Pressure washers

[dougroc]

Any thoughts on whether or not pressure washers can strip paint as I have heard a few people suggest this recently?

[RW1]

Its not just recent. It is a known problem if the water jet is too close to paintwork. The jet nozzle does have to be very close, ie 2 - 4 cm. Always best to keep the jet nozzle a minmum of 10 to 15cm from the surface. Does depend how powerful the jet is though.

My 12 year old Karcher K300 is capable of doing such damage if incorrectly used at close quarters.

C.

[tonymar]

beware some of those immigrants who operate hand car washes which are common nowadays tend to use quite powerfull pressure washers

[keith]

Cars with painted plastic trims or fibreglass panels are worth watching, as prev mentioned drive in foam washes where the person may use the power of the lance to remove grime at to close a range, i have seen them damage panels

[robrain]

Also keep your nozzles away from parking sensors and the seal around the sharks fin. The sensors are delicate little flowers and also prone to corrosion. On my MINI I had to replace the GPS antenna (housed in a similar fin) and the diagnosis was water ingress - the warranty still paid out though.

[maisbitt]

I would steer well clear of pressure washers for washing cars - there are so many components and recesses that are splashproof only and pressurised water can get places it shouldn't. If a garden hose can't loosen dirt around wheel arches etc at mains pressure, then these areas need a wipe.

With so many people using pressure washers on their cars (regardless of marque) these days, no wonder there are so many electrical failures and corrosion issues for exterior components.

[Actus Reus]

Yep - I don't use my pressure washer for anything other than the patio and my garden furniture - even then it has stripped varnish from wooden furniture. I knackered the brake light on a GTi using a garage's washer once - never again.

[JG400]

I was thinking of getting a pressure washer , wanted to get something to carry out the early stages of the cleaning process detailed on this site i.e. removing dirt before touching car , I have been using hose but can you get a suitable forming attaching for a garden hose that will work as affectively as a pressure washer?


I have found This which looks expensive for a hose attachment what do you think? Might have to be an rapidly approaching birthday present




Oops further research indicates not so good here Not very impressive , I clicked a couple of the related links and they are not much better , when you look at foam lance guns on pressure washers the effect looks much better, again on video

[Chungster]

interesting....cos i've just bought a Karcher K3.575 yesterday thanks to 37% discount at Homebase

just ordered a foam lance and megs hyper wash too from Polished Bliss.

Bought all this to wash the car with.

[skyblues11]

i only use mine to get the snow foam. after, i would use the garden hose to wash the foam away.

even for the foam, i would keep about 2ft away and spray at an angle.

[Psw mk5]

I use mine as a snow foam but then blast off after the two bucket ... At a safe distance ie 12'+ away from bodywork then use my hosepipe