which pressure washer?

I can’t seem to find the pressure washer I need or maybe there isn’t one that will do what I want. I ordered one online (before I saw the one bearcat was selling or I would have bought that one) that is electric and 2100psi and 1.2 gpm. It doesn’t do what I want…it wouldn’t even take dried grass off the side of the vehicle from mowing. The towels I used to dry the car after washing it also tell me it isn’t getting all the dirt and grime off it? Is there a pressure washer out there that will actually take the dirt and grime off a vehicle? I also want one for washing off the UTV’s after a day of riding and I am guessing this won’t be able to handle that either….

Bearcat if only your post was a day sooner I would have known not to get this one…..also my fault for not asking here first…

I have never been happy with the lite duty electric ones. I love my gas power ones. More psi the better, especially like the one I have for sale that has adjustable pressure so it isn’t all or nothing. Under 3000 psi seem to just not cut it for my needs. I want to wash tools, wheelers, mud trucks, my house and deck. The Dewalt I have for sale is that exact unit. I can crank it up and blast the mud pack off the wheelers and mud truck, and turn it down to wash my composite deck with out hurting it. I have multiple 1 is the Dewalt with the Honda motor that I love but I’m selling. The other is a ryobi with a Honda motor as well. The Dewalt is a nicer unit but I have to get rid of things because I have to much stuff.

How do you adjust the pressure, a dial on the side or something or is it something to do with the different tips? It is something I am interested in but don’t see much info online about it. It seems like most are 1 pressure and go.

There is a adjustable knob on the side of the pump.

If your electric one won’t cut it then try a turbo nozzle on it. My electric one with a turbo nozzle will take paint off things

I have a Generac gas model that does most jobs fine. When it comes to washing a vehicle there is no replacement for hot water, car wash soap, a wash mitt, and elbow grease.
JMO

MX1825 wrote:

I have a Generac gas model that does most jobs fine. When it comes to washing a vehicle there is no replacement for hot water, car wash soap, a wash mitt, and elbow grease.
JMO

Very true, my Jeep only looks clean after I hand wash it with soap and a sponge. Even the fancy car washes can’t make it look clean
My pressure washer is gas with 3100psi and 2.5gpm max

I was using the turbo nozzle, and while it isn’t bad I would like and think it should be able to do a better job. I also agree with the elbow grease, I need to figure out the best way to clean my truck that doesn’t leave swirls and marks. Thanks

onestout wrote:

I was using the turbo nozzle, and while it isn’t bad I would like and think it should be able to do a better job. I also agree with the elbow grease, I need to figure out the best way to clean my truck that doesn’t leave swirls and marks. Thanks

Swirls and marks are how you wash it not the washer. But in my opinion the electric ones with the turbo nozzle still suck. You can’t make up for the lack of gpm. The power isn’t there. I have a hotsy at home and that’s the real deal but that’s for the big mud truck, that one will rip the graphics right off the truck. The bigger psi and gpm is the way to go. Unless you spend big money on a fancy electric. The small electric are for the grandma’s washing there out door lawn chairs. I don’t want to take 4 hours washing a muddy machine. I want it done in 15 minutes. Cutting concrete all day I make buildings a mess. So pressure washers are my best friend. I have run them all and have dialed it in to the one a guy should have.

Coletrain27 wrote:

If your electric one won’t cut it then try a turbo nozzle on it. My electric one with a turbo nozzle will take paint off things

What kinda paint does it take off ? How many gpm and psi is it. The turbo nozzle helps a little but not enough to take paint off anything besides a chipped up rusted out honda civic

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Coletrain27 wrote:</div>
If your electric one won’t cut it then try a turbo nozzle on it. My electric one with a turbo nozzle will take paint off things

What kinda paint does it take off ? How many gpm and psi is it. The turbo nozzle helps a little but not enough to take paint off anything besides a chipped up rusted out honda civic

it takes the paint off my lawn mower if i hold it close with the turbo nozzle. im not sure the specs on the washer off the top of my head

Mine is a Karcher 3000 psi. It has a Honda gc190 engine and I’ve been very happy with it. I think any of the units with that Honda engine would be good and there are several priced low.

I have a harbor freight electric 3200 psi 2.1 gal per minute it won’t peel paint unless you hit a bad spot and then it will keep going through. The best ones are the big hot tank ones. Maybe try hooking up to a hot water supply and get a foam cannon for the ultimate lazy man’s carwash. Then just drive fast to dry it off.

Buy one with. Honda engine! Other consideration is to have multiple nozzles, a soaping option, and having it on wheels. I did a google search for best power washer and bought the one with a Honda engine.

Bringing this back to life, I have been looking into getting a pressure washer. I was looking at electric only because it is something I’ll probably only use 3-4 times a year and didn’t want to mess with gas getting old and problems that can cause. Has anyone used an electric they are satisfied with? Mostly will be using to clean boat and ATV after fishing trips. Currently rent one when need to, maybe that is still best way….. thanks for all help/advice!

We always have a cheap electric around the house for cleaning cars,boat sxs… Last one made it 6 years. I would not want one for cleaning the house, deck,driveway…

I see alot of people bragging up foam cannons for cleaning sxs/atvs. Id like to try one but I need more gpm for every cannon I have found.

onestout wrote:

The towels I used to dry the car after washing it also tell me it isn’t getting all the dirt and grime off it?

The dust/microparticles on the surface will never come off with a pressure washer, no matter how strong it is. You’ll peel paint before you remove the majority of them. There simply isn’t enough surface area for the water to grab onto and remove it, you’re likely pushing it deeper into the paint than anything.

There are two types of carwashes, touch and touchless. The touch washes obviously use brushes and cloth, but also chemicals to remove dirt. The touchless type use pressure and highly corrosive chemicals (mainly hydroflouric acid) and others to physically cook the dirt off. But however many times you go through that touchless wash, you can run your finger over a dark vehicle and see a line where you just removed the microparticles.

While touch carwashes have a bad rap for damaging vehicles, they also get the vehicles cleaner because they are using the friction from the brushes to clean.

My recommendation if you’re doing it at home, go over it once with the pressure washer to get the big stuff, then use a soft mitt or brush and soap to loosen the microparticles. Then go over it again with the pressure washer or hose. Higher GPM the better.

To truly get your car clean you have to clay bar it after it has been washed. But that is a PITA.