Electric Pressure Washer
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
OK. This is theory, mind you, but the idea is to not touch the car at all. The foam gun approach covers the car in this special soap and is supposed to emulsify the dirt to the point that it falls off. Rinse to complete the job and blow dry with something like the Air Force Master Blaster. That is, of course, a considerable amount of extra money for all that equipment compared to a hose and a rag. Now, in practice it's not that easy. If your car isn't very dirty, it will work fine, but if you have encountered some serious road grime you will have to touch the car (gasp!) with a more standard mitt. And if time is of the essence, the foam gun approach takes a lot longer with all the set up of hoses and stuff. That's been my experience.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 1,922
From: DFW, Tejas!
OK. This is theory, mind you, but the idea is to not touch the car at all. The foam gun approach covers the car in this special soap and is supposed to emulsify the dirt to the point that it falls off. Rinse to complete the job and blow dry with something like the Air Force Master Blaster. That is, of course, a considerable amount of extra money for all that equipment compared to a hose and a rag. Now, in practice it's not that easy. If your car isn't very dirty, it will work fine, but if you have encountered some serious road grime you will have to touch the car (gasp!) with a more standard mitt. And if time is of the essence, the foam gun approach takes a lot longer with all the set up of hoses and stuff. That's been my experience.
It takes me 30 min start to finish to rinse the car with pressure washer (which takes off most of the dirt). Then I foam cannon and wipe with the microfiber mitten things. Then I rinse with pressure washer and dry it. It took me 35 min this morning for all that (I was watching the time because I had a meeting). That included clean up, though everything is right there in my garage.
I guess it's faster if you just put soap in a bucket, but that's how you get swirl marks.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 325
Likes: 146
From: South Carolina
I'm not sure that soap and rinse actually takes all the dirt off. The foam "surrounds" the dirt so it doesn't put swirl marks in your paint. That's the general idea. I don't think the idea was foam and rinse. It certainly doesn't work for me and I even have ceramic coating. Most of the dirt does come off with light pressure washing though.
It takes me 30 min start to finish to rinse the car with pressure washer (which takes off most of the dirt). Then I foam cannon and wipe with the microfiber mitten things. Then I rinse with pressure washer and dry it. It took me 35 min this morning for all that (I was watching the time because I had a meeting). That included clean up, though everything is right there in my garage.
I guess it's faster if you just put soap in a bucket, but that's how you get swirl marks.
It takes me 30 min start to finish to rinse the car with pressure washer (which takes off most of the dirt). Then I foam cannon and wipe with the microfiber mitten things. Then I rinse with pressure washer and dry it. It took me 35 min this morning for all that (I was watching the time because I had a meeting). That included clean up, though everything is right there in my garage.
I guess it's faster if you just put soap in a bucket, but that's how you get swirl marks.
While I haven't had my C7 long enough to wash it, the principals apply to every other car too. I go a bit further and use an electric blower to help get water out of areas and minimize drying contact. Then using a pluffle towel I do the glass, then body top down to the lower portion. Then I do the bumpers, and finally the lower portions. Even without a coating I don't add many if any swirl marks. The right coating can make it so you don't even need to really hand dry the car.
Just blow it off, spray some coating aid and wipe dry-ish.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 193
Likes: 21
From: Pearland Tx.
I went electric (Greenworks) perfect for a car. If you need a high pressure gas powered washer for your car you may want to rethink how you are cleaning it. The deciding factor for me is ease of use, I don't wash it that often (not driven much) so it will take longer to get the damn gas powered running than it will to wash the car. Gas setting too long etc.. not worth the hassle if you ask me.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 1,658
From: Arizona
I normally take the Z to a local "Do-It-Yourself" Car Wash and drop in 10-12 quarters in for 10 minutes worth of time.
Since I do not drive in inclement weather or any days with a forecast of rain, the dust/dirt is very light.
I start out using the pre-soak on everything and do two passes.
My second step is to "rinse" the pre-soak solution off only using the Clearcoat Protectant.
Third and final step is rinsing off the Clearcoat Protectant with the "Spot-free Rinse."
Been doing this since purchased 5 years ago and I rarely, if ever, have to put a soapy wash mit on the car.
However, every 90 days or so, I will.
Z looks great. It's the damn dust that gets in underneath the garage door that irks me and I am too lazy to cover it with an indoor car cover.
Since I do not drive in inclement weather or any days with a forecast of rain, the dust/dirt is very light.
I start out using the pre-soak on everything and do two passes.
My second step is to "rinse" the pre-soak solution off only using the Clearcoat Protectant.
Third and final step is rinsing off the Clearcoat Protectant with the "Spot-free Rinse."
Been doing this since purchased 5 years ago and I rarely, if ever, have to put a soapy wash mit on the car.
However, every 90 days or so, I will.
Z looks great. It's the damn dust that gets in underneath the garage door that irks me and I am too lazy to cover it with an indoor car cover.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 1,089
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
For a foam cannon, psi takes a backseat to gpm anyway; with the right orifice (1.1 for that flow rate) the MTM PF22 does just fine.
As for the PSI I'm shooting at bodywork, 2030psi is plenty.
Rinse, foam, rinse, bucket wash, flood rinse, air dry. For your driveway guy, no need for gas-powered King Kong psi if all yer using it for is cars.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 170
From: Austin, TX, U.S.A.
I started with a gas pressure washer. I just knew I needed the power and no puny electric toy was going to handle my demanding needs. The thing did a great job, but fiddling with gas was a bit of a pain. Then, the damn tires rotted and popped. I bought new tires. Then the thing stopped running. I rebuilt the carburetor and it STILL did not run. I replaced the carburetor and now it will run for 10 seconds. I need to learn how to tune small engines.
So, I bought a SunJoe SPC300X. This thing makes PLENTY of foam and that is all I want it for. No way I'm going to use a pressure washer to BLAST the dirt on my car further into the paint. My electric PW sets up fast, works every time, does a great job, etc...
Good luck!
So, I bought a SunJoe SPC300X. This thing makes PLENTY of foam and that is all I want it for. No way I'm going to use a pressure washer to BLAST the dirt on my car further into the paint. My electric PW sets up fast, works every time, does a great job, etc...
Good luck!