Home Pressure washers Best Pressure Washer for Cars Reviews

A great number of people have cars and most of them are very passionate about their transports. That is why they want to find the best pressure washer for cars. These devices always help to keep vehicles tidy up and look nice. It is one of the major reasons why people get them. However, there are much more things that can be cleaned with a pressure washer. It can easily clean patio, fence, driveways, grass between the brick, places that are tough to reach, etc. It is a multifunctional tool that is a very useful asset of every house owner.

Gas vs. electric pressure washer

When looking for the best power washer for cars customers struggle to come up with the right decision. The main problem is to choose between gasoline and electric washer. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages for washing cars. With a gas washer, you can receive a portable tool that does not require an outlet. It has more durability and power. However, gasoline type requires regular maintenance, additional fees on oil and gas, it is more expensive and exploitation is not so simple. Electrical washers are much easier to use. They do not need regular maintenance as their power source is electricity. They are cheaper and not so noisy. Nevertheless, washers that use electric require an outlet that sometimes has to be of proper size and shape. Their durability is not so high and they do not produce so much cleaning power.

When it comes to choosing the best power wash for cars the PSI from 1200 to 2000 is enough to cope with the dirt. Each type of pressure washers can produce such amount for common cleaning and washing of different contaminations. In case, the car owner likes traveling off-road and the mud of different types of sticks to the vehicle it is better to consider PSI 3000 to cope even with the most serious stains. It is recommended to clean the car at least once in two weeks even in the weather is fine. A lot of dust can gather on the car and slip where it should not be.

Therefore, if you perform cleaning periodically to remove simple stains and have an outlet in a suitable reach, it is better to get an electric washer. In other cases, when you need to wash very dirty cars, often and without electricity, the gas washer will be more suitable for you.

Best Electric Pressure Washer Reviews

Karcher K5 Premium

Karcher K5 Premium

It is always difficult to find the best electric pressure washer for cars among hundreds of models, but Karcher K5 Premium is popular among customers. It has a smart rotatable nozzle what allows to change the degree of spraying just by rotating. You do not need to care with you all nozzles. This washer has 2000 PSI that completely suits for car washing. It is quiet and you can easily perform cleaning early in the morning. It takes less than 20 minutes to assemble It and start to enjoy the process of making your car look tidy up.

Pros

  • A long hose reel makes it much more convenient to use
  • The detergent tank can be simply detached when it is not needed
  • It does not overheat with a water cooling system of the induction motor

Cons

  • Many plastic materials are not durable and may require replacements with a time
  • In most cases, you do not receive detergent tank together with a washer
  • The hose is thin enough to get easily damages under the cold temperatures

Powerhouse International

Powerhouse International

Cleaning is much easier when you have more power. Powerhouse International can provide you with 3000 PSI to make your car tidy up. For vehicles, it is important not to use too much pressure as it may cause some damage. However, not using maximum pressure allows to keep the pressure washer in the proper condition and without breaks for a longer time. Together with a unit, you receive five different nozzles, a spray gun, and brushes. The design of this washer have enough sockets to carry all attachment with it.

Pros

  • Assembling and dissembling does not take a lot of time
  • The unit can be removed from the cart
  • Wheels of the cart provide good stability during the cleaning process

Cons

  • Due to the sizes of power plug, not every outlet is suitable
  • Cart is bad at rolling over the grass and may fall
  • The spray trigger requires more power in hand to press it

Briggs & Stratton 20680

Briggs & Stratton 20680

Cleaning your vehicle must be a convenient process that only brings pleasure. Briggs & Stratton 20680 is focused to deliver comfort to its users, as it is very compact. It has only 1800 PSI but it is enough to make your car shiny again. Its motor is developed to have a long lifetime and to prevent it from periodical breakdowns. It does not require a lot of water and electricity power which makes it economic. In addition, it has 25 ft. long hose that is suitable for complicated tasks and high-pressure.

Pros

  • It has a small and compact design that is good for storing
  • It is a lightweight washing model that you can easily carry it around with hands
  • It can be assembled in no more than 12 minutes

Cons

  • You do not receive additional accessories together with a washer
  • The motor heats with time and requires pauses not to overheat it
  • With purchase, you do not receive grease for hoses

Best Gas Pressure Washer Reviews

Karcher G3500

Karcher G3500

In case you need to clean vehicles every day, you should consider this model. Karcher G3500 is a gasoline washer that grants you with 3500 PSI. Such a powerful washer can clean the most contaminated surfaces. For cars, it is better to be careful and set the appropriate PSI. It has a remote control system that allows to adjust the need pressure without putting down the spraying gun. With a rapid connect nozzles in your asset, you may finish cleaning your car or house with one run. Moreover, it has a 50ft steel braided rubber high-pressure hose.

Pros

  • Strong water flow easily reaches the toughest places
  • The body of the washer is covered with rust-resistant coating
  • The unit has greater durability with strong gauge welded frame

Cons

  • It has a complicated design that requires more time to assemble and start to work
  • Regular maintenance and oil changes are necessary
  • It is heavy what makes it not suitable for caring with hands

Generac SpeedWash 7122

Generac SpeedWash 7122

Searching for the best gas pressure washer for cars may not result in a success when you have a truck. When you need to wash not a simple car but a huge truck, you need something that can cope with that. Generac SpeedWash 7122 is suitable for that task. It has 3200 PSI that is more than enough. With 2.7 GPM of water, you can cover a large surface area without problems. The ergonomic spray gun has a switcher to adjust the pressure for car and wood surfaces then concentrate stream and with soap or not.

Pros

  • Padded handle and wheels filled with foam provide good stability
  • Together with a purchase, you receive nozzles and accessories
  • Design is simple and very convenient what makes it compact for storing

Cons

  • While the cart is rolling, the hose can be dragged on the ground
  • It requires often and regular oil change
  • This model is easily influenced by cold weather and should be stored appropriately

Briggs & Stratton 20545

Briggs & Stratton 20545

When you need to clean your car, a pressure washer can transform this boring and difficult task into enjoyable moments. Briggs & Stratton 20545 is a nice gasoline pressure washer that can produce 2200 PSI with 1.9 GPM. It has a strong welded cart that has good stability that prevents it from falling. Together with the purchase, you receive a set of nozzles that help to cover large surfaces and wipe away the dried dirt with a concentrated stream of water.

Pros

  • The parts of this washer made of high-quality materials
  • The hose length is enough to move freely around with it
  • Large wheels allow to roll over different surfaces

Cons

  • It takes more than half an hour to assemble and start the cleaning process
  • It does not have an oil plug
  • Maintenance is not easy and is required to be done periodically

How to clean your car with pressure washer?

Every car owner loves the personal vehicle and cares about it. Therefore, they get pressure washers. These tools greatly help to shorten the time that cleaning requires. When customers get one of those, they think that there is nothing complicated and everything can be done easily. As a result, some cars are damaged with too high pressure, paint is deteriorated or the interior is flooded. That is why it is better to follow this guide.

Step 1: Pressure washer preparation

In the beginning, it is better to start with the washer. It does not matter whether you have an electric or gas type. In the car cleaning process, it is important to use the proper PSI and GPM. For cars, 1200-1900 PSI is enough. GPM is an amount of water you use to wash away the dirt. It is not necessary to be a lot of water but it makes the cleaning process faster. After that, you need to choose the appropriate nozzle. Starting from 25 degrees and higher are recommended. If to take something less, it can damage your car.

Step 2: Car preparation

When the pressure washer is ready, you need to prepare your car. At first, park it in the open area where is enough space for you to move around. Any small objects can be easily washed away, so it is better to hide them. The outlet also should not be in the range of water to avoid any short circuits. Then do not forget to check if all windows and doors are close. In another case, some water can leak into the car interior. If you are not sure whether places of car joints are hermetic, you can use an adhesive tape for protection.

Step 3: Car rinsing

Now when cleaning starts, firstly, it is necessary to spray off all the mud and dirt that you can find. It is recommended to start with 4-5 feet away and constantly come closer to the vehicle in order to check the pressure. If you can try to direct the water stream from top to the bottom. It helps to keep washed dirt on the ground. For tires, you may need to come closer to reach tough places.

Step 4: Applying detergent to a car

Every detergent has its own purpose of use. Try to choose only those that are compatible with pressure washers. Always check the instructions about the ratio on the backside of the bottle as you need to dilute the detergent. You can do that in the bucket and the pour in the detergent tank. Then start straying from the top and cover all the car surface. After it is better to wait at least 5 minutes.

Step 5: Washing away the detergent

The final step is to rinse the detergent off the car. As you do not need a lot of pressure for that, switch to 40 degrees nozzle as it covers a large area. Apply water from top to down and that is it. Your car is clean and ready for traveling.

Buyers guide

GPM and PSI, what do they mean?

It is obvious that every person wants to buy only the best pressure washer for cars. Therefore, customers start to read and compare the specs of every washer. In general, everything is simple to understand, except PSI and GMP. The GPM stands for a gallon of water per minute. This parameter is responsible for the amount of consumed water and flow created by the washer. The PSI means pound per square inch what actually stands for the raw power. Most consumers think that the higher these parameters the better washer is, but it also means that it requires more electricity and detergent.

Is it safe to use a power washer on a car?

Washers have many various options for usage and each device is a car high-pressure cleaning tool. People always use them to clean their cars from all the mud. However, high pressure can damage the surface or paint. Each surface has its allowable limit of the pressure. The safe PSI for car wash ranges from 1200 till 1900. In addition, in the cleaning process choosing the right nozzle is also important. With a 0 degree of the water flow, you can easily damage the car, while choosing 25 degrees and more you can safely clean your car.

Will a pressure washer take the paint off a car?

When you want to change the car color, firstly you need to strip off the previous one. Among several options, you can rub, get an expensive specific service or remove it with a high-pressure car cleaning tool. In order to remove paint and rust, you will need 2000 PSI and higher. Warm-season is more suitable for this procedure. In addition, closed shoes and glasses are necessary to protect yourself. An appropriate detergent can better wash away problematic places and the right nozzle destroy the structure of the paint and wear it off from the car.

Can I pressure wash my car engine?

Cleaning personal vehicles is an important task for every car owner. Washing it outside and vacuuming inside is definitely necessary and everyone does that. However, cleaning an engine is something rare but important. Pressure washer for car cleaning is capable to do that, but it should be done carefully and in a proper way. In the beginning, all electrical components it is necessary to protect with saran wrap. Then degrease the engine with a proper detergent when it is cool. After that, you can clean it with a car cleaning pressure washer. Low PSI will help to not harm it but it is better to do that manually.

Can I wash a hot engine?

It is better not to wash the engine when it is hot. Some people think that if rain does not harm it then it can be washed right after driving. It is wrong. Before using home car washing systems it is better to think twice. The engine must be cold and there are many soft parts that can be easily damaged with high pressure. In case you definitely need this, it is better to get a specialized service that can wash your car engine. If you want to do it by yourself, it is better to use very low PSI or simply clean it manually.

Is hot water bad for car paint?

In general, the car paint is strong enough to withstand hot and cold temperatures. In summer, direct hot sunlight heats cars very intensively and in winter, even the severe cold does not harm the paint. As Cars are covered with wax, it may just deteriorate a way faster when to use hot water and soap in a portable car washing machine. Nevertheless, it is necessary to remember that car paint is influenced by temperatures. Cleaning with hot water in winter will cause a great difference in temperatures and the paint may crack. Additionally, the hot water may overheat the pressure washer.

How often should you wash your car?

Cleaning your car is a great deal as this procedure helps to keep it in the right shape. When it gets dirty, you obviously will wash it. In another case, it is recommended to do that once per two weeks. In case you live near the ocean or sea where is some salt in the air, it is better to clean a car more often. Salt corrodes the metal and rust may appear faster. The same goes for winter. Roads are often covered with salt when it is snowing. Therefore, washing the car once a week will help to keep it in good shape.

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