What kind of pressure washer to wash car... looking to purchase one.

[NewShockerGuy]

In the market for one mainly so I can get a "Foam Cannon"/ "Foam Lance"


I have been doing research and everyone is saying get gas... I went on Costco's website and found these two.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-Cat860&topnav=

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-Cat860&topnav=

I was going to get the smaller one because that seems fine to me.. not TOO expensive and we could use it for other #### like my girls deck, cleaning her outside house..etc.. But and I stress this again, it's MAIN purpose is to clean cars..lol Mainly with the foam cannon. She thinks I'm nuts but I love cleaning cars and detailing them... so to me it's completely worth it.

Things I've read on plastic electric pressure washers... they suck and will break mainly due to everything being plastic on them... Yes they are quiet, plug them in and pretty protable... but they are cheap... Everything I've read says you spend $200 for one now and in a year or two you will be buying another one... Obviously I don't want to have to keep buying one and would prefer for it to last...

The gas ones.. more portable, don't have to worry about electic and water...
More powerful and normally better construction using metal parts or better quality parts. And also do more jobs with them via around the house stuff...

Just looking to get feed back on what people use... I was honestly planning on going to walmart and getting the cheapo electric for hundred bucks and being done but after doing the research and reading about them my budget went up to $400..lol and in the case of the costco one 449.. But then again the video of the foam cannon the dude has it hooked up to an 1600psi electric.

I do know that psi means #### if the gpm is low... that's why I choose the two above because it has 2+ gpm which seems good for their price point..

EDIT: One thing I thought is kinda shitty... with a GAS powered pressure washer and everything I have read including the owners manual for the above they say do NOT run the unit if you are not dreppressing the trigger, IE: Making water come out the wand.. at at least if you aren't doing it for two mins... so in other wards if you are not spraying, shut it off don't let it run for two minutes NOT spraying as this can cause the pump to overheat and muck up the pressure washer...

Now the electric one I beleive the pump ONLY starts when you depress the trigger... so in otherwards you can leave it plugged in and on and nothing is moving until you actually depress the trigger... for that reason alone that seems better to me in the case of washing a car...

This is all I really want to do :

I would just have to figure out what quick disconnects I need and couplers.. but it doesn't look that hard..?

But again looking for first hand experience..


Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[Shade Tree]

I use a Honda 3000 psi PW and it's more than I would normally need. I also use the foam cannon in conjunction with it (foam cannon recently took a dump on me though).

I don't use any quick disconnects with the foam cannon so someone else will have to chime in there ........

I would say though that the 2600 is more than enough and pretty much all the foam cannon can handle in terms of psi.

 

[CriticalDetails]

I am not an expert on pressure washers but I did do quite a bit of research before purchasing mine. "Triplex pumps have a longer life expectancy and are more efficient than axial cam pumps, but they are generally put onto pressure washers that are significantly more expensive and heavy." I ended up purchasing a Rigid pressure washer because it has a commercial grade triplex pump. RIDGID 3,000 psi 2.6 GPM CAT Pump Pressure Washer - RD80701 at The Home Depot

 

[Toymachine2009]

I am looking on my local craiglist and I am seeing These pressure washers that are being posted on here ranging from 350-550 are going for 50-100 on craiglist!

I would advise check your local craiglist first.

 

[Showroom Shine]

I use a Honda 3000 psi PW and it's more than I would normally need. I also use the foam cannon in conjunction with it (foam cannon recently took a dump on me though).

I don't use any quick disconnects with the foam cannon so someone else will have to chime in there ........

I would say though that the 2600 is more than enough and pretty much all the foam cannon can handle in terms of psi.

Chech out HomeDepot for a different version of a cannon. It is not as expensive as AG's but it works fine for detailing. Quick disconnect too. It's called a Foam Blaster,about $17

 

[Shade Tree]

Chech out HomeDepot for a different version of a cannon. It is not as expensive as AG's but it works fine for detailing. Quick disconnect too. It's called a Foam Blaster,about $17

Just took a look and @ $20 they're cheap enough to buy a few and stock up for down the road. Although I do have a new Foam Canon; these will make a good "go to" for me.

Thanks for the heads up! :dblthumb2: