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General => Detailing => Topic started by: N14ll on 03 April 2020, 21:22

Title: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 03 April 2020, 21:22
As the title says i'm looking for recommendations on a pressure washer, primarily to be used to wash the GTI. Having had look through the forum threads & online research i'm leaning towards a Karcher K4 full control. I'm a little put off by reviews regarding the quality of the lance & the hose, which seems to kink regularily and needs changing for a better option. Any better alternatives for similar money or is th K4 all I need. Any recommendations for snow foam attachment also welcomed

thanks
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 04 April 2020, 07:57
I bought a Nilfisk, just a basic one and it has been very good. I heard that vital parts in the Karcher are plastic but metal in the Nilfisk. Having said that they seem to sell pretty well so can't be too bad. Karcher have an online outlet that sells at very keen prices.

Snow foam wise, I was recommended this lance and it has been very good - https://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/products/autobrite-heavy-duty-foam-snow-foam-lance-and-magifoam-500ml/ad-foamlance-magi-500ml-blackdecker
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: hog_hedge on 04 April 2020, 08:30
I bought a Nilfisk, just a basic one and it has been very good. I heard that vital parts in the Karcher are plastic but metal in the Nilfisk.

That is incorrect for the K4. It has an aluminium water cooled pump, whereas the the K2 has a plastic air cooled pump.

I’ve had a K4 for nearly 3 years and it hasn’t missed a beat. The supplied lance is fine but the hose is a bit kinky, likes to curl up and is slightly short so I’ve replaced it with a 15m one from QWashers so I can have the K4 in the garage whilst I can walk all the way around the car with the lance. I have also replaced the lance with a quick release short trigger but the supplied lance is just fine.

I have two snow foam lances, one is the same at the one Watts posted a link to and it is very good. The other is from the link below and is exactly the same at the new Autoglym one but without the branding, coming in at £23.99 delivered it’s a real bargain and has a wide neck which is much easier to fill up. Performance wise it’s on a par with the Autobrite lance because they are both solid brass.

https://detailedonline.co.uk/products/snow-foam-lance-v2
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: kmpowell on 04 April 2020, 13:11
I bought a Nilfisk, just a basic one and it has been very good. I heard that vital parts in the Karcher are plastic but metal in the Nilfisk.
Same here - I only wanted to spend £100-£150 on one, but I still wanted something decent, so I went for Nilfisk C120 (now superseded by newer models) purely because the key parts are metal versus the Karcher equivalent.

5 years on and it's still going strong. :)
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 05 April 2020, 12:22
Thanks for the input folks, looking like i'll stick with the Karcher K4 as I can get a good deal on one delivered at the moment and then also pick up one of the recommended foam guns..probably just in time for the rain to start  :cool:
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 06 April 2020, 16:00
Well I took the plunge & ordered the Karcher K4 along with the autobrite hd snow foam lance. At least that will give me something to do when I get my days off.  :evil:
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 06 April 2020, 16:25
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 06 April 2020, 16:33
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?

500ml of Autobrite Magifoam is coming with the lance so will see what that is like :cool:
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 06 April 2020, 17:17
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?

500ml of Autobrite Magifoam is coming with the lance so will see what that is like :cool:

I think I had that with mine. Went on very thick, seemed pretty good. I'm using G-techniq at the moment which is good too. Bought it in a 5lt tub which was better value but without a funnel it's a bit messy getting it into the snowfoam bottle!

This gets rated highly by those that know - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-advanced-neutral-snow-foam I've tried it but that was when I was using just a garden hose instead of a power washer with unsatisfactory results. I may get some again next time. Their citrus pre wash looks a good bet too, used in conjunction with snowfoam for maximum muck shifting!
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 06 April 2020, 18:01
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?

500ml of Autobrite Magifoam is coming with the lance so will see what that is like :cool:

I think I had that with mine. Went on very thick, seemed pretty good. I'm using G-techniq at the moment which is good too. Bought it in a 5lt tub which was better value but without a funnel it's a bit messy getting it into the snowfoam bottle!

This gets rated highly by those that know - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-advanced-neutral-snow-foam I've tried it but that was when I was using just a garden hose instead of a power washer with unsatisfactory results.

Ya have been looking at the gtechniq stuff. The plan is when all this covid 19 stuff hopefully passes to get the car professionally detailed inside & out and a gtechniq ceramic coating applied. Would love to get the PPF applied to front end but will have to wait & see😎
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Dr Mike Oxgreen on 07 April 2020, 09:52
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?

500ml of Autobrite Magifoam is coming with the lance so will see what that is like :cool:

I think I had that with mine. Went on very thick, seemed pretty good. I'm using G-techniq at the moment which is good too. Bought it in a 5lt tub which was better value but without a funnel it's a bit messy getting it into the snowfoam bottle!

This gets rated highly by those that know - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-advanced-neutral-snow-foam I've tried it but that was when I was using just a garden hose instead of a power washer with unsatisfactory results. I may get some again next time. Their citrus pre wash looks a good bet too, used in conjunction with snowfoam for maximum muck shifting!

I haven't used their snow foam, but Valet Pro Citrus pre-wash works well - I use a hand operated sprayer, and apply it after I've rinsed the snow foam away.  I just give it a couple of minutes and rinse off before shampooing.  It's also good for removing bird droppings.
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 07 April 2020, 10:06
Nice one, what snowfoam are you using?

500ml of Autobrite Magifoam is coming with the lance so will see what that is like :cool:

I think I had that with mine. Went on very thick, seemed pretty good. I'm using G-techniq at the moment which is good too. Bought it in a 5lt tub which was better value but without a funnel it's a bit messy getting it into the snowfoam bottle!

This gets rated highly by those that know - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-advanced-neutral-snow-foam I've tried it but that was when I was using just a garden hose instead of a power washer with unsatisfactory results. I may get some again next time. Their citrus pre wash looks a good bet too, used in conjunction with snowfoam for maximum muck shifting!

I haven't used their snow foam, but Valet Pro Citrus pre-wash works well - I use a hand operated sprayer, and apply it after I've rinsed the snow foam away.  I just give it a couple of minutes and rinse off before shampooing.  It's also good for removing bird droppings.

What's the hand sprayer you use Dr Mike?
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Dr Mike Oxgreen on 11 April 2020, 12:55
It's a pump-action one that I bought from a detailing supplier - hang on, I'll try to find it!
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Dr Mike Oxgreen on 11 April 2020, 13:01
Something like this:

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/650ml-plastic-bottle-with-sprayer

I just mist it on the sides, front, and tailgate, give it a few minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

I've also applied Citrus pre-wash using my battery-powered Worx power washer, just using the bottle attachment that came with it.  Doesn't work too well with snow-foam, although it's better than nothing, but it's ideal for the pre-wash, and of course, you can use the power washer to rinse it off.
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 11 April 2020, 17:15
I was expecting something more fancy than that! :grin: Good idea, I've got a few of those going spare. Either that or I suppose I could get a spare bottle for my snow foam lance. Or both! Thanks Dr Mike :smiley:
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 20 April 2020, 19:35
Karcher K4 got its maiden wash today along with the autobrite HD snow foam gun & have to say I'm very impressed.. Plenty of foam that I managed to get on the car, house, windows.... 👀🙄😎

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1z5h4jyshhdkyld/MVIMG_20200420_163431.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u31cmm6kz1c9ncy/MVIMG_20200420_162552.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/huljt29owpp2zoa/MVIMG_20200420_162540.jpg?dl=0

Also received a delivery from clean your car including valet pro advanced pH neutral snow foam so will need to sort the car up for an excuse to try that out! 😂
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: Watts on 20 April 2020, 21:23
That looks as I remember. Valet Pro and the Gtechniq aren't as thick but do give good results.

Any after pictures?
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 22 April 2020, 00:23
That looks as I remember. Valet Pro and the Gtechniq aren't as thick but do give good results.

Any after pictures?
No after pics cos did my better half's car straight after & was too knackered/lazy to get any decent shots. 😎
Title: Re: New Pressure washer
Post by: N14ll on 01 May 2020, 19:33
That looks as I remember. Valet Pro and the Gtechniq aren't as thick but do give good results.

Any after pictures?
Have her a quick wash this morning using the valet Pro snow foam... Went on quite thick but didn't cling as well (car wasn't especially dirty so that might have had an effect on it) overall the result was good and got most of the light grime off. Once things start opening up will look at getting it detailed professionally & ppf applied to the front end.