Car related? Eventually..
I've just got my hands on a power washer Karcher thingy and it's absolutely superb at removing the green grime/algae from the back garden.
Couple of questions - was thinking of using it on the car, but am worried it'll strip away the paint - anyone with any experience of this?
And do I need the detergent? It seems to work fine with just water on the pavement. Should I used the detergent with paths and/or the car?
Thanks,
Lee.
PS - DW - it's taken a loooonnng time to get mine, but well worth the wait!
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress
|
|
i have heard people have used them with no problems, but have been problems where the car is rusting or where the paintwork is already chiped, and adding car shampoo is fun makes loads of bubbles and helps to clean the car a bit but its all in the power of the karcher
|
|
urlife_006. The single p in chipped gives the game away. You are TOTH and I claim my £5. prize.
|
|
|
|
|
Should be ok to use on the car. Just don't concentrate the jet on any pin/go faster stripes, door locks, or any rubber seals.
|
|
|
My old Stihl power washer will strip paint from rusty bodywork, lift varnish from damaged alloy wheels and peel away coachlines from the bodywork. Used with care, it's a good way of wetting the car before a careful hand wash, and then rinsing afterwards.
If you haven't used one before, wear eye protection and keep children away; power washing isn't a spectator sport.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
|
I wouldn't use mine on my car paintwork, except as mentioned to give the car a good soaking from a distance prior to a hand wash. Seeing how it brought up 10 year old flagstones like new with ease, I could easily imagine stripping paint.
|
|
|
|
Yes you can use but always spray at an angle and ensure you do not aim it directly into panel seams, air vents, locks window seals, radiator i.e. through the grill, as is can, at full pressure, blow the fins out, and the like. A friend purchased one a couple of years back and a month later his car stopped due to water in the petrol due to the fact that the vent pipe was hidden under the filler cover plate and he was blasting water into the panel rather than at an angle. Purchase the car brush attachment intended for the lower pressure modes. The Karcher General Detergent diluted 9 to 10 works very well however car shampoos and the like create far too much foam. Karcher also do soluable sticks which fit into the lance specifically for cars thus avoiding some of the detergents that attack your polish. What model did you buy, was this in the Halfords Sale. Regards Peter
|
Also, as the handbook points out, used on 'high pressure', the jet CAN penetrate the rubber of a tyre, which isn't going to do your handling any good one way or another
use carefully !
--
Bora - what Bora ?
|
I find even a garden hose used at high power can remove paint/lift rubber seals and generally screw things up if used carelessly.
As for a power washer at anything over minimum power, I shudder to think.. Garage near us had a power washer - £1 a time.. lifted paint and hub cap silver off a new Montego.. not that Montegos were any paragon of paint durability...
madf
|
The guidance instructions for using power washers (not always included in the box) warns against using them on rubber items as it can cut them - window seals, tyres, wiper rubbers etc...
I bought a power washer a few years ago to do the paving slabs on my path, tried it once on the car and never again! it's just too powerful; results in dirt on the ground being splashed onto the lower bodywork too.
|
|
|
|
|
I should think that if your car has any potential rainwater leaks the power-washer will find them. Like a carwash only much worse.
|
|
I have used them in the past, but if there is a paint problem, it will just find a new edge and whip it off. 18 months ago, I had a new rear bumper, the very large dealer group body shop that my insurance company suggested didn't do a job to my satisfaction, and I had to fight for the cash to have it done myself, in the 9 months this took, I used a pressure washer, and the paint job they did, came off in big peices, I still have peices of primer with paint and topcoat the size of a hand palm in a drawer, the garage who did it again used a pressure washer to strip all of the paint off in under a minute.
|
"I should think that if your car has any potential rainwater leaks the power-washer will find them. Like a carwash only much worse."
Not always....believe me!
The force of the jet of water seems to be too fast-moving to allow the water to penetrate any seams/holes etc.
I speak from experience, that's all!
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/problems.msnw?Page=1 - Pictures say a thousand words.....
|
Peter - It's the 102, I think, bought from B&Q
I'll have a look into the car attachment brush thingy, could be the safest approach.
Thanks to all for the advice, the backroom continues to impress with the knowledge on tap!
Cheers,
Lee.
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress
|
|
I have an unused car attachment brush thingy. Well, used once. It is nowhere near as effective as an old fashioned sponge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
