Pressure Washer

Im thinking of buying a multipurpose pressure water washer about 1300-1500 psi, are those any good?? i want it to wash and rinse the truck, wheel wells, wheels, bed, all those corners that get soaked with mud and stuff, and also for rinsing after wash, is that max pressure ok? or i need more or less, would that damage the paint? also what brands you recomend?

 

We have a pressure washer but I don't use it on the truck. It just seems way too powerful and could cause damage. I mean...I don't have any real-time numbers but it just seems more powerful than the ones at the car washes.

I use it to clean the patio concrete and it'll rip the concrete up if you have a small crack in it....

 

^ouch, thanks for your reply, well i guess there must be one that has adjustable psi? i see some that are home use, maybe yours is more commercial industrial kind??

 

Part of it depends on how close you have the nozzle to the paint too. I have used them on other vehicles in the past and got up close with the caked on mud but would back off when it come to the body panels....well that is once the mud that was caked on there came off. If your smart with your use I think you would be fine.

 

Ed,
If you are looking at those electric ones from the Depot or Lowe's, they are fine to use on a vehicle, providing you don't stay in one spot too long. The lowest psi electric one is comparable to a do it yourself car wash sprayer.

The one Janster is referring to is probably a gas powered washer. I have one of those, a 3200 psi one I got from the Depot. I sometimes use it on the vehicles, but I stand about 8' away and only sparingly.

 

The electric one (1500psi) I have works fine and hasn't damaged the paint on any car I have used it on.

 

Thanks everybody for your inputs, its a lot of help!

 

i only use it for the wheel wells, rims and tires... i think that is actually all you need it for. and yes, if i were you i would get one, no more scrubbing tires or rims.

 

yea its a lot of time scrubbing them!!

 

yeah, especially when one is anal and want the letters super white...

 

Correct!
It's a home-depot/Lows (cant' remember) Camble Hausfield variety (or however you spell that).

 

Great investment. Been using them for years. As long as you keep it on the fan pattern spray and don't hit paint at less than a foot for too long, you'll be fine. They are great for really cleaning out wheel wells, rims, the bed, as well as gentle rinsing off the soap. Where I wouldn't use it is in the engine compartment. You can force water into places that may cause problems. I use mine on my truck, car, bike, decks, house, driveway, and the boats when they come out of the water. You'll be surprised how often you fire it up after you buy one as there is many uses for one around the house.

 

Well, i went to the home depot today, i found a small 1400 psi koblenz pressure washer, is very powerful yet gentle, i used to wash the truck very handy, thanks all for the inputs!

 

Glad to be of assistance.

 

We just bought a Karcher, supposedly these are the best. 6 hp honda motor 3000psi. When buying a power washer the engine is not as important as the pump. We used this to power washthe house (3 story victorian) and it did a great job. Has a container and pump for your chemicals.

 

Yeah those karcher's are good, but 3000 psi seems a lot for washing the truck... but its good for concrete and other stuff...

 

yeah i wont use it on the truck, it has a nozzle that is spread wide, might use it on undercarrage. I was dropping off my leaf blower at the shop i go to, they had a nice husquavarna 1700psi. didnt see the price tho.

 

GPM (gallons per minute) is very important as well as the PSI rating. IMO, 2500 @ 3.0 GPM is just about perfect for washing vehicles. a higher GPM rating really helps to clear the mud (if you offroad). also look for a pump that is not "direct drive"...that is...the pump is directly attached to the motor. try to find one that either has a gear reduction box, or is belt driven. the direct drive models (gasoline anyways) have to run at a high RPM to be at their rated output, where a gear reducer or belt & pulley drive can be adjusted to spin the pump at 100%, while the motor runs at 65 - 75%. the pump should also have a re-buildable unloader. most of the "homeowner" models do not have a separate unloading valve, so if it goes bad...you have to replace the entire pump head assembly(much more expensive...usually nearly as much as a new washer). make sure when replacing tips to get the propper orifice size, otherwise you'll either blow out you pump packings(too small) or have no pressure (too big)

lastly-- if you do not store your washer in a heated area during winter...make sure you get all the water out of the pump before storing. windshield washer fluid makes a nice winterizer. good idea to use Sta-bil or drain the tank for long storage on gasoline powered models.

just some things i have learned from our mechanics here at work.

 

I washed the truck yesterday, the pressure washer works great on wheel wells and the bed.... i also used the spray pattern to take the bugs of the front...