Pressure washer

dP3NGU1N · 08-11-2012, 02:31 AM

Hello everyone. I don't know much about properly washing a car. Up until now I've always just used a hose and a bucket and for some of you that's blasphemous, however I'm trying to improve!

I'm curious if anyone uses a pressure washer to wash their car. Is this the thing that detailers use? I always see those pictures of the nicely foamed up cars and then the nozzle of some kind of sprayer but when I read reviews on this stuff on amazon it's usually for a deck. And if this IS what they use do I still need a two bucket system or can I just go to town with a wash mitt (carefully) and simply spray off with water?

Is there any danger of spraying the paint right off your car if the PSI is too high? If so what PSI would be safe?

Thanks for taking the time to read!

RyanWest · 08-11-2012, 02:59 AM

you can use any pressure washer. Walmart has some cheap ones that last pretty long. 1500 psi should be fine. and no you wont spray the paint off lol

Foam guns are great to break up heavy dirt while the foam sits on the car for about 2-3 min.

Two bucket wash is a must with a grit guard. check out autogeek.net they got everything you need.

dP3NGU1N · 08-11-2012, 03:39 AM

But isn't the two bucket wash mainly so that you can use one to soap up your wash mitt and the other to rinse it off? If you spray foam onto your car then the soap is already there right? Which means you just need the single bucket with the grit guard in order to rinse all the crud off the mitt. Does that make sense or am I missing something?

Thanks for the reply.

RyanWest · 08-11-2012, 03:05 PM

IMO I think soaking with a foam gun helps break up the dirt thats been sitting on the car for a long time. You can use one bucket with a grit guard if you like.

I always wash my car twice by the way just so i make sure its really clean.

whoady4shoady · 08-11-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dP3NGU1N

But isn't the two bucket wash mainly so that you can use one to soap up your wash mitt and the other to rinse it off? If you spray foam onto your car then the soap is already there right? Which means you just need the single bucket with the grit guard in order to rinse all the crud off the mitt. Does that make sense or am I missing something?

Thanks for the reply.

You could, but it will only cost you a few more dollars for another bucket and GG, so why not get it?

dP3NGU1N · 08-11-2012, 05:18 PM

Well, it's not so much the money that's the issue so much as figuring out what purpose it serves if the car is already soaped up from a foam gun attachment to a pressure washer.

I wonder if anyone actually uses this to wash their car or if I'm just being ridiculous.

DEpointfive0 · 11-14-2012, 02:25 AM

I use a foam gun and one bucket with a grit guard, just rub the mitt on the bottom of the grit guard. Done deal

DEpointfive0 · 11-14-2012, 03:14 AM

First of all, 1500PSI seems WAYYYYYY too high, maybe 150 is ok, 1500 should strip paint.

And as for the foam gun, I have this:

Amazon.com: Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II Cleaning Sprayer: Patio, Lawn & Garden

It ain't cheap, but it isn't going to break, and man it makes life easier.
I first rinse the car with one of those cheap $5 multi tip gardening hose adapters, then hook up the foamer. The bitch of the foamer is that to get GOOD thick foam you use a decent amount of soap, so use a cheaper, but quality soap like:

Amazon.com: Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner, 64oz.: Automotive

Next, I use a 5 gallon bucket with:

Grit Guard Wash Bucket Insert : Amazon.com : Automotive

The purpose of the grit guard is so that you can rub the mitt on it to take dirt off as well as trap the dirt at the bottom of the bucket, the design keeps water at the bottom from sloshing around and kicking up the dirt

I use it with:

The Original California Microfiber Wash Mitt - Walmart.com

with:

Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax: Automotive : Walmart.com

Ultimate W&W is THE BEST car cleaning wash I have ever used, And occasionally I'll use it in the gun too

Dry it using first:

Pilot Automotive CC-2010 11" Soft and Dry Water Blade : Amazon.com : Automotive

(Walmart sells them in store for $7)

then I use:

Amazon.com: The Absorber 34900 X-Large Chamois: Automotive

To get the rest of the water off, I like the chamois because there is NO lint at all, and IF it gets completely drenched, you can wring it out quickly and easily

For aftercare, buy a CA duster, if you use it every day, and it only takes 30 seconds, you won't need to wash your car half as much:

The Original California Car Cleaning Duster - Walmart.com

$12-13 in store

And use this wax when the time comes:

Meguiar's Nxt Generation Tech Wax 2.0: Automotive : Walmart.com

SouthArk370Z · 11-14-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

First of all, 1500PSI seems WAYYYYYY too high, maybe 150 is ok, 1500 should strip paint.

Yep. With high pressure, not only do you chance scratching the paint, you also risk peeling it off if there is a weak spot. And I wouldn't want to hit those body panels with high pressure - too easy to dent.
You can always stand back a few feet, so you are only hitting the car with a couple hundred psi or less, but that kinda defeats the purpose of a high pressure washer.
I suggest sticking with whatever comes out of the spigot. You can use a jet nozzle if you need more oomph.

madwi · 11-14-2012, 09:56 AM

I use this model pressure washer:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1#.UKO_YG_LSOA

I use the 40* nozzle and it works very well. I also picked up a foam gun they had on clearance for $29. 2oz of soap mixed with water and it produces loads of foam. I usually do a light prerinse and then use the foam gun to let the foam dwell on the paint and loosen up all the dirt. I use two bucket method to actually wash the car.
If you do use a pressure washer that has multiple tips, be sure to always spray torwards the grass/yard the first time you pull the trigger after changing nozzles...much better than replacing a windshield

Great tool to have around, makes cleaning the siding on the house so much easier.

Luke · 11-20-2012, 05:26 AM

ive got a 1700psi karcher and works well, no probs with stripping paint and its one of their middle class washers.
Foam the sh!t out of it first as itll break up and help losen the dirt up. I foam and pressure wash the car first before i attack it with a mit so theres minimal grit to cause swirls. Sometimes i dont even need a mitt either.

Huck · 11-24-2012, 08:57 AM

[QUOTE=DEpointfive0;2015322]First of all, 1500PSI seems WAYYYYYY too high, maybe 150 is ok, 1500 should strip paint.

You probably know a lot more about this stuff than I do over all, there's still a lot that I'm learning about detailing. But from my experience 1500 - 2000psi is great for washing a car! Now if you were to put it on a concentrated jet and 6" from the car panel, then yes it could definitely strip the paint. A 20 degree fan attachment on my dad's 4000psi pressure washer was what we used to get all the paint off of his old camper so that we could repaint it, and even THAT took some time. To put it in perspective, the self wash places that have the pressure washer handles that shoot the soap and the wax and all that are around 2000 - 2500psi usually, and that doesn't strip the paint. Hell, it doesn't even damage my Plastidip. So as long as you keep the wand 2 or 3 feet away and use the proper fan tip, I think you should be fine

DEpointfive0 · 11-24-2012, 11:44 AM

^^^Oh yeah, you'll be fine, and the fan tip greatly reduces the effective PSI, problem comes when you think, THIS IS GREAT!!! And I have a stubborn tree sap mark, let me take the tip off and just shoot a straight beam of water at it from a foot away... Now your 3-4k pressure washer really is at 3-4k PSI, bye bye paint! LOL

Buy yeah, most coin operated places are around 2k PSI, but you just have to be safe, I've found that the foamer is just as effective at removing bird crap as the pressure washers I used at the coin op places... Just uses a lot of soap...
(And I guess if you're using a coin op place, you can't wash your car at home, which kinda sucks, but no clean up! Lol)

Huck · 11-24-2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

^^^Oh yeah, you'll be fine, and the fan tip greatly reduces the effective PSI, problem comes when you think, THIS IS GREAT!!! And I have a stubborn tree sap mark, let me take the tip off and just shoot a straight beam of water at it from a foot away... Now your 3-4k pressure washer really is at 3-4k PSI, bye bye paint! LOL

Buy yeah, most coin operated places are around 2k PSI, but you just have to be safe, I've found that the foamer is just as effective at removing bird crap as the pressure washers I used at the coin op places... Just uses a lot of soap...
(And I guess if you're using a coin op place, you can't wash your car at home, which kinda sucks, but no clean up! Lol)

Actually I've gotten into the habit of doing the foam and spray at the car wash with the gun, then I drive her home and detail her. I live around the corner so it's no big deal.

I'm debating whether or not to get the foam gun or a pressure washer. I have a problem where I want to get the best of something, so if I get the foam gun I'm gonna be wishing it had way more power when I want to use it for other stuff, but I also don't like the idea of spending $200+ just to wash a car... Decisions decisions...

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

DEpointfive0 · 11-24-2012, 12:29 PM

^$200 foamer?!?!?! Wtf? Is it gold plated??? I like the best of something too, but $200 is overkill, the one I have costed me... $40? And it's built really well

08-11-2012, 02:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
dP3NGU1N A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,682 Drives: 13 PW sport 6mt Rep Power: 19	Pressure washer Hello everyone. I don't know much about properly washing a car. Up until now I've always just used a hose and a bucket and for some of you that's blasphemous, however I'm trying to improve! I'm curious if anyone uses a pressure washer to wash their car. Is this the thing that detailers use? I always see those pictures of the nicely foamed up cars and then the nozzle of some kind of sprayer but when I read reviews on this stuff on amazon it's usually for a deck. And if this IS what they use do I still need a two bucket system or can I just go to town with a wash mitt (carefully) and simply spray off with water? Is there any danger of spraying the paint right off your car if the PSI is too high? If so what PSI would be safe? Thanks for taking the time to read!

08-11-2012, 02:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 34	you can use any pressure washer. Walmart has some cheap ones that last pretty long. 1500 psi should be fine. and no you wont spray the paint off lol Foam guns are great to break up heavy dirt while the foam sits on the car for about 2-3 min. Two bucket wash is a must with a grit guard. check out autogeek.net they got everything you need. Last edited by RyanWest; 08-11-2012 at 03:06 PM.

08-11-2012, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 34	IMO I think soaking with a foam gun helps break up the dirt thats been sitting on the car for a long time. You can use one bucket with a grit guard if you like. I always wash my car twice by the way just so i make sure its really clean. DEpointfive0 likes this.

11-14-2012, 03:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	This is my entire suggestion: First of all, 1500PSI seems WAYYYYYY too high, maybe 150 is ok, 1500 should strip paint. And as for the foam gun, I have this: Amazon.com: Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II Cleaning Sprayer: Patio, Lawn & Garden It ain't cheap, but it isn't going to break, and man it makes life easier. I first rinse the car with one of those cheap $5 multi tip gardening hose adapters, then hook up the foamer. The bitch of the foamer is that to get GOOD thick foam you use a decent amount of soap, so use a cheaper, but quality soap like: Amazon.com: Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner, 64oz.: Automotive Next, I use a 5 gallon bucket with: Grit Guard Wash Bucket Insert : Amazon.com : Automotive The purpose of the grit guard is so that you can rub the mitt on it to take dirt off as well as trap the dirt at the bottom of the bucket, the design keeps water at the bottom from sloshing around and kicking up the dirt I use it with: The Original California Microfiber Wash Mitt - Walmart.com with: Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax: Automotive : Walmart.com Ultimate W&W is THE BEST car cleaning wash I have ever used, And occasionally I'll use it in the gun too Dry it using first: Pilot Automotive CC-2010 11" Soft and Dry Water Blade : Amazon.com : Automotive (Walmart sells them in store for $7) then I use: Amazon.com: The Absorber 34900 X-Large Chamois: Automotive To get the rest of the water off, I like the chamois because there is NO lint at all, and IF it gets completely drenched, you can wring it out quickly and easily For aftercare, buy a CA duster, if you use it every day, and it only takes 30 seconds, you won't need to wash your car half as much: The Original California Car Cleaning Duster - Walmart.com $12-13 in store And use this wax when the time comes: Meguiar's Nxt Generation Tech Wax 2.0: Automotive : Walmart.com DR_ and SouthArk370Z like this.

11-24-2012, 08:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 42 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 34	[QUOTE=DEpointfive0;2015322]First of all, 1500PSI seems WAYYYYYY too high, maybe 150 is ok, 1500 should strip paint. You probably know a lot more about this stuff than I do over all, there's still a lot that I'm learning about detailing. But from my experience 1500 - 2000psi is great for washing a car! Now if you were to put it on a concentrated jet and 6" from the car panel, then yes it could definitely strip the paint. A 20 degree fan attachment on my dad's 4000psi pressure washer was what we used to get all the paint off of his old camper so that we could repaint it, and even THAT took some time. To put it in perspective, the self wash places that have the pressure washer handles that shoot the soap and the wax and all that are around 2000 - 2500psi usually, and that doesn't strip the paint. Hell, it doesn't even damage my Plastidip. So as long as you keep the wand 2 or 3 feet away and use the proper fan tip, I think you should be fine DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

08-11-2012, 03:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
dP3NGU1N A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,682 Drives: 13 PW sport 6mt Rep Power: 19	But isn't the two bucket wash mainly so that you can use one to soap up your wash mitt and the other to rinse it off? If you spray foam onto your car then the soap is already there right? Which means you just need the single bucket with the grit guard in order to rinse all the crud off the mitt. Does that make sense or am I missing something? Thanks for the reply.

08-11-2012, 05:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
dP3NGU1N A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,682 Drives: 13 PW sport 6mt Rep Power: 19	Well, it's not so much the money that's the issue so much as figuring out what purpose it serves if the car is already soaped up from a foam gun attachment to a pressure washer. I wonder if anyone actually uses this to wash their car or if I'm just being ridiculous.

11-14-2012, 02:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	I use a foam gun and one bucket with a grit guard, just rub the mitt on the bottom of the grit guard. Done deal

11-14-2012, 09:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
madwi A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: West Michigan Posts: 31,410 Drives: Granma red Z Rep Power: 2684429	I use this model pressure washer: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1#.UKO_YG_LSOA I use the 40* nozzle and it works very well. I also picked up a foam gun they had on clearance for $29. 2oz of soap mixed with water and it produces loads of foam. I usually do a light prerinse and then use the foam gun to let the foam dwell on the paint and loosen up all the dirt. I use two bucket method to actually wash the car. If you do use a pressure washer that has multiple tips, be sure to always spray torwards the grass/yard the first time you pull the trigger after changing nozzles...much better than replacing a windshield Great tool to have around, makes cleaning the siding on the house so much easier.

11-20-2012, 05:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Luke Base Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 111 Drives: 2012 370Z 6MT Black Rep Power: 14	ive got a 1700psi karcher and works well, no probs with stripping paint and its one of their middle class washers. Foam the sh!t out of it first as itll break up and help losen the dirt up. I foam and pressure wash the car first before i attack it with a mit so theres minimal grit to cause swirls. Sometimes i dont even need a mitt either.

11-24-2012, 11:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	^^^Oh yeah, you'll be fine, and the fan tip greatly reduces the effective PSI, problem comes when you think, THIS IS GREAT!!! And I have a stubborn tree sap mark, let me take the tip off and just shoot a straight beam of water at it from a foot away... Now your 3-4k pressure washer really is at 3-4k PSI, bye bye paint! LOL Buy yeah, most coin operated places are around 2k PSI, but you just have to be safe, I've found that the foamer is just as effective at removing bird crap as the pressure washers I used at the coin op places... Just uses a lot of soap... (And I guess if you're using a coin op place, you can't wash your car at home, which kinda sucks, but no clean up! Lol)

11-24-2012, 12:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	^$200 foamer?!?!?! Wtf? Is it gold plated??? I like the best of something too, but $200 is overkill, the one I have costed me... $40? And it's built really well

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