[kitster]

Hi all,

I've just picked up a Karcher pressure washer to help with cleaning the car. My brother told me that on certain settings it will damage the body paint or alloys.

Can anyone give me a little advice on which of the 3 lances is best suited for car washing, I have the following:

1. High Pressure
2. Dirt Buster
3. Vario

Using the Vario seems to make most sense.

Thanks.

[rich1068]

If it pulses don't use it. I got a new Karcher a little while back and it came with the patio rotary thing, regular lance and another that sort of rotates and pulses. It will strip paint!

I think your brother is being a bit dramatic. Just read the instructions and use your loaf.

[davyk31]

Vario lance should be the one and using it at the highest setting will be fine unless you have bought a mega potent Karcher. Not sure what the high pressure lance looks like but would reckon its fine too, dirt buster will be too concentrated a blast. Anything that gives a "spray" of water onto the car will be fine.

Get yourself a proper snow foam lance, connect that first of all to the Karcher, cover with foam, dwell for 5 mins and then blast away, that will remove 90% of the dirt and the nasty stuff that will scratch your car while hand washing.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Vario lance should be the one and using it at the highest setting will be fine unless you have bought a mega potent Karcher. Not sure what the high pressure lance looks like but would reckon its fine too, dirt buster will be too concentrated a blast. Anything that gives a "spray" of water onto the car will be fine.

Get yourself a proper snow foam lance, connect that first of all to the Karcher, cover with foam, dwell for 5 mins and then blast away, that will remove 90% of the dirt and the nasty stuff that will scratch your car while hand washing.

Yep I always "snow foam" mine then blast away, no problems on any cars for 5 years or more, mine is the 2.75 Kw and it does blast.

[kitster]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Vario lance should be the one and using it at the highest setting will be fine unless you have bought a mega potent Karcher. Not sure what the high pressure lance looks like but would reckon its fine too, dirt buster will be too concentrated a blast. Anything that gives a "spray" of water onto the car will be fine.

Get yourself a proper snow foam lance, connect that first of all to the Karcher, cover with foam, dwell for 5 mins and then blast away, that will remove 90% of the dirt and the nasty stuff that will scratch your car while hand washing.

The high pressure lance has a machine gun barrel end! The dirt buster looks like it has cone shaped 'rambo' explosive tip!

Got the snow foam lance and ready to give it a blast this weekend.

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by kitster

cone shaped 'rambo' explosive tip!

That's the one NOT to use! I used it on some second hand non-M Sport (ie no sticker) winter wheels and it shifted the grime a treat. Moved the wheels away and there was a perfect image of the wheels on the concrete floor.

[F30AM]

I think this thread will be Karchered by the mods!

[davyk31]

There are of course other quality brands of pressure washers available

[Daveyc]

Hi Kitster,

You'll do no damage unless you're running blasting grit in the pressure washer, in which case you could strip paint and metal. Aside from that, no chance of damaging paint on a new car, including wheels.

You shouldn't need to go closer with the lance than 2 inches.

[jyoung69]

Can anyone recommend their set up please, bearing in mind price etc?
I have read that the foam applicator/bottle is too small from Karcher, as you need to refill a couple of times when doing a car?

Also what Snow Foam solution do you guys use?

As always cheers for the advice!

[RichardM]

I bought one yesterday, K4 premium as homebase have 20% off this weekend
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs...tNumber=153696

Also used a load of nectar points to knock the price down.

I really wanted one that had an integral hose real to keep it neat in the garage (my OCD kicking in).

I don't plan on using the in built applicator bottle as I have a dedicated snow foam adapter



.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RichardM

I bought one yesterday, K4 premium as homebase have 20% off this weekend
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs...tNumber=153696

Also used a load of nectar points to knock the price down.

I really wanted one that had an integral house real to keep in neat in the garage (my OCD kicking in).

I don't plan on using the in built applicator bottle as I have a dedicated snow foam adapter

Thats the big bastard I have, it really blasts.

[F30AM]

I have never washed a car myself ever and never intend to either. There are plenty of good places that will oblige and keep my car gleaming. Can't see the point of manual labour of any kind.

[davyk31]

For snow foam I use Valet Pro PH Neutral foam, mix with a bit of Meguiars shampoo gives great foam BUT the foam bottle with the Karcher won't be up to the job. You need to buy something like the Autobrite Snow Foam Lance. They are not cheap at about £40 but will last you for years and give great thick clinging foam.