Does pressure washing remove wax?

**Domas** · 09-20-2007, 02:49 PM

Hi, I`m a newby, so sorry for dumb question

I`ve ordered a pressure washer (1600 psi), and it will be delivered tomorrow. I just thought it will be faster and easier to wash my car, maybe more often, plus avoid sponge friction (swirls) as much as possible. I pretty much presume how the process goes: foam it, let it sit for a while, rub somewhere if there are harder areas (like bugs), and wash with water - right? But I`m also interested in one more thing - If I polish and wax my car after washing, the next time I pressure wash - will the high pressure remove the wax, so this means I`ll have to wax everytime after wash ???

**jimmie jam** · 09-20-2007, 02:58 PM

never a "dumb" question. i`m 54 and ask them all the time. i don`t see how it will harm the existing protection.

**imported_smprince1** · 09-20-2007, 03:04 PM

I would say it depends on what pressure and how close you hold the nozzle to the paint. For example, I have seen a pressure washer take off paint if the nozzle was help too close, so I would be cautious. Don`t hold the nozzle closer than a few feet away, and yes, I suppose if the velocity and pressure were high enough it could erode away some of your LSP.

**Domas** · 09-20-2007, 03:11 PM

Do you think 1600 psi pressure might be to strong? At first I was interested in buying a less powered unit - 1400 psi, but the clerk recommended to buy a more powerfull, she said there will be quite a big difference between those two models. I don`t know, maybe it`s too strong for an amateur...

**Greg Nichols** · 09-20-2007, 03:17 PM

You want a foam cannon if you want to really clean the car without touching it as much.

I would stay a good distance back when washing it with the powerwasher and use a wide setting, I have damaged paint being too close even with 1600psi. How would you react to 1600 lbs pressing down every 1"......lol

**Domas** · 09-20-2007, 03:24 PM

Regarding the foam cannon - does it need to be bought separately? Here`s the washer I ordered:

It includes a bottle with nozzle as you see in the photo - isn`t this used for spraying foam?

**SCutchins** · 09-20-2007, 03:53 PM

The psi is rated on the narrowest setting, which on my electric will blast concrete clean and pit my driveway and rip wood out of my deck and I`m sure yours will do the same. So never use the narrowest setting on a car!

Just always keep the nozzle at the widest fan setting and you should be okay, until you get used to the pressure washer and how powerful it is then its probably a good idea to keep the nozzle a good foot or two from the surface.

Just for your information, I only pressure wash cars that haven`t been washed in a few months.

**corvettecrazy** · 09-20-2007, 03:53 PM

a rule of thumb I`ve heard in the past is to not hold the nozzle any closer to the paint then you would hold it to your arm.

That might be a good starting place as far as distance away from the paint

**Domas** · 09-20-2007, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by SCutchins

Just for your information, I only pressure wash cars that haven`t been washed in a few months.

Can I ask another newby question, why? I was planning to wash once in two weeks or so, maybe sometimes with water only, just to wash off the dust or light mud. Oh, and maybe you know if P-Washing removes wax?

**todd@bsaw** · 09-20-2007, 04:08 PM

Pressure washing will remove your LSP if too close or the water gets too hot (if you had a heated unit). I will get a little close on the front end of some cars to help remove bugs and you can physically see where it removes the product from the front of the hood. I usually rewax the hood and front fender if I do this.

If washing every couple weeks or so, you should be fine if you follow the above advice by not getting closer to the paint than you would your own arm.

**AL-53** · 09-20-2007, 04:39 PM

Just use the wide setting on the nozzle and use the 4 foot rule...stand back 4 feet to rinse..and that way you do not blow stuff off the car...like emblems...lol....J/k..I rinse at about 4 feet and use a wide setting...no problems

that bottle is the foam gun....it actually does a nice job..it will not do the shaving creme foam..but does a nice foam....

AL

**BlackElantraGT** · 09-20-2007, 04:59 PM

I have an 1850 psi Karcher and when used with the widest fan setting, it`s pretty safe. Corvettecrazy mentioned in a few post above about the rule of thumb he`s heard about, and I have to agree with that. If you shoot yourself with the PW, the water feels pretty soft if you use a safe distance. But if you`re inches away and you shoot, it`s gonna hurt. So if you follow that rule, you should be safe. Just make sure not to use the nozzle meant for cleaning concrete. That will definitely rip paint off.

As far as removing LSP, I haven`t personally noticed it yet myself. What I have noticed since adding a PW to my washing is that when I wash (using the 2 bucket method) I hardly ever have any dirt or grit in my rinse bucket. I have a foam cannon that works well for pre-rinsing, but it hasn`t save me any time or anything. In fact, because mine is so hard to attach, I only use it if the car is really dirty and I want to soak it in foam for a few minutes.

**Domas** · 09-27-2007, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by AL-53

that bottle is the foam gun....it actually does a nice job..it will not do the shaving creme foam..but does a nice foam....

AL

I now have the washer and used it. Water pressure and everything else is very good, but that bottle is like $hit... The washer sucks that bottle in less than a minute, I can`t even completely spray the whole car with one bottle... And the foam is not as thick as I expected, not even close to shaving creme foam

I`d like to get foam at least like this guy:

YouTube - Karcher Foam Fun

His bottle is smaller than mine and he gets more foam, and it seems he can spray the whole car several times with one bottle...

Do you guys know any good foamgun-bottles for a low price?

**AL-53** · 09-27-2007, 05:42 PM

domas...thats the foam gun I have the karcher..I assumed the one you had would do as good...guess not...I have another foam gun also...a Cam Spray...this does te shaving creme foam...but I like the karcher also....I can do 2 cars with the Karcher one...I just do a quick foaming and then bucket wash it....

the karcher may fit your machine....it is cheap.like 16.00 on line...just need to see if the ends are the same....to fit into each other

AL

**Domas** · 09-28-2007, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by AL-53

domas...thats the foam gun I have the karcher..I assumed the one you had would do as good...guess not...I have another foam gun also...a Cam Spray...this does te shaving creme foam...but I like the karcher also....I can do 2 cars with the Karcher one...I just do a quick foaming and then bucket wash it....

the karcher may fit your machine....it is cheap.like 16.00 on line...just need to see if the ends are the same....to fit into each other

AL

Well, it does very similar foam like Karcher, maybe a little less foamy, but the main thing I don`t like about this Bosch gun is that it sprays whole bottle very fast. Bosch produces adapters for Karcher accesories, so I could buy an adapter and then buy a Karcher foam gun.

Regarding the Cam Spray - is it with bottle and hooks up on Karcher trigger gun? (If so, it would also fit my Bosch). You mentioned you have a "shaving cream foam" gun, but also like to use Karcher - can I ask what`s the advantage of less dense Karcher foam over the shaving cream foam?

I found one foam gun, it costs $60 so I think it should do quite nice foam, but I`m not sure about its fittings, can you help me with this? Is this universal fitting, or I should do any DIY`s to attach it?:

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