Pressure Washer

[eric04m]

I am looking into some supplies to detail my own car and I have been looking at the pressure washers that they sell at lowes and home depot but I have always heard that you cant start it and let it set with out spraying it or the pressure would ruin it. So my question I guess is how do you wash a car if you cant let the washer set unused while you are scrubing your car

[black bart]

You can run it while washing just don't leave it run very long or the pump will over heat.
I let mine run for a minute or so all the time has not hurt it.

[eric04m]

Ok so you have plenty of time to soap down a panel or two before you need to spray it again

[black bart]

yes

[eric04m]

Which one do you have or any others you recommend I will use it mostly for washing my cars but some for other things around the house

[black bart]

All I use mine for anymore is cleaning the garage floor drive way side walk siding on the house and out buildings.
I would not be without one but don't use it to wash the vehicles.

[black bart]

I have an Excell bought it about 16 years ago @ K Mart

[black bart]

Do a search for pressure washer this topic was discussed just last week.

[DJsDetails]

I agree. I do not use pressure washers on the paint. I've seen a lot of clear coats that peel up supposedly because the owner used to use high pressure via a PW or those touchless car washes. I prefer a more 'intimate' wash.

With a mobile set up, I don't see need a PW on my rig. I have to have a generator anyways to run a vac, buffer, etc. My have a second motor on board? I have an electric water pump with a pressure cutoff valve. When I'm using it, pump kicks on to build pressure. When I'm not, the pump turns itself off and the generator reduces idle. I like this setup by far over using a PW

[C. Charles Hahn]

The main thing I use my PW for on vehicles is if I get a mess in the bed of a pickup, it works great to blast it out and won't hurt the bed liner.