Wash/wax car with pressure washer?

[dlminehart]

Any of you use a pressure washer to wash and wax your car? If so, what kind of washer, nozzle, and soap? I've heard of some using a rotating brush nozzle, others just use the lower pressure regular nozzle. Some warn of paint damage if you get to close with too much power. Is this really a tricky thing to do?

[cabinetman]

If you had mud 6" thick and used low pressure, that might be OK, but I wouldn't use a PW on my car. I would worry that I would sneeze or cough and lose a big section of paint, or a door handle.
.

[stormdog74]

I'd have to agree - people have hurt themselves with pressure washers and it will easily take off paint. This I know because I spilled a little paint on my patio and didn't notice it - by the time I got around to it (a year or so later!) the pressure washer took it off without a problem.

[Uncle Cracker]

What exactly do you think you're using at any self-serve car wash? That wand in your hand is fed by a pressure washer... That pressure is every bit as strong as any typical gas-powered unit. As long as you don't hold the nozzle a quarter-inch from the finish, you'll be fine.

[RAFlorida]

Been using a PW for over 5 years to clean our

vehicles, and never lost any paint or other parts. Around the tires I use care, keeping the noozle several inches away. The trick is not holding the sprayer REAL CLOSE and in one spot too long. You're safe to use a PW. BUT I DO NOT EXCEPT RESPONSIBLITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR! OR CUT SKIN.

[dewi1219]

I have a question and a comment:
1) Do you guys that use a PW find that it is sufficient at cleaning all the dirt off? I have a brand new gas powered 2500psi PW but hadn't really considered using it to clean the cars. Reason is that I've never had good luck with either the DIY carwashes or the "touch free" automatic washes getting all the dirt off.
2) I wouldn't be too concerned about the PW damaging the paint directly, but I WOULD be concerned about it stripping the wax off which is bad for the paint long term.

I work in the auto industry, and I have seen PWs used to clean cars at the factory. But these are brand new vehicles fresh off the assembly line with very little dirt (and no wax) on them. They were used to clean them just after the test drive and just before shipping.

[Uncle Cracker]

Road grime often resists being cleanly "blown off" the surfaces by most touchless methods. A soft cloth, applied lightly, turned frequently, and in conjunction with much applied soapy water, does a much better job, for my money. And soap rather than plain water, because it not only helps release the grime, but also acts a a lubricant, much the same a shaving cream on your face. This helps lessen the chance of scratching. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the soap off afterwards, though.

[RAFlorida]

On my truck, the PW takes ALL the dirt off.

It usually takes the wax off too if I go slow. But I rewax about 3 times/year. The PW is better than an autowash place any day of the week.
If you use the PW, adjust your speed to clean the dirt and after the wash check to see if the wax was removed. Down here in the Sunshine state, I wax like I said about 3 times whether or not it needs it.
Since you work in the auto industry and saw them pressure washing the cars, you can see it's relatively safe.

[OpaDC]

My '89 Wrangler only gets washed when it rains, Faster I go, better it gets washed. (does not include doors and full top from April - October)

[RAFlorida]

So THAT's what I saw up on I10?!

My '89 Wrangler only gets washed when it rains, Faster I go, better it gets washed. (does not include doors and full top from April - October)

Thought it was a hummer from the airfields or something!

[dbhost]

Pressure washers, or just about any touchless method is so useless at getting road grime off. A bucket, a fistful of microfiber rags, some Mothers California Gold car wash, if your paint / wax is bad off enough dry thoroughly and use the Mothers California Gold Clay Bar, followed by a nice coat of Mothers California Gold Carnauba paste Wax. (Buffed out with a Ryobi RB60K buffer, it was cheap, but I like the smaller size to get around the nerf bars and such...) Get after the dirty wheels with Mothers All Wheel Cleaner, then polish them up with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, and lastly, once you have removed the excess polish that inevitably gets on the tires with rubbing alcohol, treat the tires to a nice coat of Armor All Extreme Shine Tire Gel.

Moving on to the interior, I take mine in to a pro detailer. By the time the truck is washed, waxed, and polished, I am pooped...

[dlminehart]

dhhost, do you have a "Mother" tattoo as well?!

BTW, I tried and returned a Ryobi buffer, don't know if it was the RB60K. Seemed to jitter all over the place. Is there a trick to using it?

[gsmittle]

Pressure washers, or just about any touchless method is so useless at getting road grime off. A bucket, a fistful of microfiber rags, some Mothers California Gold car wash, if your paint / wax is bad off enough dry thoroughly and use the Mothers California Gold Clay Bar, followed by a nice coat of Mothers California Gold Carnauba paste Wax. (Buffed out with a Ryobi RB60K buffer, it was cheap, but I like the smaller size to get around the nerf bars and such...) Get after the dirty wheels with Mothers All Wheel Cleaner, then polish them up with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, and lastly, once you have removed the excess polish that inevitably gets on the tires with rubbing alcohol, treat the tires to a nice coat of Armor All Extreme Shine Tire Gel.

Moving on to the interior, I take mine in to a pro detailer. By the time the truck is washed, waxed, and polished, I am pooped...

My Mother refuses to wash a car. However, I do have a 17 yo I can sometimes bribe into washing the car...

g.

[dbhost]

Har har, I knew I was going to get some grief over that...

I have always used Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish on my alloy wheels. I got a gift pack with the California Gold goodies in it, and loved all of it EXCEPT the tire dressing...

To be honest, it is exhausting work to fully wash, wax and polish up my truck... I need to repaint the toolbox since the original paint was junk, and I have some other exterior trim issues to work on due to sun fading. But I digress...

The amount of time / effort it takes to do the whole thing up right means I really only do that about 3-4 times a year. I typically bucket wash with Turtle Wax car wash to do the wash / wax in one shot, and try to get the brake dust off the rims as often as I can... (stupid Ford brake pads!)

The Ryobi buffers only trick is to have a steady hand with it. The smaller buffer will be more easily bounced around due to its smaller surface area, but a light, even touch gives great results.

For the price, I am NOT surprised that folks have issues with it. I think I got lucky with mine because they only run $20.00!

I had a pretty bad key scratch in my tailgate from some jerk at Wally World who didn't like my truck I guess... Anyway, some of the Mothers Scratch Remover, a microfiber, and followed up with the paste wax and buffer, and you can't even tell where they tried!

[ragswl4]

I doubt that a PW will effectly clean a car of all the dirt. I use the PW to wet the car down from a distance (6 ft), wash it with microfiber towel, spray off with the PW and dry with more microfiber towels. Works great, saves water and done in 20 minutes. (Of course its a Miata so not a lot of sq ft to clean). I use Turtle Wax Ice to shine her up, she loves it.