Pressure washer spec me

Doobedoo · 22 Apr 2020 at 20:03

darael said:
I'm not saying you're wrong, but I bought my Nilfisk about 8 years ago based on what I read about them on these forums. I've never taken the time to drain it properly and it's stored in a shed and it's still going now.

I’ve heard good things about nilfisk, we’ve got a rather expensive steam cleaner in work that’s nilfisk and that’s pretty good too.

I only brought the karcher because I found a cheap second hand k4. I’ll have to wait and see how long it lasts.

jpaul · 22 Apr 2020 at 20:45

Doobedoo said:
I always make sure I disconnect the water feed then pull the trigger to force the water out.

I had been doing the same ... but now thinking about it ... although i pull the trigger (after turning off power too) it just takes the pressure off of the nozzle line, so that when I unscrew it, at machine, the same water is not released under pressure - onto me.
I'd religiously told anyone i'd lent it to, to do the same

Psycho Sonny · 22 Apr 2020 at 20:51

i haven't done anything to mine and i'm in scotland where it's colder.

nilfisk going strong but only had it 4 years and i got it for like £80 so it owes me nothing.

robj20 · 22 Apr 2020 at 21:15

jpaul said:
I had been doing the same ... but now thinking about it ... although i pull the trigger (after turning off power too) it just takes the pressure off of the nozzle line, so that when I unscrew it, at machine, the same water is not released under pressure - onto me.
I'd religiously told anyone i'd lent it to, to do the same

The idea is to leave it switched on and it will pump all the water out.

SizEzE · 22 Apr 2020 at 21:24

Kranzle either the K7, K10 or 1050P

Last pressure washer you will buy.

jpaul · 23 Apr 2020 at 09:32

robj20 said:
The idea is to leave it switched on and it will pump all the water out.

that will definitely nack it, which is why i qualified the issue, .... the pistons are mostly lubed by water
.. well it might not get frost but it won't live forever - but then again which brand does.

robj20 · 23 Apr 2020 at 09:40

jpaul said:
that will definitely nack it, which is why i qualified the issue, .... the pistons are mostly lubed by water
.. well it might not get frost but it won't live forever - but then again which brand does.

So the manual is wrong, interesting.

Yaayuh! · 23 Apr 2020 at 10:23

I switched to Nilfisk after my Karcher died after just 3 years.

darael · 23 Apr 2020 at 11:55

robj20 said:
So the manual is wrong, interesting.

The manual for my Nilfisk C110 says this:

After use always: Turn off the machine. Empty machine and accessories of water to avoid frost damage. Remove the plug from socket. Disconnect water inlet hose. Wind up electrical cable and high pressure hose to avoid damage of cable, high pressure hose and fittings. Storage of machine shall be frost free.

That implies to me that you shouldn't have it turned on while draining the machine.

robj20 · 23 Apr 2020 at 11:59

darael said:
The manual for my Nilfisk C110 says this:That implies to me that you shouldn't have it turned on while draining the machine.

Right. I'm taking about the P150 which is air cooled and tells you to disconnect the water inlet, have the unit switched on and remove the trigger the unit will run for 2 mins or until it's emptied itself.

darael · 23 Apr 2020 at 12:30

robj20 said:
Right. I'm taking about the P150 which is air cooled and tells you to disconnect the water inlet, have the unit switched on and remove the trigger the unit will run for 2 mins or until it's emptied itself.

My bad. I've always been told that it's bad to let pumps run dry as the water acts as both a coolant and lubricant.

The_One · 23 Apr 2020 at 12:43

Running any pressure washer with water off is a very bad idea

Doobedoo · 23 Apr 2020 at 12:53

I always thought that water was a poor lubricant I’d have thought it’d be more about the cooling properties. Would that be correct?

Doobedoo · 23 Apr 2020 at 12:57

Found some interesting information

Leaving water in the pump can result in mineral buildup and corrosion, which wear out the pump seals and pistons (a $200 repair). So it pays to flush the pump after every use—a quick job. Pick up a can of pump lube/ antifreeze solution (such as Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pressure Washer Pump Saver; $10 at home centers). Screw the garden hose adapter onto the pump inlet and press the trigger until you see foamy liquid shoot out the other port. That means the pump is fully lubed and protected against freeze damage. Flush after every use: Attach the lubricant can to the garden hose port. Press the trigger for about two seconds, until water and lube shoot out the other port.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/pressure-washer-maintenance-and-tips/

Pump lube - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Briggs-Stratton-6039-Anti-Freeze-Lubricant/dp/B0012VY200

The_One · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:00

Its cooling not lubricant

when you run a pump dry the energy produced turns to heat very fast

pressure pump
Pond pump
Ch pumps
Windscreen washer pump

all the same will cause premature wear very quickly

robj20 · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:14

The_One said:
Running any pressure washer with water off is a very bad idea

If you say so. I'll just do as my manual says which is to ruin it for 2 mins to drain it.

Doobedoo · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:15

The_One said:
Its cooling not lubricant

when you run a pump dry the energy produced turns to heat very fast

pressure pump
Pond pump
Ch pumps
Windscreen washer pump

all the same will cause premature wear very quickly

That would be my understanding although karcher recommend disconnecting all hoses and running the motor for 2 seconds to drain the water from the pump. So as long as your not running it dry for more than that you should be fine.

They also do their own pump lube/antifreeze.
https://www.kaercher.com/us/home-ga...rs/universal-cleaner/pump-guard-95589980.html

Doobedoo · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:16

robj20 said:
If you say so. I'll just do as my manual says which is to ruin it for 2 mins to drain it.

A few seconds not minutes you will potentially damage something running it for that long.

robj20 · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:22

Doobedoo said:
A few seconds not minutes you will potentially damage something running it for that long.

Again. The manual says 2 min.

Doobedoo · 23 Apr 2020 at 13:24

robj20 said:
Again. The manual says 2 min.

Which manual?

Disconnect all water connections.
2 Turn on the machine for a few sec-
onds, until the water which had re- mained in the pump exits, turn off immediately.
3 Do not allow high-pressure hose to become kinked.
4 Store the machine and accessories in a room which does not reach freezing temperatures. DO NOT store near furnace or other sources of heat as it may dry out the pump seals.