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self car wash with gas pressure washer

aseibel

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KMGZ400 Senior Enthusiast

KMGZ400

Posted
Posted

I have about 10 pressure washers ranging in size for my business and would never use one to clean a vehicle, thats just my opinion, because it will not remove the grime at a PSI safe enough to not damage the paint. not to mention in the time it takes to set it up and put it away, you could be well into a nice hand wash which is the proper way to clean a vehicle. or just run it through an 8 dollar car wash and ruin your paint! search on this forum or the internet for a proper way to hand wash

bndawgs Senior Enthusiast

bndawgs

Posted
Posted

sounds like you need to spend a little time on the youtube and learn some wash procedures. Fastest thing for you is going to be to get a good brush. This is certainly not the best for your paint but it'll be the fastest option. use a soap that has waxes in it (will say wash and wax on the bottle). The pressure washer will help to remove the loose stuff but it'll also remove the wax if you get too aggressive. Since you already have the pressure washer id recommend a foam cannon.

 

Foam truck

Allow to "soak" in

rinse

Foam again

clean with microfiber mitt (or brush)

rinse

dry

 

The key to washing and detailing is to touch the car / truck as little as possible

This is how I just washed my truck for the first time after getting a pressure washer. although, i also first went over the truck with the pw before throwing down foam on it.

kstruckcountry Senior Enthusiast

kstruckcountry

Posted
Posted

I personally have to use a pressure washer, there is no other way to get mud off. I use a broad tip and stay 2-3 feet from the paint.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

barry G Senior Enthusiast

barry G

Posted
Posted

I washed my dad's rigs for a long time, he even had a flame throwing water coiled version (my favorite- sounded like a jet)

once you wash once your way, the pressure washer keeps up for several washes afterward.

 

trial and error, figure out what your vehicle has for paint. Acrylic is real cheap , you have to go easy.. the best acrylic is still the worst urethane.

 

Now with 3 black vehicles, one a peterbilt tractor trailer..

 

if you do finally get some time, there is brands of wax that are outstanding.

there is an all day buffing chore that really does something good...just once , maybe even every two years.

treat it like you are going to a car show.

it comes back as good...easy going.

Likarok Senior Enthusiast

Likarok

Posted
Posted

Waterless car wash is scratch the shit out of you car in a can! IMO I would never use it!

 

Not to be a smart ass but everyone should own a prize car or truck so you learn how to wash it properly! Half the stuff you buy at Quicke Mart auto stores is a waste of money!

 

And if you live on gravel roads you have to use a pressure washer. How else can you get the heavy mud off? I sure isn't with a wash mitt!

 

One thing that I laugh about when I am in Arizona is that the car washes don't have hot water! But down there brake dust is about the only thing you wash off your car. Since it hardly ever rains and there are very few bugs!

aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Oh, I plan to continue to use the pressure washer to get heavy dirt off. I live on a paved town road, but the neighbors run tractors up and down all day to all the acres they lease. So there is dirt on my road more often than its clean. Therefore it is pointless for me to do a weekly or monthly wash. I just want the ability to get it clean a couple times a year so the crap doesn't build up.

 

I'm just confused how the "touchless" car washes work. i know they go through 4-8 cycles depending what you pay for. but I figured I could get as good of results at that, anyway.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

Pressure washers are fun especially if you have a paint chip you didn't see. But don't worry you will.

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