Pressure washers are quite awesome

[JulesMaximus]

I don't think I'd use one on a car and definitely not on a bicycle or motorcycle. They have a habit of forcing water into areas that should not get wet like wheel bearings, dust seals, brake caliper seals. I'll continue to lovingly hand wash my vehicles.

 

[WackyDan]

Just don't use it on your tires. I remember reading that a high enough pressure from a pressure washer can indeed damage sidewalls.

 

[alkemyst]

Power washers are great, but also a great way to ruin stuff. I have seen etched concrete, paint blown off a car, fences/decks ruined.

 

[spidey07]

Guess I bought the shittiest one then. I bought it probably 8-9 years ago at least from Home Depot. Its a 2300 psi gas powered unit and it works great. Loaned it out half a dozen times to family and friends who needed to use one and its always worked when I needed it also to blast grease and grime off an engine, clean the driveway, wash down the house, or whatever. It has no setting other than a quick turn at the end of the nozzel to change it from wide mode to razor thin skin cutting mode.

You can buy an attachment for the wand. It has a selection of nozzles including low pressure and/or low pressure with soap.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I keep seeing instructions everywhere to run the pressure washer for a few seconds after the garden hose disconnected to empty the water from the pump. I just did that for like 5 seconds and there was a burning smell. It seems like I might have screwed up my pressure washer.

 

[alkemyst]

I keep seeing instructions everywhere to run the pressure washer for a few seconds after the garden hose disconnected to empty the water from the pump. I just did that for like 5 seconds and there was a burning smell. It seems like I might have screwed up my pressure washer.

I would not recommend this unless you have instructions explicitly to do so.

You want to kill the pump, then cut the water flow and release the pressure with the handle prior to disconnecting (away from anything that may be damaged).

Some pumps will not run without water flow.

 

[alkemyst]

If you have driveways or sidewalks to clean, this is awesome: http://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Stratto...lk+power+brush

I got mine for like half that price on a deal of the day.

 

[MtnMan]

Yet some use them to wash cars with delicate clearcoat and paint jobs.

I would never use a PW to wash a car that I cared about.

Are you 'in love' with your car. You are missing out on so much life. And WTF is 'delicate' clearcoat.

 

[spidey07]

I keep seeing instructions everywhere to run the pressure washer for a few seconds after the garden hose disconnected to empty the water from the pump. I just did that for like 5 seconds and there was a burning smell. It seems like I might have screwed up my pressure washer.

NEVER run the motor without water supply. EVER. Burn out the pump almost immediately.

To empty water from the pump disconnect water supply, shut off engine and then with it in the OFF position pull the cord a few times with the wand and hose detached. Water will empty from the pump where you attach the wand/hose.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I would not recommend this unless you have instructions explicitly to do so.

You want to kill the pump, then cut the water flow and release the pressure with the handle prior to disconnecting (away from anything that may be damaged).

Some pumps will not run without water flow.

NEVER run the motor without water supply. EVER. Burn out the pump almost immediately.

To empty water from the pump disconnect water supply, shut off engine and then with it in the OFF position pull the cord a few times with the wand and hose detached. Water will empty from the pump where you attach the wand/hose.

The manual to say to "Turn on the machine for a few seconds until the remaining water in the pump exits. Turn off immediately."

But I'm not going to do this anymore.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If it will peel skin off your body what do you suppose high pressure water will do to the door seals on your car? I would never use one of these to wash a car. Bunch of lazy good for nothing slackers... too lazy to fill a bucket up with soap and use a rag.

NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

 

[alkemyst]

If it will peel skin off your body what do you suppose high pressure water will do to the door seals on your car? I would never use one of these to wash a car. Bunch of lazy good for nothing slackers... too lazy to fill a bucket up with soap and use a rag.

NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

Personally I like the job I do on my cars better, but for $20 for an inside and out wash/cleanup; I am using the local place and handling my email during the process and maybe taking down my lunch.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Personally I like the job I do on my cars better, but for $20 for an inside and out wash/cleanup; I am using the local place and handling my email during the process and maybe taking down my lunch.

Same here. Full service car washes are the bomb baby. They clean the glass inside, vacuum the interior, hand wash and dry. I've even taken to having them hand wax my car now just so that I don't have to deal with it.

 

[spidey07]

The manual to say to "Turn on the machine for a few seconds until the remaining water in the pump exits. Turn off immediately."

But I'm not going to do this anymore.

You never let that pump run dry under power. The water is what cools and lubricates it.

 

[alkemyst]

The manual to say to "Turn on the machine for a few seconds until the remaining water in the pump exits. Turn off immediately."

But I'm not going to do this anymore.

Like spidey07 fully qualified, the remaining water is removed by making sure the starter is OFF and just pulling the starter cord a few times until the water is all out. You don't need to do this vigorously. I just do it gently a few times.

Also to prevent mildew in your outlet hose, use gravity to coil them and let the water flow out as you do it or some air.

 

[alkemyst]

Are you 'in love' with your car. You are missing out on so much life. And WTF is 'delicate' clearcoat.

Seriously?!?!

There are hard and soft clearcoats, as well as paints in general. Using too much pressure will put waves into the finish and/or blow some finishes off.

Fortunately many washing their cars with pressure washers are just using crappy electric models that aren't putting out much pressure, but even those with a pinpoint/0 deg nozzle can do major damage to a vehicle.