How to wash a car with a foam gun

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Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.

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How to wash a car with a foam gun


Tools Needed

Detailer's Half Gallon Foammaster Foam Gun

Detailer's Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo.



Start at the top just like you would wash normally by spraying the roof down with foam.

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Move down the windshield...

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And then down the hood...

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2006_SLK_350_030.jpg



Foam down one side and work around to the back of the car...

2006_SLK_350_031.jpg



Then foam down the back of the car...

2006_SLK_350_032.jpg



Foam dwells on paint allowing the soap solution to go to work loosening road film and dirt...

2006_SLK_350_033.jpg


2006_SLK_350_034.jpg


2006_SLK_350_035.jpg




Loosen dirt with wash mitt...

Or in this case the new Lake Country Wash Wedge...

The most important thing about using a wash mitt, sponge or brush is to NOT scrub the paint more than what's needed to loosen the bond of any surface dirt so that it can be rinsed off. I cover this in my how-to book also.

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And here's the Mercedes-Benz after rinsing and drying using a single Ultimate Guzzler

2006_SLK_350_008.jpg




No pictures of me washing my truck using a foam gun because in the past I just wash the truck, don't take any pictures. I need to wash my truck though so next time I'll take some pictures.


smile.gif
 
Beautiful thread Mike. Thanks for sharing.

Although this method adds an extra step or two and another tool to bring out to accomplish a washing session, IMO this is the safest way to wash a car. Along with a dedicated wash, rinse, and wheel bucket.
 
I'd go so far as to eliminate the separate wash bucket using this method. As long as the car was rinsed really well before foaming it up, you should be able to safely eliminate the wash bucket, save soap product, and even save some time using this process (one less step of dipping into the wash bucket which is redundant because there is already soap on the car).

Obviously you would still use the rinse bucket and grid guard setup, etc.
 
I agree with silverfox, this actually eliminates 2 other tools that are much bulkier than a foam gun...2 buckets. Both good methods just a matter of preference.
 
Since I am new to the foam gun/pressure washer world this is a great thread! Thank you for posting Mike! :dblthumb2:
 
I have been looking into one of these as of late. It seems to be a great tool to save time.

Great meeting you at the show last night!:dblthumb2: Hope you got home in time! LOL.
 
AC in OC said:
Mike, how many oz of soap do you typically use on that setting?
Click to expand...


The same amount I shared to the same question in this thread,


How to wash a Semi Truck with a Foam Gun


From posts #4 and #5

EXTJosh said:
Do you ever recommend diluting when using a foam gun?
Click to expand...


Mike Philips said:
Yes. For the reasons stated above you must dilute a quality soap before using it in a foam gun.

I tend to use the Glug Glug Method and fill the quart size container about 1/4th to 1/3rd with soap and the rest with water.
Click to expand...


:)
 
dahlcolor said:
Tried all settings on foam gun and do not get that much foam of course
Click to expand...

Do you still have the instruction sheet?

User Manual for Gilmour Foamaster II Cleaning Gun

Application:
For cleaning, degreasing or disinfecting when a foam is desired to increase surface contact time.

Specifications:

  • Water pressure: 40 - 90 psi (for maximum accuracy 40-60 psi)
  • Output: 1 - 1.5 gallons per minute
  • Spray pattern: foaming attachment provides a fan spray, removable if a solid stream is required. Deflector attachment for non-foaming fan spray patterns.
  • Anti-Siphon: Protects water supply, (Note: A slight discharge of water from base of handle when water is turned off is normal and indicates anti-siphon is functioning properly).
  • Standard Single Ratio: 4oz of water weight chemical per gallon of solution sprayed.
  • Customised ratios: Can be set from 1/4 oz per gallon to 14oz per gallon. Note: this range is affected by the viscosity of the chemical.
Multi-ratio dial has 5 mixing head settings and 'off':

  • A - 1-128 1oz/gal
  • B - 1-64 2oz/gal
  • C - 1-32 4oz/gal
  • D - 1-20 6oz/gal
  • E - 1-10 12oz/gal
  • 0 - OFF
Assembly Instructions:
Slide plastic siphon tube inside sleeve under bottle cap. Attach bottle to gun. Slide small end of foam tube over tube connector on outlet end of Mixing Head.

Operation Instructions:
connect water supply hose to pistol grip shut-off handle. Remove and fill bottle with liquid chemical concentrate. Caution: To prevent chemical loss from bottle out of air vent hole in mixing head sprayer assemble must remain in upright position at all times. Turn dial to desired mixing rate letter to siphon chemical. This will automatically mix chemical with water at the factory pre-set dilution rate selected on dial. Pistol grip shut-off lever must be fully depressed for accurate mixing.

For a power clear water rinse, remove handle from siphon head and use as an insulated water nozzle. Pull back snap ring on female quick couple to detach or reattach handle to mixing head. For a more gentle rinse without removing handle move dial to OFF setting. NOTE: Handle supplied with gun contains an anti-siphon to protect water supply from accidental chemical contamination. Do not use any other handle with this sprayer. If replacement is needed, a handle with anti-siphon installed should be obtained from your supplier.

Maintenance:
After each use the gun must be cleaned to ensure trouble-free operation. Returned unused chemical to original container. Rinse bottle, refill with water or the appropriate solvent, and spray for several minutes to rinse out the mixing chamber. In instance where a chemical is particularly caustic or viscous, it may be necessary to soak the mixing head in water or neutraliser. This should eliminate contamination of the mixing head and build up of dried
 
It's early Saturday morning and time to wash the same car you see in this article....


Using..... the foam gun!

How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0001.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0002.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0003.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0004.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0005.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0006.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0007.jpg



Washed, clean, dried and shiny!

How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0008.jpg


How_To_Use_FOAM_GUN_0009.jpg



It's the only way I wash my own rigs and that's with a foam gun.



Im the MAN Im the MAN Im the MAN Im the MAN Im the MAN
 
allenk4 said:
Do you still have the instruction sheet?

User Manual for Gilmour Foamaster II Cleaning Gun

Application:
For cleaning, degreasing or disinfecting when a foam is desired to increase surface contact time.

Specifications:

  • Water pressure: 40 - 90 psi (for maximum accuracy 40-60 psi)
  • Output: 1 - 1.5 gallons per minute
  • Spray pattern: foaming attachment provides a fan spray, removable if a solid stream is required. Deflector attachment for non-foaming fan spray patterns.
  • Anti-Siphon: Protects water supply, (Note: A slight discharge of water from base of handle when water is turned off is normal and indicates anti-siphon is functioning properly).
  • Standard Single Ratio: 4oz of water weight chemical per gallon of solution sprayed.
  • Customised ratios: Can be set from 1/4 oz per gallon to 14oz per gallon. Note: this range is affected by the viscosity of the chemical.
Multi-ratio dial has 5 mixing head settings and 'off':

  • A - 1-128 1oz/gal
  • B - 1-64 2oz/gal
  • C - 1-32 4oz/gal
  • D - 1-20 6oz/gal
  • E - 1-10 12oz/gal
  • 0 - OFF
Assembly Instructions:
Slide plastic siphon tube inside sleeve under bottle cap. Attach bottle to gun. Slide small end of foam tube over tube connector on outlet end of Mixing Head.

Operation Instructions:
connect water supply hose to pistol grip shut-off handle. Remove and fill bottle with liquid chemical concentrate. Caution: To prevent chemical loss from bottle out of air vent hole in mixing head sprayer assemble must remain in upright position at all times. Turn dial to desired mixing rate letter to siphon chemical. This will automatically mix chemical with water at the factory pre-set dilution rate selected on dial. Pistol grip shut-off lever must be fully depressed for accurate mixing.

For a power clear water rinse, remove handle from siphon head and use as an insulated water nozzle. Pull back snap ring on female quick couple to detach or reattach handle to mixing head. For a more gentle rinse without removing handle move dial to OFF setting. NOTE: Handle supplied with gun contains an anti-siphon to protect water supply from accidental chemical contamination. Do not use any other handle with this sprayer. If replacement is needed, a handle with anti-siphon installed should be obtained from your supplier.

Maintenance:
After each use the gun must be cleaned to ensure trouble-free operation. Returned unused chemical to original container. Rinse bottle, refill with water or the appropriate solvent, and spray for several minutes to rinse out the mixing chamber. In instance where a chemical is particularly caustic or viscous, it may be necessary to soak the mixing head in water or neutraliser. This should eliminate contamination of the mixing head and build up of dried
Click to expand...
I feel like a dummy today but I don't get those kinds of suds either. Is it A or E that that will yield the most suds? Can't believe this is not making sense to be. I can also see from the pics I am not using enough water in the bottle. I am using DP Extreme Foam. Is there something else I should be using?
 
dahlcolor said:
Tried all settings on foam gun and do not get that much foam of course
Click to expand...

I think the reason we aren't getting the kind of suds he's showing in the pics is because we're not using the amount of soap he is. Quoting his other thread: "I tend to use the#Glug Glug Method#and fill the quart size container about 1/4th to 1/3rd with soap and the rest with water."

So that makes sense why he's getting so many suds.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using AG Online
 
In these types of threads we always focus on products....soaps, foam guns, etc....but frankly you really need the water supply to be in the equation...pressure, flow, screens....can all effect how much water (and foam) are delivered to the car.

Here are some tips:

1) Take off all quick-disconnects and try just using the hose ends all the way from the house bib to the gun. Those QDs are flow killers...just look in one of them and check out the difference in diameter to the hose diameter. Try it.

2) If you have DG 901 (and who doesn't these days)...you can put the soap undiluted in the Gilmour gun and run at setting A (the lowest). I have used this for years and it never plugs and I leave the un-used soap in the gun for next week. You only need like a couple inches in the gun. DON'T fill the gun with water....just soap alone. You may want to try this with other soaps, but it works perfectly with DG 901 at that setting.

3) Take any screens out of the gun input connection side...its easily removable and it really cuts down on the flow. I have never had an issue with doing this.

4) Check the hose is a good 5/8 or even better a 3/4" size. Keep the length as short as you can get away with.

Have fun...good luck
 
I have the Gilmore and I put in about maybe an inch of Mothers with Carnuba Wax and fill rest with water...I believe the thicker the soap the better.

On setting C , I can go around the car more than 2 times before it runs out..

To clean:

I spray once around without pre watering it....(sticks better)
Dwell
Now, I give it a good rinse ( why rinse off first , if it going to come off..it will here too...save water)
Use Gilmore to soap a panel or 2...
Use wash mitt to clean...I use roll method
Rinse mitt in plain clean water with grit guard
Soap and clean remaining panels

Also I have the "flex" hose for those that think pressure is not there..it is

Mike
 
allenk4 said:
Do you still have the instruction sheet?

User Manual for Gilmour Foamaster II Cleaning Gun

Application:
For cleaning, degreasing or disinfecting when a foam is desired to increase surface contact time.

Specifications:

  • Water pressure: 40 - 90 psi (for maximum accuracy 40-60 psi)
  • Output: 1 - 1.5 gallons per minute
  • Spray pattern: foaming attachment provides a fan spray, removable if a solid stream is required. Deflector attachment for non-foaming fan spray patterns.
  • Anti-Siphon: Protects water supply, (Note: A slight discharge of water from base of handle when water is turned off is normal and indicates anti-siphon is functioning properly).
  • Standard Single Ratio: 4oz of water weight chemical per gallon of solution sprayed.
  • Customised ratios: Can be set from 1/4 oz per gallon to 14oz per gallon. Note: this range is affected by the viscosity of the chemical.
Multi-ratio dial has 5 mixing head settings and 'off':

  • A - 1-128 1oz/gal
  • B - 1-64 2oz/gal
  • C - 1-32 4oz/gal
  • D - 1-20 6oz/gal
  • E - 1-10 12oz/gal
  • 0 - OFF
Assembly Instructions:
Slide plastic siphon tube inside sleeve under bottle cap. Attach bottle to gun. Slide small end of foam tube over tube connector on outlet end of Mixing Head.

Operation Instructions:
connect water supply hose to pistol grip shut-off handle. Remove and fill bottle with liquid chemical concentrate. Caution: To prevent chemical loss from bottle out of air vent hole in mixing head sprayer assemble must remain in upright position at all times. Turn dial to desired mixing rate letter to siphon chemical. This will automatically mix chemical with water at the factory pre-set dilution rate selected on dial. Pistol grip shut-off lever must be fully depressed for accurate mixing.

For a power clear water rinse, remove handle from siphon head and use as an insulated water nozzle. Pull back snap ring on female quick couple to detach or reattach handle to mixing head. For a more gentle rinse without removing handle move dial to OFF setting. NOTE: Handle supplied with gun contains an anti-siphon to protect water supply from accidental chemical contamination. Do not use any other handle with this sprayer. If replacement is needed, a handle with anti-siphon installed should be obtained from your supplier.

Maintenance:
After each use the gun must be cleaned to ensure trouble-free operation. Returned unused chemical to original container. Rinse bottle, refill with water or the appropriate solvent, and spray for several minutes to rinse out the mixing chamber. In instance where a chemical is particularly caustic or viscous, it may be necessary to soak the mixing head in water or neutraliser. This should eliminate contamination of the mixing head and build up of dried
Click to expand...

I just bought a Gilmour 75QGFMR and a gallon of Maxi-Suds 2. I'm finding this information to be conflicting. Look at the Gilmour directions: "fill bottle with liquid chemical concentrate." And also: "Return unused chemical to original container." I interpret that as I simply fill the bottle with the soap. Why would they suggest to return diluted soap to a bottle of concentrate? Furthermore, the gun itself has adjustments where it mixes in several different ounces per gallon: 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12. In my mind, to dilute the soap in the bottle and then to dilute it with the gun, you're diluting it twice. I use a similar setup with a weed-killer gun. All I do is dump the chemical in and change the setting on the gun.
 
Nice Mike. I like the idea of the 1/2 gallon bottle. How many ounces of DP soap did you add to the bottle?
 
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