Strong Water Jets

[mis3]

I wonder, if strong jets of water remove more wax than gentler water flow?

[Bjkearns]

Re: Strong Water Jets

It is all about how it is being used and specifics
When you say a strong jet of water, is strong 1500PSI or enough PSI to cut through 1/2" plate

Are you letting the pressure washer sit in the same exact spot for 5 minutes?
How far away from the surface?
When was the last time it was waxed?
What wax?

As you can see lots of variables, though I would venture to guess that gentler pulls less wax

[mis3]

Re: Strong Water Jets

I asked the question in general term.

If gentler water flow removes less wax, I will not use the nozzle when I rinse soap off my car.

[Bjkearns]

Re: Strong Water Jets

Though you also need to remember in the beginning of a wash say on a car that doesnt get washed very often how much dirt there is
It is caked on down low, Im thinking it would be better to plow through that with pressure as opposed to trying to remove it with a mitt/sponge

but then again I am thinking the majority of us on this site have pretty clean cars

for me personally I do not use a pressure washer
It is nozzle for rinse and wheels, rinse with nozzle on lower pressure, then sheet off the water with the nozzle removed

[Blueline]

Re: Strong Water Jets

Pressure washers are for removing manure in my horse stable, and old paint from the sidings...... I would never even think of using one on my vehicles.

[wifpd4]

Re: Strong Water Jets

Pressure washers are for removing manure in my horse stable...

You're pretty much describing what my car looks like after driving on interstate in the snow, sleet or rain. I routinely use a small, WalMart kind of cheap high pressure washer, realizing that it may marr the finish and removes wax. It also blows off some of the dirt before I hand wash. For me, it's the lesser of two evils. it's pretty rare I work on a car that in my opinion couldn't use a high pressure wash. It's important to use a lower pressure washer and maintain a good distance from the nozzle of the wand to the paint surface.

[mis3]

Re: Strong Water Jets

There are extreme cases when the pressure washer will help to remove stubborn mud and even fresh road tars.

Like Bjkearns said, most of our cars are clean and well-waxed. I think I would use the nozzle to wet the car but to rinse off soap, I would remove the nozzle.

[Bjkearns]

Re: Strong Water Jets

I am thinking the only people who really see grungy cars on a regular basis are the guys that detail for dollars
For me personally I do not need one because of how slick mh car is combined with daily wipe downs

[Blueline]

Re: Strong Water Jets

You're pretty much describing what my car looks like after driving on interstate

We don't allow horses on I-95 I agree those small washers probably would be useful if used carefully

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Strong Water Jets

A truly strong jet of water certainly could. Using a pressure washer to wash your car isn't really an issue as long as you do it with a bit of common sense. Even a 2500psi pressure washer will lose a lot of it's power once you get a certain distance from the car, but up close it can do a lot more than just strip wax.

But if you're just talking about a regular nozzle used on a garden hose you shouldn't have anything to worry about. An initial rinse with a bit of power is good to knock off all the really loose dirt on the surface, but rinsing off the soap shouldn't take much pressure at all (unless you're seriously over using the soap!). And don't forget, we highly recommend a final rinse with just a light, steady stream of water coming from the hose. This will sheet off the majority of water and make drying the car faster and easier.

[Mark58]

Re: Strong Water Jets

I take my car through soft rag type car washes and after few washes wax is still on. It beads like crazy. Bad part is that every month or so apply fresh coat of wax.

[Bjkearns]

Re: Strong Water Jets

I take my car through soft rag type car washes and after few washes wax is still on. It beads like crazy. Bad part is that every month or so apply fresh coat of wax.

Mark PLEASE PLEASE tell me that is only during the worst months of winter back there...

those things are just horrible for paint,swirls and scratches galore

Remember bubba takes his 4X4 swamp romper through there, where does all the dirt go?
Alot goes down the drain but alot is still in those huge mops

HAND WASH FOR THE WIN

[Blueline]

Re: Strong Water Jets

I take my car through soft rag type car washes and after few washes wax is still on. It beads like crazy. Bad part is that every month or so apply fresh coat of wax.

Oh, the pain, the pain. My eyes hurt reading that.

[mis3]

Re: Strong Water Jets

Many of us have no choice in the winter months. I do try to choose the touchless car washes.

My car is silver and the swirls do not show as much. Besides the swirls, my paint is in pretty good condition. I cannot stand driving a dirty car.

From my personal expereince and what I read in this forum, I have, kind of, given up on swirl removal. All I do is to keep the car clean and shinny and do not look at the car at certian angles !!!

[Mark58]

Re: Strong Water Jets

Not much choice here. Touch-less is useless and does not remove all the dirt (dust) Yes I do get some small scratches only visible on my Cadillac BLACK paint but they are easy to remove with ultimate polish. Wish I had a whit car.