OT - Pressure Washers - OT

Botch

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a pressure washer.  Would be using it to wash car/truck/bike, back patio, my Big Green Eggs, and that's about it, so 2,000 psi is more than enough.
"Pan the Organizer" (my favorite ewetube car detailer guy) had recommended the Karcher K5, german-made, it's around $310 at Amazoid; but, their page also showed another Karcher, $45 less, but gas powered.  I don't really want a gas model with the extra maintenance, noise, and pollution, but I don't really want an electric model either because of the equation:
 D = spraying-water + electricity + clumsy-Botch.  
Any thoughts/recommendations?  

WeberWho

Something with a Honda engine. I borrow my Dad's when in need and his is going on 20 years. Runs like a top. 

His is from Northern Tool. I believe their house brand is Northern Star. Make sure to drain/blow out any water before winter storage whatever you decide on. 

alaskanassasin

@WeberWho that is exactly what I have. To winterize I tip it on its side and pour in some RV antifreeze and let it run through the pump

Lit

alaskanassasin said:

@WeberWho that is exactly what I have. To winterize I tip it on its side and pour in some RV antifreeze and let it run through the pump

This stuff works good. Just hook to the water hookup and spray. I use it every time I **** it down. 

DoubleEgger

WeberWho said:

Something with a Honda engine. I borrow my Dad's when in need and his is going on 20 years. Runs like a top. 

His is from Northern Tool. I believe their house brand is Northern Star. Make sure to drain/blow out any water before winter storage whatever you decide on. 

I put a $15 amazon replacement carb on my Honda pressure washer that had been sitting for close to 15yrs. Fired up on the second pull. Also, the pump is equally important. Overall quality and parts availability down the road etc. 


Remember that you can always turn down the power on a bigger pressure washer but you can’t get anything extra out of an undersized unit. 

dmourati

2000 PSI sounds underpowered to me. I think car detailing is not exactly the most common or recommended use case for a power washer. As for gas vs electric I would go gas. I'm looking for one too but for my driveway and maybe wooden fence around my yard.

ColtsFan

I have a 2700 psi Honda powered one from Napa. Runs like a top. Use the pump saver as above and run ethanol free gas and you're golden 

Eoin

The cheap Karcher stuff is not rebuildable if you get a problem, they are basically disposable, lots of plastic stuff in the pumps. Be aware of the flow rate too - if you have a direct hose connection and an undersize feed, the pump will cavitate and die. You can check your hose flow by timing into a bucket. I have a Nilfisk, metal pump parts and rebuildable. My flow is borderline so I feed from a full bucket that giives me a buffer. I would buy from a pressure wash specialist, not Amazon, they will advise you what you need and sell you a decent low end commercial machine that will be a lot better than any consumer grade washer.

Markarm4119

I have a gas powered, Honda Gx series engine from Northen, runs like champ. Had to clean the carb a few years back after I forgot to turn the gas supply off over the winter. Bought it 12 years ago. My wife's electric Karcher is ok for car washing and cleaning  the blinds but that's about it.

kl8ton

I bought a Subaru brand from Costco.  No risk because....Costco.  I really liked it.  Sold it when we started traveling.

So one idea is to buy a Costco one and if ever you are not happy.... return it. 
 

johnkitchens

I bought this one in March. I love it!!!!

https://www.craftsman.com/products/2800-max-psi-2-3-max-gpm-pressure-washer

Botch

Thanks for all the input, guys!
Looks like 100% for a gas powered, 0 for the electrics.  I'll have to re-check the Hondas at Lowe's (walking distance) tomorrow, and also check out Northern Tool, and NAPA.  
I got in kind of a rush today, it's still unusually warm and I wanted to squirt Mr. Audi with Turtle Wax's new "Ceramic" spray, before the snows fly.  The spray has been available for a day or two now, but none of the automotive stores here have carried it yet; ordered it from Amazoid, was supposed to arrive today.  Washed the car today by my "tried and true" method, nylon-wrapped sponge dipped in warm water, chamois dry, no soap.  The ceramic goop finally arrived, but it was too cold to apply (or somebody may have already been too tired/lazy).  Will squirt the Audi tomorrow (separate thread).  
 
Been watching a lot more auto wash/detailing videos, and will probably be building up a pressure wash rinse/foam cannon soak/pressure wash/high-pressure air dry system for the future; I'm getting too old to scrub/constantly wring out a chamois; the new system looks a lot easier.  So, I've got some time to look at the different pressure washers, for now.  
Thanks again!  

GregW

Perhaps, something that is equally important to pressure is the gallons per minute or GPM.
A 2500 psi unit that only flows 1 GPM , is really slow to work with. Units with low GPM are better suited to circumcise gnats. They are painfully slow to pressure wash a deck or driveway. They do a 1 inch wide cleaning strip.
3.5 to 5 GPM@ 3000 psi can really get a miserable job done quickly.

GregW

kl8ton said:

I bought a Subaru brand from Costco.  No risk because....Costco.  I really liked it.  Sold it when we started traveling.

So one idea is to buy a Costco one and if ever you are not happy.... return it. 
 

I've heard you can even return it like eight years later, when it finally quits working and get a refund, or they will give you a new one.

FarmingPhD

GregW said:

Perhaps, something that is equally important to pressure is the gallons per minute or GPM.
A 2500 psi unit that only flows 1 GPM , is really slow to work with. Units with low GPM are better suited to circumcise gnats. They are painfully slow to pressure wash a deck or driveway. They do a 1 inch wide cleaning strip.
3.5 to 5 GPM@ 3000 psi can really get a miserable job done quickly.

I 2nd this comment. Lots of hours washing equipment and livestock pens, gpm is more important than pressure once you are over 2000 psi for likely your application.  High psi starts to matter if you are cutting through thick debris.

gnatnoop

Use a 3100psi Generac, works great for around the house duties.

Lit

I’ve had a generac one wash 2000-3100 adjustable PSI for 5 years or so and have to had any issues with it. 

littlerascal56

I just sold my electric model.  Used mostly on deck and grills.  I want to get a Honda gas model next.  We had those at work, and washed bucket trucks and transformers with them.  Bulletproof!

Cornholio

Only tip I have is don’t use a pressure washer on bikes. If you do at least avoid parts like the bottom bracket, pedals, suspension parts (if any), basically avoid any sealed areas. 

Botch

Think this will be the one:
 

 
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/simpson-megashot-3000-psi-24-gpm-honda-gc190-with-oem-technologies-axial-cam-pump-residential-gas-pressure-washer-61039-61039?cm_vc=-10005
 
3,000 psi, not quite the gpm at 2.4 that some had recommended (but I'll just be washing a PVC deck, vinyl pergola/fencing, and the vehicles), Honda engine, and the local Tractor Supply Co has it in stock at $300, even less than the on-line "Sale" price.  
Thing is, I got my car winterized/ceramic-coated, cold front is coming in tonight and I'd have to drain/winterize the washer now anyway.  Think I might wait until spring, then I can also scan for a better deal, or a used one.    
 
Thanks again for all the help, folks!  

NorthPilot06

I have something very similar, you won’t be disappointed. 

Needed the power of a gas engine and the reliability of a Honda

littlerascal56

All my crews cautioned not to buy the model with the horizontal shaft, and the pump under the deck.  Short lifespan.  They recommend the models with the horizontal shaft (Honda), and pump beside engine.  Longer life.  We have used the Alkota cold water pressure washers in a commercial environment and they are built to last!  They use Honda engines.

alaskanassasin

If mine ever wears out... 
https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200347872_200347872

I don’t think botch will wear out a Honda VC unless he is going to work with it even then it would last a few years.
  

nolaegghead

littlerascal56 said:

I just sold my electric model.  Used mostly on deck and grills.  I want to get a Honda gas model next.  We had those at work, and washed bucket trucks and transformers with them.  Bulletproof!

I've had around 5 or 6 pressure washers through the years and have worked on them more than I care to remember.

What I've learned - on cheaper, consumer grade washers, the pump is the weak link.  The vertical pumps are cheaper to make and less reliable than the horizontal.  Obv you don't want the pump connected to the engine because of heat and vibration.

Usually mine go out when I loan them out so I read the riot act to friends that use them.  What happens most frequently is only a problem on gas.  When you let go of the trigger, the bypass loop is engaged and this recycles the pump water through the pump over and over.  All this energy and friction builds up heat and that damages the pump.

Also not having a sufficient water supply or running it dry.  Cavitation and friction are pump killers.

nolaegghead

In summary, if you want your pump to last, turn off the motor if you are not going to be spraying for more than a minute (less is better) while you move a ladder or suck down a cold beverage.

littlerascal56

Don’t waste your money on those verticle mounted pumps. They don’t last!