Pressure washer help.

[3.9square]

Ok, to be honest I don't know where to post this. Anyway, I need to get a decent pressure washer to help me get the mud off my car after I go 4 wheelin. I usually go the local car wash and pay to do it but I would much rather do it myself. I have seen some at Home depot and Lowes but I don't know what to get or if the ones there are to strong or not strong enough to help me. What do you guys use as a pressure washer? Post some links to where you got yours if you can. Thanks in advance guys!

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Pressure washer help.

All you need is 2000 PSI max and about 3 gpm. I would go for a gasoline engine over an electric.

[3.9square]

Re: Pressure washer help.

About how much would that run? Just a range I should look for. Also, are there some that are better than others?

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Pressure washer help.

You should be able to find them for less than $400. Lowes has a selection.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Hey,

I would suggest getting a Honda Motor (around 5 hp +), a 2.5 - 3.0 GPM Comet pump, around 2300 psi (though mine is 2900 psi that I use), and a wand that uses interchangeable tips. That way you can use a 40* for the cars and trucks and, 20* for the driveway etc...

The problem with pressure washers is that you get what you pay for. There is a big difference between the Honda GC engine and the better Honda GX. Same goes for the pump. The better pumps will last much longer, will have a good unloader (to turn down the pressure) and a viewing window on the side of the pump to visually check the pump oil level.

I hope this helps!

Tim

[ken_ja]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Hey,

I would suggest getting a Honda Motor (around 5 hp +), a 2.5 - 3.0 GPM Comet pump, around 2300 psi (though mine is 2900 psi that I use), and a wand that uses interchangeable tips. That way you can use a 40* for the cars and trucks and, 20* for the driveway etc...

The problem with pressure washers is that you get what you pay for. There is a big difference between the Honda GC engine and the better Honda GX. Same goes for the pump. The better pumps will last much longer, will have a good unloader (to turn down the pressure) and a viewing window on the side of the pump to visually check the pump oil level.

I hope this helps!

Tim

I agree, my Facilities Dept has four washers for use on fleet vehicles and the two Honda ones are by far the more reliable.

[TXShine]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Couldn't agree with Tim more. My pressure washer has a 5.5hp Honda GX engine with a 2200psi 3 gpm AR pump (Annovi Reverberi) that is more than ten years old and never a problem.

Unfortunately this is not the type of pressure washer that is going to come in on the cheaper side. But as Tim said, you get what you pay for when it comes to pressure washers, and what your paying for is quality, performance and reliability.

With all the off-road activities I used to be involved in and numerous other things it was used for, mine certainly paid for itself a long time ago. And it is still going strong today. I wouldn't hesitate spending what I had too to get the same quality if I had to replace it.

[3.9square]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Couldn't agree with Tim more. My pressure washer has a 5.5hp Honda GX engine with a 2200psi 3 gpm AR pump (Annovi Reverberi) that is more than ten years old and never a problem.

Unfortunately this is not the type of pressure washer that is going to come in on the cheaper side. But as Tim said, you get what you pay for when it comes to pressure washers, and what your paying for is quality, performance and reliability.

With all the off-road activities I used to be involved in and numerous other things it was used for, mine certainly paid for itself a long time ago. And it is still going strong today. I wouldn't hesitate spending what I had too to get the same quality if I had to replace it.

I have been getting the same feeling with how much I pay to go pressure wash my car. I end up spending $20 just for the time of pressure washing and I am always feeling rushed so I don't do the best job when I do it. I am just looking to keep it under $500 since I don't have a huge budget right now.

[mrdj]

Re: Pressure washer help.

I got a reconditioned Karcher gas washer here. Haven't had any problems.

http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/

[Jeepster04]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Ive got a troy built with a Honda engine. Great little pressure washer but the pump is going south and you cant practically buy a new pump. I think a new one was over $300(just for the pump) but I need to call troy built and see for myself.

And the pump going south isnt the pumps fault. I had to take it apart once it was frozen(my fault) and I didnt re-assemble the bearings correctly. I fixed it later on but the damage was already done. Im going to use it till it locks up.

[3.9square]

Re: Pressure washer help.

I got a reconditioned Karcher gas washer here. Haven't had any problems.
http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/

Hey, thanks for that link. I think I might just buy one from them. They have a good selection there. Also, are the gas ones really noisy? I don't want a lawn mower sounding thing everytime I want to clean my car off.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Hey, thanks for that link. I think I might just buy one from them. They have a good selection there. Also, are the gas ones really noisy? I don't want a lawn mower sounding thing everytime I want to clean my car off.

Yes they are noisy as you are running a high horsepower engine and a pump. The better the engine the more quiet the machine will be. Hence the reason I suggested getting the better Honda GX series engine as it is more quiet than the GC series. You have to keep in mind, these things create a lot of PSI which means they have to work hard to do it. There are belt drive units which would be more quiet but you are way over your budget in that case.



Tim

[3.9square]

Re: Pressure washer help.

Yes they are noisy as you are running a high horsepower engine and a pump. The better the engine the more quiet the machine will be. Hence the reason I suggested getting the better Honda GX series engine as it is more quiet than the GC series. You have to keep in mind, these things create a lot of PSI which means they have to work hard to do it. There are belt drive units which would be more quiet but you are way over your budget in that case.



Tim

Thats cool. I can just deal with it then......and so can the neighbors. Now I realize that I just wont be doing any night time cleaning.

[Sprzout]

Re: Pressure washer help.

I'd have to agree, stay with the gas ones. My dad used to own a Husky power washer, one of those little electric jobs. It was supposed to mix the soap in and spray it out onto the car when you pulled the trigger.

However, it wasn't as simple as that. The soap only came out at a low pressure setting. Think of having a regular garden hose without a spray nozzle on the end of it; it was like that, but with soap being mixed in to the water. Not effective in the least. The high pressure washing worked great at rinsing, but that was about it, and as for the soap with it, it barely came through with the electric pump. I'd recommend staying away from that one and going with the gas powered ones as have been recommended in the thread. Most of the time you can get soap to come out at a high pressure, just like you would at the do-it-yourself car washes.

[3.9square]

Re: Pressure washer help.

This is why I need a pressure washer. It took me $23 in quaters to clean this mess off.




This was one of the downhill trails I went on.

It's a bad night time picture. You can tell why I want more lights. Anyway, that was actually a really steep hill that I TOTALLY didn't think I was going to make it up.