Pressure washer to clean car?

[Adamkk12]

I just got a 1400psi washer and saw on TV last night a guy cleaning his car with it.

I can put on a detergent bottle and spray first at low pressure, then put on the

head unit and vary the spray from wide to narrow. Seems great on wheels.

Anybody using one?

[ted]

First post, welcome.
1400psi cleaned my car well.
Bag the distributer/coil/electronics if you rinse the engine.
Yes, good after a track day cleans suspension and under the car too.
Cleans tires and rims you won't need to use the bucket and hand brush.
Car gets clean and the pressure washer uses less water.

[Oh Haha]

I have one but rarely use it to wash the car(s). It's used for cleaning the house and patio.

It is a good tool to have around, though.

[rick-l]

Use one all the time. Put it on a fan spray and don't get too close.

1. Rinse, Spray off the underside, shut it off
2. use soap and water from a bucket
3. start it up rinse it off. If it is hot you may have to rinse separate sections

[john70t]

Welcome to the board.
4. take it for a highway drive or use a leaf blower
5. wax unprotected paint.

Suggest doing this in shade on cooler dry day.

[Por_sha911]

1400 is probably safe but use the fan spray.

[rusnak]

I would never ever use a presure washer on paint. Never. Ever.

You have to turn the pressure way down and watch the seams and where you point the spray when you use a pressure washer on an engine. Water goes where it should not.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I would never ever use a presure washer on paint. Never. Ever.

You have to turn the pressure way down and watch the seams and where you point the spray when you use a pressure washer on an engine. Water goes where it should not.

It depends. A fool could do some damage. A good tool is only a good tool when used by someone who knows how to use it. I'm sure somewhere at some time someone has pointed a pressure washer stream at someone else at close range and hurt them, maybe badly.

The early base coat/clear coat paints on some cars would not take much too blow off if you didn't know anything about using a power tool. For those, I say get a bucket and a sponge.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I would never ever use a presure washer on paint. Never. Ever.

You have to turn the pressure way down and watch the seams and where you point the spray when you use a pressure washer on an engine. Water goes where it should not.

I've washed countless engines w/ pressurized water, maybe 100(?), including virtually every vehicle I've ever owned. On older vehicles, some drying with compressed air and/or the hot sun might be necessary afterwards and older distributor caps need to be dried-out. This takes a grand total of 30 seconds.

Within the bounds of common sense, "anything that can't handle getting wet in an engine compartment probably needed attention anyways", is the info I got a long time ago. The common sense aspect would be not to shoot water into an intake or pressure wash soft insulation under the hood, etc...

I've used very pretty high pressure on an engine and compartment with zero damage dozens of times. (More than 1400 psi., for sure). If you don't know what you're doing, leave jobs like this to someone who does. If you have some basic mechanical aptitude and common sense, power wash engines all you want. I can't tolerate a dirty machine.

[HardDrive]

I wouldn't use it on Kia. You might chop the car clean in half.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I would never ever use a presure washer on paint. Never. Ever.

You have to turn the pressure way down and watch the seams and where you point the spray when you use a pressure washer on an engine. Water goes where it should not.

+1

the exception would be the under carriage, which (technically) is painted.

I borrow or rent a pressure washer about 1x/year and do everything I need then.

[RWebb]

oh yeh - use hot water on the engine (and everything else) -- you'll be amazed how well it works at low pressure

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

+1

the exception would be the under carriage, which (technically) is painted.

I borrow or rent a pressure washer about 1x/year and do everything I need then.

Yes, but if you don't turn the pressure down, you will take the undercarriage paint off.

You have to be VERY aware of what you're pointing the nozzle at, and where the seams are, and what can be damaged by the cutting action these things produce. A lot of diy weekend type guys just are not aware enough or have enough experience to appreciate what the prudent limits are.

[rick-l]

You're just using a fan of water to blow off debris and soap. From 2-3 feet away it would be hard to damage anything.

What pressure washers let you regulate the outlet pressure?

Every detailer and car lot in town here uses one.

[red-beard]

With the fan setting, it is fine. The fine point, that will take paint off. It will also cut skin.

I want to get a pressure steam cleaner! I'm not sure the neighbors would appreciate it...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've used many times on undercarriages, engine bays, wheels, etc. Fantastic way to get rid of crud. On fan setting it works pretty well at getting the painted surfaces clean too. No issues.

[wdfifteen]

I used to use one. But after driving in a hard rain, the radiator fan on my old MB E320 came on and stayed on and the engine started running like crap when it was cold. The dealer found water in a sensor connection, which told the computer the engine was hot. It cost me $100 to have them dry it out. After that I decided I'd rather let it be dirty than risk having something like that happen from a pressure washer.

[89911]

I've used it in the winter. I have a low powered electric one that I hook up to the hot water and it cuts dirt and grease amazingly fast. I just cleaned my larger mower and it cut the dirt/grease stuck to it came off like nothing. As long as you are using a low powered setting, its fine for a car. But why bother? You are still going to need to physically clean the car with a sponge or cloth. It would work well for wheel wells and areas you can actually get to. The power washer is not going to remove the film. Ever go to a self wash with a spray and then see the car after its drys? Not so great. If you can put your hand in front of the spray is a good rule of thumb as to it causing damage.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by 89911

But why bother? .

To rinse off the debris and soap it is quicker , more effective and probably uses less water.

Low pressure ???? Why???? Just stand back a couple feet.

[azasadny]

I've washed engines, undercarriages, wheel wells and wheels with a 1250psi power washer (Karcher) before it died. The electric power washers I've owned have all been junk but they work for a year or two...