*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Has anyone ever had a problem with their pressure washer cutting out when using certain accessories?

I've got an ageing Karcher K620M (which I'm loathed to replace as I hate the stand-up type, and the older ones seem more powerful and better built, it certainly has a longer and thicker pressure hose), which works absolutely fine with both the original lance, the genuine Karcher patio cleaner and my snowfoam bottle. It's a little "triggers broom" in that I've had to replace the seals, the on/off switch and some of the wiring, but it's been a magnificent trooper of a machine for approaching 15 years now!

I've recently run into a problem though, I bought an "underbody" Lance for it, so as to clean under the car without damn-near lying down, but no matter what setting I twist the nozzle to, it cuts out the machine within 1-2 seconds of firing. It's as if the pump can't handle the flow-rate of the lance, but I can't work out how the lance can dictate flow rate. The second I disconnect the lance and either press the trigger (or connect a different accessory and press the trigger) the pressure washer is immediately fine again.

Anything I can try or should I just give up on either the underbody lance, the pressure washer, or both?
 
Sounds like a blockage in the lance, if you leave it powered off and just use tap pressure, does water come out?
 
The lance is brand new, and it does work for those first few seconds (with some immense flow too, I had trouble keeping it still!).

I can try running it through a hose just to check that water flows, but I'm pretty convinced it's (the lance that is) fine.
 
All im thinking is that its causing too much back pressure so the motor is cutting out as a protection measure.
 
paradigm said:
Has anyone ever had a problem with their pressure washer cutting out when using certain accessories?

I've got an ageing Karcher K620M (which I'm loathed to replace as I hate the stand-up type, and the older ones seem more powerful and better built, it certainly has a longer and thicker pressure hose), which works absolutely fine with both the original lance, the genuine Karcher patio cleaner and my snowfoam bottle. It's a little "triggers broom" in that I've had to replace the seals, the on/off switch and some of the wiring, but it's been a magnificent trooper of a machine for approaching 15 years now!

I've recently run into a problem though, I bought an "underbody" Lance for it, so as to clean under the car without damn-near lying down, but no matter what setting I twist the nozzle to, it cuts out the machine within 1-2 seconds of firing. It's as if the pump can't handle the flow-rate of the lance, but I can't work out how the lance can dictate flow rate. The second I disconnect the lance and either press the trigger (or connect a different accessory and press the trigger) the pressure washer is immediately fine again.

Anything I can try or should I just give up on either the underbody lance, the pressure washer, or both?
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You need a new machine. The older machines can't generate enough pressure for these snow foam lances, IIRC the min is 100 bar. The lance dictates the pressure via a small screw with a hole in it. You can get large holed ones but it will run like crap as it's designed for industrial units.
 
pepsilol said:
You need a new machine. The older machines can't generate enough pressure for these snow foam lances, IIRC the min is 100 bar.
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That's fine, the reason I don't want to give up on this one is that it's 140bar anyway. As far as I was aware, "bar" is relatively meaningless without the throughput figures to back it up, and this one is 500l/h, which is around that of the "decent" consumer units from today anyway.

Also, I've got no problem with my foam lance, the problem is being caused by a simple 90º bend jet-lance for aiming under the car.

kindai said:
All im thinking is that its causing too much back pressure so the motor is cutting out as a protection measure.
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I'll check it out, thanks.
 
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Kindai, thanks for the detailed write up, I got some magifoam and lance a couple months ago but not got around to using it yet, as you can imagine the cars are filthy so a good time to try it out.
 
Gave it a full 'outside' clean. Doing the inside this weekend.

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Process was:

Snow foamed with KKD Blizzard Extreme (50ml of concentrate, 950ml of water), while that was doing it's thing, I cleaned all the badges and black bits with Autosmart G101 and a sash brush. I then pressure washed the entire car, which removed about 90% of the dirt.

I then applied AS Smart Wheels at 5:1, which worked brilliantly, pulling off all the dirt from both the rims and the tyres. I used a sash brush on the alloys and a Vikan soft brissled brush on tyre. I was amazed at the dirt it brought out. Then onto Autosmart Red7 to remove any left over iron fallout. Left that for 10 minutes, and then rinsed off. I like Red7 as it's almost like a gel, so it doesn't instantly run off.

I then filled two buckets with water, grit guard in both and 10ml of CarChem 1900:1 shampoo in one, more than the dilution ratio it's name suggests but I like the slickness of a bit more shampoo. I started from the top, working on the roof first, then the windows, and then finally ending at the bottom. I used a separate microfibre noodle mit on the sills, just in case the first pressure wash didn't remove any thick dirt.

I pressure washed it off and then dried with the Auto Finesse Aqua Deluxe drying towel and my CompuCleaner Xpert for the badges, wing mirrors, and alloys and tyres.

Went around an applied Meguiar's Endurance Tyre Gel to the tyres, and Autoglym Bumper and Trim Gel to the black grills at the front. Once I had gone all the way around, I used an old 'end of life' microfibre (very useful to have a bin of these!) and 'buffed' off the tyre gel, so I wouldn't get any sling when driving and to get a nice satin finish.

No need for a wax or QD as it was Fusso'd 2 weeks ago. No need for glass cleaner either as it has G1 on all the screens.

Still not perfect though (for me). A lot more I could do (full polish, stone chip repair, de-tar etc)
 
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Some rather good results of a pre-wash I picked up recently, Power Maxed TFR.

Car hasn't been cleaned for about 2 months.




Applied via a pump sprayer and left to dwell for about 5 minutes.


Jet washed off.


Left to air dry. No further process or washing involved.


The results are pretty decent and cleaned a large portion of the dirt off. You can almost get away without the need to wash it properly if the car is well protected with a layer of wax. Ideal for your winter washing routine or those colder days where you CBA.

When the weather is a bit more warmer, I'll try this again on my black car which is even dirtier.
 
I believe it's LSP safe up to 9:1. I used 20:1.

I have a single layer of Poorboys Natty's Paste wax on the car, which was applied back in October I think and it still beads.
 
Got it from Amazon too. The reviews from Detailing World was one of the reasons I chose this over the others. I was also considering the following; Bilt Hamber Autofoam, Valet Pro Citrus Pre Wash and Autogylm Clean All. All slightly different from one another, but essentially all I wanted was something that was safe, effective and cheap.
 
I thought TFR is a big NO NO? They do terrible things to plastic chrome bits like wheel caps i thought.

Or is this some new magical formula?
 
Raymond Lin said:
I thought TFR is a big NO NO? They do terrible things to plastic chrome bits like wheel caps i thought.

Or is this some new magical formula?
Click to expand...


You have to wonder... how something can cut through so much so quickly, must have some pretty nasty stuff in it...
 
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