Pressure washer questions...
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Pressure washer questions...
I am looking at pressure washers to clean my truck and do other stuff with but nothing to hard core. I see electric and gas, which ones better for my use? And what is the optimum PSI to clean my truck with ( Lowest and highest i can go also). And who makes the best, and what attachments should i get that will help out with the truck cleaning..thanks in advance!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park, Texas
If you are just planning to use it around the house, I think the electrics are a bit cheaper but I would imagine the PSI ratings are bit less as well. I use a gas powered unit with the Honda 2 stroke on it and love it even though it about 15 years old and beat all to hell. I would recommend getting the highest PSI rating you can afford as you can always hold the nozzle a little further back to reduce actual application pressure or turn the regulator adjuster down as needed but if it doesn't have the guts when you really want them, you will just end up frustrated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 0
From: Southern MD
In my estimation, the electric ones are useless as teats on a boar hog. I trashed mine after a couple times of use.
For general around the house type usage, I got a Troy-Bilt 4.5 h.p. - 2200 psi one last summer at Lowe's. The price is reasonable, $279, and does a good job. It's shown on their web site, lowes.com Item #: 188016 Model: 20245.
Mine was on sale for $249 at the time.
For general around the house type usage, I got a Troy-Bilt 4.5 h.p. - 2200 psi one last summer at Lowe's. The price is reasonable, $279, and does a good job. It's shown on their web site, lowes.com Item #: 188016 Model: 20245.
Mine was on sale for $249 at the time.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by rfxj3
I would recommend getting the highest PSI rating you can afford as you can always hold the nozzle a little further back to reduce actual application pressure or turn the regulator adjuster down as needed but if it doesn't have the guts when you really want them, you will just end up frustrated.
I have an adjustable spray nozzle on mine, I can focus it to a pinpoint when needed but I usually turn it out to a fan spray for the truck so it doesn't take paint off. Mine is a 2200PSI gas washer. My dad uses a 1500 PSI electric and while it is fairly weak it does what he needs it to and he uses it very rarely. I found that once you get a pressure washer you come up with TONS of uses for them. It's amazing how many jobs it will speed up.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
i would go gas, briggs and stratton makes good ones. stay away from the oil less pumps. the briggs are still made with an italian made pump that is filled with oil, it is also rebuildable. the best deal out there right now is the craftsman clean and carry it is made by briggs. nice setup 2150 psi 1.9 gpm runs 199.00 on sale or 270.00 off sal
New User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
In order for a pressure washer to do most jobs good and last a few years, you need to get a gas model with a minimum 2500# pressure. Anything under 2500# is usually not going to last. I had one that was 1800# and one 2200# and neither one last very long. My current p/w is a Honda commercial model 2800# that I have had three years now and does a really fine job.
If you store your pressure washer in an area that freezes, then you need to use anti-freeze in the pump before storage. Honda makes a small anti-freeze kit usually found at Home Depot.
If you store your pressure washer in an area that freezes, then you need to use anti-freeze in the pump before storage. Honda makes a small anti-freeze kit usually found at Home Depot.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Ossipee, NH
Don't focus so much on ultimate psi. For most household jobs, 2500 psi is about all that is needed (especially on wood!). The real cleaning comes from selecting the correct chemicals for the job and being able to flush away the resultant dirt. This is accomplished by the water flow rate. The higher the flow rate, the easier it is to wash away the dirt.
There is a "rating" to compare the "cleaning power" of one PW to another, which is calculated by multiplying the pressure (psi) by flow rate (gallons per minute). A 2500 psi machine at 2 gpm has 5000 "cleaning units". Double the flow rate (to 4 gpm) and the cleaning units also double (to 10,000 c.u. in the above example). You would need to double the pressure to get the same C.U. and 5,000 psi is impractical and dangerous to use. If you cut back the pressure at the pump, you also reduce the flow rate. It would also take a huge gas engine to make it all work. For example I have a 3,500 psi, 4 gpm, cold water, belt driven pressure washer that is equipped with a 13 HP Honda engine.
Check out this site for more info. http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/
Fran
There is a "rating" to compare the "cleaning power" of one PW to another, which is calculated by multiplying the pressure (psi) by flow rate (gallons per minute). A 2500 psi machine at 2 gpm has 5000 "cleaning units". Double the flow rate (to 4 gpm) and the cleaning units also double (to 10,000 c.u. in the above example). You would need to double the pressure to get the same C.U. and 5,000 psi is impractical and dangerous to use. If you cut back the pressure at the pump, you also reduce the flow rate. It would also take a huge gas engine to make it all work. For example I have a 3,500 psi, 4 gpm, cold water, belt driven pressure washer that is equipped with a 13 HP Honda engine.
Check out this site for more info. http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/
Fran
Last edited by f4fran; Dec 20, 2005 at 05:39 PM.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
What Fran said is spot on...
It depends what you are doing with it - whether you want a higher flow rate, or a higher pressure.
Mine (A Karcher HD 10/25) gets used for moving serious amounts of mud and cow manure, so flow rate is important to me, and it is capable of up too 4.5gpm.
If you are getting rid of really sticky stuff (taking paint of walls of a house for example) pressure is more important.
One thing you WILL want - look for brass pump internals. Even if you don't go for a heated variant, with this way you can run hot water through it fine.
I run hot water (90degrees C - about 190F) through mine, saved about $500 on purchase price by not going to a heated model AND its a less complex unit with less to go wrong.
If you want gas/diesel/electric it depends on your requirements. I have 3-phase wall sockets coming out my ears, I needed a high power unit, and it is used inside a shed quite often, so I had to go electric.
If you want greater portability and you don't need to use it inside, a gas engine should be fine. I would only go a diesel (make sure its a Yanmar engine) if you are REALLY serious.
It depends what you are doing with it - whether you want a higher flow rate, or a higher pressure.
Mine (A Karcher HD 10/25) gets used for moving serious amounts of mud and cow manure, so flow rate is important to me, and it is capable of up too 4.5gpm.
If you are getting rid of really sticky stuff (taking paint of walls of a house for example) pressure is more important.
One thing you WILL want - look for brass pump internals. Even if you don't go for a heated variant, with this way you can run hot water through it fine.
I run hot water (90degrees C - about 190F) through mine, saved about $500 on purchase price by not going to a heated model AND its a less complex unit with less to go wrong.
If you want gas/diesel/electric it depends on your requirements. I have 3-phase wall sockets coming out my ears, I needed a high power unit, and it is used inside a shed quite often, so I had to go electric.
If you want greater portability and you don't need to use it inside, a gas engine should be fine. I would only go a diesel (make sure its a Yanmar engine) if you are REALLY serious.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
My4Fordtrucks
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
May 2, 2017 06:37 PM
comsupany
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
3
Oct 11, 2016 02:12 PM
