Mytee Lite II Vs. VX-5000 Steamer

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Yeah I bought my steam cleaner too hoping it would a good way to clean those grimey door/trunk jambs and engines. After doing some research I ended up spending the extra and getting the Dupray Hill Super Inox steam cleaner over the VX-5000 since it was a little more powerful and seemed to be better quality. After using it on my first really grimey engine on full power I wasn't that impressed. I was expecting it to cut through grease and grime which it did only if the nozzle was about 1-3 inches away and it removed a small amount of the grime at a time. It would've taken me probably 2 hours or so to try to clean an entire engine bay this way. I used ARO and various brushes to get it done in about 35 minutes. The steam cleaner did work pretty well on door/trunk jambs and hinges though it can get messy so I would only do it before you've cleaned the interior. The pressure can blast dirt in all kinds of places you've just cleaned(which I learned the hard way lol).

The Dupray Hill...isn't that the one that is over $2000?

Ive done a cpl steam clean engine jobs with my McCulloch, it works but i usually find using the pressure washer and degreaser works better and faster...guess it just depends on the type of engine ya know? On the one hand the PW leaves lots of water to clean up etc so it takes a bit of extra time to clean it up over the steamer that doesnt leave a mess...but works slower. Fun times.

 

[SilverRebel]

How does the Vx-5000 compare to the Dupray? Anyone have any experience with both?

 

[Josh@BR]

The Dupray Hill...isn't that the one that is over $2000?

Ive done a cpl steam clean engine jobs with my McCulloch, it works but i usually find using the pressure washer and degreaser works better and faster...guess it just depends on the type of engine ya know? On the one hand the PW leaves lots of water to clean up etc so it takes a bit of extra time to clean it up over the steamer that doesnt leave a mess...but works slower. Fun times.

The Dupray Hill Super Inox that I have is $1800 I believe and the Hill Injection is close to $2500.

Yeah I'm still getting used to my steam cleaner so maybe more experience with it will make me like it more but for now I'm doing what works best in the least amount of time.

How does the Vx-5000 compare to the Dupray? Anyone have any experience with both?

I had this same question so I started this thread a little while ago. There's some pretty good info in there comparing the two.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...3-about-buy-dupray-steam-cleaner-i-think.html

 

[Robert8194]

How does the Vx-5000 compare to the Dupray? Anyone have any experience with both?

I have both. The temperature and pressure of the Dupray is better than the VX. The Build Quality seems to be a tad better on the Dupray. The VX is not continuous fill but has a fairly good size tank. The VX takes 15 minutes or more to heat from cold water. The Dupray more like half that. The VX has hot water injection which is very important IMO. The Hill Injection. ($2450) has it as well. The lower priced Duprays do not. For most jobs, the VX is probably all that is needed. It works great. I bought the Dupray because I wanted to be able to do exteriors. I love the Dupray. If you do decide on the VX, you will want to tweak the pressure to get max potential.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

I have both. The temperature and pressure of the Dupray is better than the VX. The Build Quality seems to be a tad better on the Dupray. The VX is not continuous fill but has a fairly good size tank. The VX takes 15 minutes or more to heat from cold water. The Dupray more like half that. The VX has hot water injection which is very important IMO. The Hill Injection. ($2450) has it as well. The lower priced Duprays do not. For most jobs, the VX is probably all that is needed. It works great. I bought the Dupray because I wanted to be able to do exteriors. I love the Dupray. If you do decide on the VX, you will want to tweak the pressure to get max potential.

Tweak the pressure? Do tell sir do tell lol.

 

[Robert8194]

Tweak the pressure? Do tell sir do tell lol.

To increase pressure on VX 5000 vapor steamer, turn screw with small flat head screw driver, 1/2 round clockwise equals 1 pressure bar.

directions: unplug unit, release any pressure.
1. Place unit on table facing yourselt and remove big black fill cap on top.
2. Lower or remove the center black rubber gasket that exposes the 4 screws, and remove screws with small phillips screw driver. Note, there are little small nuts on screws, put your finger on nut while screwing, will loosen screws.
3. Lift top case up and fold back, just like folding a lid back. Note, the case has sharp edges on it, don't cut finger when separating the case.
4. There is a T fitting screwed into right side of tank that has a white switch built onto it, look for hex nut at end of this switch and inside the hex is the screw that you turn clockwise to increase pressure.
5. Reverse instruction and plug up and turn boiler button on and check your pressure.

It was a very simple adjustment. If your steamer is like mine was, reading 3 1/2 bars then 1/2 turn clockwise will bring it up to abour 5 bars. I was told never to adjust where unit runs in red, that would be about 7 bars I think. Also 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 is acceptable but not to go over 5 1/2 bars.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

To increase pressure on VX 5000 vapor steamer, turn screw with small flat head screw driver, 1/2 round clockwise equals 1 pressure bar.

directions: unplug unit, release any pressure.
1. Place unit on table facing yourselt and remove big black fill cap on top.
2. Lower or remove the center black rubber gasket that exposes the 4 screws, and remove screws with small phillips screw driver. Note, there are little small nuts on screws, put your finger on nut while screwing, will loosen screws.
3. Lift top case up and fold back, just like folding a lid back. Note, the case has sharp edges on it, don't cut finger when separating the case.
4. There is a T fitting screwed into right side of tank that has a white switch built onto it, look for hex nut at end of this switch and inside the hex is the screw that you turn clockwise to increase pressure.
5. Reverse instruction and plug up and turn boiler button on and check your pressure.

It was a very simple adjustment. If your steamer is like mine was, reading 3 1/2 bars then 1/2 turn clockwise will bring it up to abour 5 bars. I was told never to adjust where unit runs in red, that would be about 7 bars I think. Also 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 is acceptable but not to go over 5 1/2 bars.

I wish i had known this about 3 days ago. I JUST took the thing apart so i could reinstall one of the posts that holds the wheels. YES, the edges are sharp. A few things were left out in the instructions though.

The nut at the bottom that holds the drain plug in place has to be taken out because it serves as a post to hold the boiler in place...i couldn't take the lid off with that thing still attached.

Also, i had the HARDEST TIME removing 1 of the screws on the lip you talked about. There were no nuts attaching to the screws, they were just very small sharp tipped screws. 5 came out easy but the 6th would just spin in place...i finally had to bust the head off of it. It was almost like the threads were too big to begin with and were able to be put IN, but not taken out. I bought this 2nd hand so i suppose it coulda been changed out, but according to the guy that i bought it from nothing was changed.

So did you notice a big difference by changing the pressure?

 

[Robert8194]

So did you notice a big difference by changing the pressure?

I was reading about 3 1/2 bars before and often hit 6 bars (about 87psi) now. I did not have to remove the drain bolt but the screws were a pain.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

So did you notice a big difference by changing the pressure?

I was reading about 3 1/2 bars before and often hit 6 bars (about 87psi) now. I did not have to remove the drain bolt but the screws were a pain.

Sorry i guess what i meant was, did you notice a big difference in its cleaning ability on certain things compared to what it was before you upped the pressure?

 

[Robert8194]

Sorry i guess what i meant was, did you notice a big difference in its cleaning ability on certain things compared to what it was before you upped the pressure?

Yes, definitely better with more pressure. Although there are some things where you want to use the low pressure setting.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Yes, definitely better with more pressure. Although there are some things where you want to use the low pressure setting.

Ok ill give it a shot. Im not sure what pressure level he had it set at, but i dont think he ever took it apart so..im sure its the normal 3.5.

 

[Robert8194]

Ok ill give it a shot. Im not sure what pressure level he had it set at, but i dont think he ever took it apart so..im sure its the normal 3.5.

I would definitely shoot for 5-6 bars.

 

[Bates Detailing]

I don't understand the raising of the bars because I have 2 vx-5000 s and it can at times seem too aggressive if not handled properly...... raising the pressure seems VERY dangerous to me and unnecessary. Then again I am a firm believer of better safe than sorry :/

 

[Robert8194]

I don't understand the raising of the bars because I have 2 vx-5000 s and it can at times seem too aggressive if not handled properly...... raising the pressure seems VERY dangerous to me and unnecessary. Then again I am a firm believer of better safe than sorry :/

Yours may have come from the factory on spec. Mine did not. I was getting about half of the advertised (spec) pressure. And the pressure drops pretty quickly during use. I agree with aggressive if not careful. That is true at even low pressure.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Yours may have come from the factory on spec. Mine did not. I was getting about half of the advertised (spec) pressure. And the pressure drops pretty quickly during use. I agree with aggressive if not careful. That is true at even low pressure.

Ours usually heat up to 3.5 or 4 with initially heating of steamer, then I prime it by releasing pressure in the wand which makes the pressure drop to 2. Then I give it another 5 minutes to heat back up to the 3.5 or 4 mark and it works great. Many times the pressure stays around 2 but seems to be enough to get a job done with fine results. If it was in the 5's or even 6's Id be a bit nervous.

 

[Robert8194]

Ours usually heat up to 3.5 or 4 with initially heating of steamer, then I prime it by releasing pressure in the wand which makes the pressure drop to 2. Then I give it another 5 minutes to heat back up to the 3.5 or 4 mark and it works great. Many times the pressure stays around 2 but seems to be enough to get a job done with fine results. If it was in the 5's or even 6's Id be a bit nervous.

I totally Understand that. Five bars is about 80 psi. That is around the low setting on the Dupray. The full power of the Dupray is round 120 psi. And yes it can be scary. Cannot stay in one spot long.