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      09-14-2015, 10:22 AM   #1
Kidu
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Pressure washing

I need to get a pressure washer (for the house, cars, bikes, etc etc) - what pressure is safe to wash cars with? Ideas? For both long term and short term paint care.
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      09-14-2015, 10:34 AM   #2
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I cannot give you a number, but I can say that most pressure washers come with various nozzle attachments for various jobs and there will be one that would be fine for washing your car. If you think about it, most touchless car washes have very strong pressures to break away dirt. You just would not want to use the tightest nozzle that's meant for concrete surfaces on your car. If its a nozzle meant for vinyl siding it will not hurt your car. Allot of vinyl siding is thin and would crack really easy under too high pressure.
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      09-14-2015, 02:22 PM   #3
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I wouldn't go much over 1800PSI for a pressure washer for car-cleaning.

I wouldn't get any closer than 8-12 inches to the vehicle with the wand, either.
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      09-15-2015, 12:08 AM   #4
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My opinion and only mine, SKIP the pressure washer. Anything pressure whether it be water, air, buffer, towel, etc, BAD on clear coat finishes.

Think about it, clear coat finish is one third the thickness of a post it note. Why apply anything abrasive or pressure. My M4 17g miles, looks totally scratchless no swirls like delivery day, awesome!
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      09-15-2015, 11:22 AM   #5
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Lol...in other words dont drive it! Put it under a glass bubble and look at it!
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      09-15-2015, 11:31 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sstarrx3 View Post
Lol...in other words dont drive it! Put it under a glass bubble and look at it!
I think pressure washers and blowers can drive water into places driving at high speed in the rain couldn't duplicate. There have been warnings about using pressure washers on tires - the pulses of water damage the underlying tire structure. And on motorcycles high pressure washers near or on wheel hubs can be problematic.
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      09-15-2015, 01:33 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sstarrx3
Lol...in other words dont drive it! Put it under a glass bubble and look at it!
Not exactly, but waxing, buffing, abrasive cleaning, and if done improperly you just created the need to continue that process.

Why do you think special waxes and compounds have the ability to remove either swirl marks, hazing, dull looks, etc just simply because driving the car caused it. Really? Swirl marks from normal driving equally over your painted clear coated surfaces? The 8 billion dollar a year cleaning companies would like you to believe that!

I've never fallen for it after after 9 BMWs. Come see my cars, never waxed and flawless, really!
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      09-15-2015, 03:30 PM   #8
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If you are set on using a pressure washer, you might want to look into a foam cannon. I personally plan to do this...one of these days.
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      11-02-2015, 04:04 PM   #9
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Garage List
Power wash wheels only

I only use mine on the wheels.
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      08-26-2017, 05:20 PM   #10
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So which pressure washer should I get to use with my MTM Foam Cannon?
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      08-30-2017, 03:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
So which pressure washer should I get to use with my MTM Foam Cannon?
Anything with a flow rate of 1.5 GPM and more and about 1500 psi. I have a battery operated 1000psi pressure washer with a .9 GPM and it works, but not great. Unfortunately there is no power where I wash my car and I'm not motivated enough to drag around a gas powered pressure washer so I use the Sun Joe battery one.
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      08-30-2017, 03:41 PM   #12
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Mtm foam cannon on a lower pressure washer for context.
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      08-30-2017, 04:16 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pz619 View Post
Anything with a flow rate of 1.5 GPM and more and about 1500 psi. I have a battery operated 1000psi pressure washer with a .9 GPM and it works, but not great. Unfortunately there is no power where I wash my car and I'm not motivated enough to drag around a gas powered pressure washer so I use the Sun Joe battery one.
Thank You for the info/photo - I think I'm going electric, didn't realize there was battery.
My MTM arrives tomorrow, hope to use on Sunday.
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      08-31-2017, 12:04 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
Thank You for the info/photo - I think I'm going electric, didn't realize there was battery.
My MTM arrives tomorrow, hope to use on Sunday.
I think electric will be perfect. I would definitely have one if I didn't need to run a 100 ft extension cord. Let us know how you like it!
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      09-03-2017, 02:53 PM   #15
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My philosophy for cleaning a car is based on the Hippocratic oath and the furniture restorers creed: Do no harm and use the mildest method and chemicals to get the desired results.

I would never bring a power washer within 100 feet of my car. Why? These cars are electronic monsters. Yes, BMW uses great connectors (BMW actually bought a German connector maker years ago so that it could control the quality of its connectors). But, BMW, like most car makers, has reduced the weather protection in its cars to reduce the cars' weight.
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      02-06-2018, 02:04 AM   #16
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So bucket wash?
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      02-13-2018, 05:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paisano View Post
So bucket wash?
Yup, using the 2 bucket method.
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      02-26-2018, 10:39 AM   #18
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I'd also vote to skip the pressure washer. What you don't sandblast, you will infuse with pressurized water. If it won't come off with a regular hose on spray pattern, let it sit a minute more, or get a foam cannon.
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      02-28-2018, 10:09 AM   #19
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I agree. Just old fashioned 2 bucket wash by hand usually is more than though!
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      03-21-2018, 05:25 PM   #20
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Im a hand wash guy. If you must, pressure washer on low for sudsing & rinsing, soft brush or sheepskin mit scrubbing -

Be careful with pressure washer on wheels/tires - it doesn’t take that much pressure to break the bead and reward you with flat/semi-flat tires. Don’t ask me how I know that -
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      03-22-2018, 10:59 PM   #21
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I purchased a Blue AR pressure washer. I have had several pressure washers over the years, I currently have 3. I can't remember the model number but it's a 110v model that will work with hot water. With the foam cannon it really does a good job on our black cars.

Be sure to purchase a model that has a good GPM rating, if it doesn't it's a toy.

Bucket washing does the best job but that involves too much bending over for me.

Last edited by syclonedriver; 03-24-2018 at 08:20 PM..
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