

Anyway, there are a bunch of top names in pressure washers. If you're really set on getting an electric, Cam Spray makes about the best ones you can get, but they are really spendy. You can get a higher pressure, higher GPM rated gas powered one for about 150 bucks less than the cheapest electric Cam Spray. Home has a PDF catalog of their products, as well as a PDF retail price list. The price list is way out of bounds; you can usually find their products for about 20% cheaper (or even better) than what's listed on their price list.

This pressure washer, http://www.topoftheline.com/pressure...-portable.html is one of the very best electric units you can buy. Their price isn't bad, either. You'll also need some serious electrical wiring and a 20 amp circuit (with nothing else on it) to run that washer. See the triple plunger type water pump on the side of it? That's the best water pump type you can get. Try to stay away from the axial style pumps and go for the triple plunger if you can.

I've spent waaaay too much time researching pressure washers, so I'm sorry about the rant...

Just a quick summary...

GPM means more than total pressure. You really don't need more than about 1800 PSI, unless you're looking for more cutting power than a wool pad with HTEC.

Triple Plunger pumps are the best

Honda makes one of the best small equipment engines out there. Briggs & Stratton isn't as good as it used to be.

GPM rules. Get the highest rating you can find.

So try to find a honda powered, triple plunger pump type, high GPM rated washer, and you'll be set!

Oh, also this foam cannon Cam Spray 527100 - Foamer Attachment - Cam Spray 527100 - Every Pressure Washer. Great Selection of Electric Pressure Washers, Gas Pressure Washers, Hot Water Pressure Washers, Cold Water Pressure Washers, & Much More! is just about identical to the one so popular in the UK, and that site has the best price on it I've been able to find. I have one on order from them. Can't wait to give that a shot at 3000 PSI and 2.8 GPM from the John Deere washer. Should be able to blanket the neighborhood.

New wash process is gonna be:

Pressure rinse the car

lay down a nice layer of foam. (CG's Citrus Wash and Gloss)

Let it sit for a few

Pressure spray it off

lay down another layer of foam.

Rinse out the BHB (the one that CMA sells), and use it to clean the vehicle.

Pressure rinse, and waffle weave dry!

This process should reduce to an absolute minimum any stuff on the paint prior to using the brush, which should be very gentle. Who was it that talked about "you want to try to reduce the potential for swirls as much as you can"? I think this process should reduce the potential!

I'll post pics once the foam cannon gets here...

Accumulator · 05-12-07, 08:11

SuperBee364- Thanks for posting that!

I've gone through three Karchers (two electric and one gas) and got so fed up with the lack or reliablity that I've done without one for the last few years. I'll keep all your info in mind when (not "if"

) I decide to buy my next one.

Good luck with the new wash regimen. Be very gentle with that BHB, don't scrub so hard that you really bend the bristles. And rinse it out thoroughly and often.

SuperBee364 · 05-12-07, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

SuperBee364- Thanks for posting that!

I've gone through three Karchers (two electric and one gas) and got so fed up with the lack or reliablity that I've done without one for the last few years. I'll keep all your info in mind when (not "if"

) I decide to buy my next one.

Good luck with the new wash regimen. Be very gentle with that BHB, don't scrub so hard that you really bend the bristles. And rinse it out thoroughly and often.

Yet another use for the pressure washer!

And thanks to you for your BHB information... I went searching through a bunch of your old posts to find out everything I could about BHB's...

Now that I think about it, my whole auto care process consists mostly of what I've learned from your posts. My cars would still look like crap without the information I've gotten from you and the boys here on Autopia.

BMW335i · 05-12-07, 08:40

Thanks for your summary. It will save many of us time and frustration when looking for good PW's.

Brandon1 · 05-12-07, 08:58

So if not a Karcher for a good electric power washer under $300, then what are the options?

SuperBee364 · 05-12-07, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon1

So if not a Karcher for a good electric power washer under $300, then what are the options?

Unfortunately, not much... that's the problem with electric power washers; in order to get a good quality one, you gotta spend alot of coin.

For under 300 bucks, I'd go with a Honda gas powered model. Chances are you won't be able to find one with a triple plunger pump, but you'd still be better off than buying a cheap-o electric. Just plan on replacing the axial pump every couple years.

Brandon1 · 05-12-07, 10:40

I didnt want gas, I have to have something that is a little portable. I have heard alot about the karchers and alot of positive things on them.

On a side note, I have a Nothern Tool electric pressure washer on the farm that is like 10+ years old and it still runs perfectly.

David Fermani · 05-12-07, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I've gone through three Karchers (two electric and one gas) and got so fed up with the lack or reliablity that I've done without one for the last few years. I'll keep all your info in mind when (not "if"

) I decide to buy my next one.

You'd be the last person I'd think to ever own a pressure washer!!

Please reconsider.

I have an electric with a Cat Pump that I've had for 10 years(high volume commercial operation) that's only gone down 2 times. It produces 1800 psi (I keep it at 1500psi) and uses 2 gallon per minute. I paid about $1100 new through a guy that owns about 5 quarter washes. I figure he'd know the most durable one to buy because he relies on them for his source of income. It's actually 1step down from a coin-op type that doesn't run on 220.

JuneBug · 05-12-07, 12:36

David - clear the PM folder big guy - can't get a message to ya!

BlackElantraGT · 05-12-07, 01:01

I'm sure you already know this, but you know that if you bought the PW from Costco, you could take it back at any time right? I've heard about the poor reliability issues from the cheaper electrics, but I don't have the dough to pony up for those expensive electrics, neither do I want to deal with the upkeep and constant noise of a gas powered one. I decided to get the new Karcher 5.85 unit that they're selling at Costco at the moment. Unlike the other home electric units, this one has an aluminum pump so it "should" last just a bit longer than the others. I'm not expecting it to last forever, but that's where Costco's return policy comes into play.

KARCHER USA

David Fermani · 05-12-07, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuneBug

David - clear the PM folder big guy - can't get a message to ya!

All cleared up.

StumpyDetailing · 05-12-07, 09:11

I spent $600 on my pressure washer, and it has been the best purchase yet. And I bet it will last 10 years.

(Not same as pictured, but same style)

Electric is the way to go.