Nooby here, so I don't know if this has been asked before, but is it OK to use a powerwasher (AKA "pressure washer") when you wash a car? I have heard mixed opinoins...some say you can take the paint off if you use one, other say its a good way of removing dirt.

Thanks!

 

For under carraige its fine but I wouldnt recommend it on painted surfaces. If you have a small paint chip the high pressure could remove the paint from that area. Most "drive up and wash" places use high pressure water to rinse and apply soaps but the pressure is set to be much lower than that of a commercial or home model pressure washer.

They are fine to use on engine bays if you stand a few feet away or underneath car but I woulndt trust it on paint.

 

I can adjust the PSI on my washer down to practically nothing...Do you happen to know if there is a good PSI setting, such as that used in the coin op washers, or should I not even bother and just use the gool 'ol regular garden hose???

 

>> just use the gool 'ol regular garden hose

 

Depends on how much pressure. I use a pressure washer but have it set to its widest spray so its just enough pressure to help get the dirt off but couldnt possible remove paint.

Gotta be careful with those things because they can potentially put out enough pressure to do damage. If you want to test, test it out on your license plate because that paint usually comes off pretty easy.

 

Ugggh! Be careful doing that. The license brackets on Tsx's only have two screws on the top. The pressure from the washer on that plate will cause it to rattle and shake and could cause scratching behind the plate from the vibration.

 

I dont understand why people would use a pressure washer. If your car is that dirty then wash it more often. I just use a garden hose, nozzle off and just let the water splash on.

 

Up where I live, the cars get REALLY dirty during the winter melt from salt, mud and sand. My white car was totally brown, and it's easy to forget what your car looked like when clean. Taking a sponge to the surface would almost definitely result in swirls and scratches, so I've always used the pressure washers at the coin bay washes. I've never had a problem with it taking any paint off or anything like that, nor have I heard of any instances of that happening firsthand either. I know that's not the same as a pressure washer at home, but just relating my experience. Hope it helps.

 

Now THAT is a good reason

 

I've got a pretty good pressure washer--Simoniz 1650 (I think). It depends on what tips you use. I only use the adjustable tip for cars, that allows me to go to a pencil jet all the way out to a fan jet. I never use the ultra high pressure one on cars. That's the one that'll clean concrete down to the pores and strip paint off decks.

I've never had a problem with the machine. The key is to stay at least a foot away with the nozzle, and don't be spraying in any one spot for an extended time. Having said that, I've never had a problem with my washer blowing out paint chips...my Dad's Maxima and Mom's MPV have lots of "almost-to-the-metal/plastic" chips, and this thing has never damaged either car. I've even used commercial ones, and the don't do anything either, so I'd surmise that if a pressure washer does damage, either your paint job hasn't cured properly (or it just sucks), or that pressure washer is just to damn powerful.

I like mine because it helps me get the car washed, dried, and out of the elements faster. I tend to blast the large dirt particles off the car, and then go at it with a soft, fluffy sponge/mitt thing with car wash soap and a tonne of water. Then, I use the power washer to rinse it off. I don't use the soap dispenser with the washer because I have to switch to hose-level pressure to apply the soap, and it doesn't do a very good job. The other reason I use the washer is because we have such poor water pressure at our house...this thing helps a great deal.

 

No it's not. The TSX paint is very flaky. You'll kill the paint job if you use it.