A better way to wash

[pinoytitan]

Just seeing which is better. Pressure Washing or Hand Washing. If pressure washing, what kind is the best?

[WhiteNite]

I always hand was the truck, pressure washing you have to be careful or you will blow the paint off and Im sure it eats your hard work that you did waxing it away.

[pinoytitan]

but they have those machines at the auto stores. specifically for vehicles. I was also reading on "HOW TO WAS A LAMBORGHINI" that charles posted up. He used a pressure washer.

[WhiteNite]

but they have those machines at the auto stores. specifically for vehicles. I was also reading on "HOW TO WAS A LAMBORGHINI" that charles posted up. He used a pressure washer.

I see what your talking about now. I would still wash mine by hand. Maybe someone here has one and could tell us something about them

[pinoytitan]

reason i also ask is becaus i saw jason's neighbor wash his titan with one. Looked pretty good afterwards.

[MikeD1]

I would never use a pressure washer on my car, especially a powerful one (my 2500 psi unit will etch concrete !!).
The small electric 1000 psi units with a wide dispersion head are prob. OK, but they will drive water deep into places you might not want it to go. They are real hard on rubber or plastic bits (door gaskets, cowl etc.). I took the old Dodge to a place that used a PW once when it was a real mess & I was to lazy to do it myself. The headlights fogged inside and it took a long time for the h2o to evap !!

[pinoytitan]

I would never use a pressure washer on my car, especially a powerful one (my 2500 psi unit will etch concrete !!).
The small electric 1000 psi units with a wide dispersion head are prob. OK, but they will drive water deep into places you might not want it to go. They are real hard on rubber or plastic bits (door gaskets, cowl etc.). I took the old Dodge to a place that used a PW once when it was a real mess & I was to lazy to do it myself. The headlights fogged inside and it took a long time for the h2o to evap !!


OH!!! so low pressure one is fine. well then i wont do it then... Cuz i wanted a 3500 psi one so that i could wash the driveway, house, and other thigns as well as the truck. can i just get a different nozzle?

[MikeD1]

OH!!! so low pressure one is fine. well then i wont do it then... Cuz i wanted a 3500 psi one so that i could wash the driveway, house, and other thigns as well as the truck. can i just get a different nozzle?


Even with low pressure, you need to be real careful & not get too close with the sprayhead. 6" can make the diff between, wow - look at it taking the dirt off & WOW - look at it taking the paint off ........

The heads are interchangable (mine came with 5 jets). 3500 psi is VERY powerful, so I try the widest dispersion jet 1st on something you don't care much about (scrap piece of aluminum siding or some junk car door or body panel).

[gtcompscientist]

The stuff they use for pressure washing cars is VERY low pressure and Mike is spot on with the nozzle and distance advice.

[pinoytitan]

cool guys.. i was just wondering cuz it seems like im just getting lazier washing my truck these days with the rain and all... lol

[MikeD1]

You will need something like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200310603_200310603

or

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200347882_200347882?cm_sp=Customer%20 driven-_-Recently%20Viewed-_-Product%20Page

[onmysecond]

At my work, part of my job is to keep 40 vehicles clean. i use a pressure washer and have never had a problem with paint. (it seems really powerfull but i don't remember the psi, ill post it tomorrow) i get everything off with that then hand wash it. Around here the salt gets places in a vehicle that you could only dream of. lol. with the pres washer you can see the sand come out of places like the door gaurds and a reg hose won't do that. as long as it's cold i pressure wash the engine too.

[pinoytitan]

At my work, part of my job is to keep 40 vehicles clean. i use a pressure washer and have never had a problem with paint. (it seems really powerfull but i don't remember the psi, ill post it tomorrow) i get everything off with that then hand wash it. Around here the salt gets places in a vehicle that you could only dream of. lol. with the pres washer you can see the sand come out of places like the door gaurds and a reg hose won't do that. as long as it's cold i pressure wash the engine too.


lemme know what the PSI is. Than i will make my decision. Cuz i don't want to go over the truck twice. cuz the white titan's shine is so bright than i miss a few things until people notice it. lol

[onmysecond]

thats why i hand wash it after i pressure it, if you miss one little spot with it you can see it. another thing i like about it is it gets the crud out of the wheels. headed to work now ill try to get on here before noon.

[onmysecond]

white is a PIB there is a new honda civic hyb thats white and i swear the bugs look for it on kamakazi missions. lol

[onmysecond]

the psi is 1450, and it says 1100 at the top. the mechanic says that (1100) is the working psi. its 2 hp and it does have a special nozzle for vehicles.

[TitanManiac]

I hand wash mine, Pressure washing doesn't get the cacked on bugs off or the tar splatters off that you have to scrupp off by hand.

[shailey]

How come I don't get the option of "No Washing"?

[pinoytitan]

How come I don't get the option of "No Washing"?

well umm... who made the thread? who made the poll? who made the question? who posted the thread? who posted the poll? who posted the question? who delivered the thread? who delivered the poll? who delivered the question?

I DID!! lol

i dint' pick no wash because i was reading that you should wash your vehicle atleast once a week to keep the paint really purty.

[YGBSM]

Why not just go to a nice car wash. It's fun to watch it go through the different stations especially if they have all the pretty colored waxes. The only drawback is when the guys go over the inside can sometimes leave behind B.O. My last car had a stink in it for awhile and wouldn't go away for anything until one day the stink died.

[MikeD1]

Why not just go to a nice car wash. It's fun to watch it go through the different stations especially if they have all the pretty colored waxes. The only drawback is when the guys go over the inside can sometimes leave behind B.O. My last car had a stink in it for awhile and wouldn't go away for anything until one day the stink died.

LOL, now there's a compelling argument for using a commercial service - LOL

[Kingoftheroad]

Why not just go to a nice car wash. It's fun to watch it go through the different stations especially if they have all the pretty colored waxes. The only drawback is when the guys go over the inside can sometimes leave behind B.O. My last car had a stink in it for awhile and wouldn't go away for anything until one day the stink died.

There ya go, Pay for the car wash, get the interior stink free, or is that a free B.O. scented air freshener ??

Seriously, there is nothing better then taking the time to care for your cars yourself, you'll pay in the end for short-cuts.

Last weekend, I tried a short cut in waxing my truck with spray on Eagle One NanoWax instead of Turtle Wax. Well, I didn't even get half the roof done with NanoWax and I could see it wasn't a good idea. I'm back to waxing with Turtle Wax, it takes longer but, you can't beat the shine or lasting protection.

[Penguin]

I'd pressure wash an old beater truck (maybe a mid 80s Ford), but hand wash anything you want to say in decent shape.

[src4usarmy]

I'd pressure wash an old beater truck (maybe a mid 80s Ford), but hand wash anything you want to say in decent shape.

I agree.

[jestep]

hand washing is the best especially when you have your wife do it for you. lol lol

[MikeD1]

^^^^ ROFL ^^^^

Good to see you back posting, you must be feeling better !

[pinoytitan]

hand washing is the best especially when you have your wife do it for you. lol lol

yea, after we got married she doesnt even touch my truck anymore. kinda sucks, but she used to wash my truck with dish soap. so, im kinda glad she isn't doing it anymore...

[tlmaniac]

paul it would be better to use dish soap than a pressure washer. when you pressure wash your actually driving the dirt particles into the paint and in time it will make the paint pitted and dull. it i ever cought someone using a pressure washer on anything other than the frame rails and suspention parts on my truck i would pressure wash their ring piece just before beating them completely senseless with the wand!

[onmysecond]

I stll swear by the pressure washer. i've been pressure washing the vehicles for 3 years at work and have never had a problem with paint. It gets sand and salt out of the little spaces that a regular hose won't touch. (like behind the door protector) Plus it gets the crud out of the brakes.

[Kingoftheroad]

paul it would be better to use dish soap than a pressure washer. when you pressure wash your actually driving the dirt particles into the paint and in time it will make the paint pitted and dull. it i ever cought someone using a pressure washer on anything other than the frame rails and suspention parts on my truck i would pressure wash their ring piece just before beating them completely senseless with the wand!

I agree 100%

[Patrick@Adams]

Ok..

Hand wash for sure! You could screw up something with the pressure wash and jack something up ( Trim piece, anything.. you never know )

Use a good car wash soap ( Adam's has a great one, really sudsy.. which is what you need for a wash, and has UV protection ) if you dont want to get Adam's stuff then at least find one that has UV protection and "says" it's sudsy.

Don't use dish soap. Dish soap will remove any wax or protection you may have on the vehicle. If you do use dish soap ( which can be a beneift if you have a bunh of crap on the paint ).. PLEASSSEEEEEEEEEEEE apply wax afterwards. You will save yourself a lot of grief and hassle in the end. It would also be wise to clay bar your truck/car after you use the Dish Soap!

[pinoytitan]

Ok..

Hand wash for sure! You could screw up something with the pressure wash and jack something up ( Trim piece, anything.. you never know )

Use a good car wash soap ( Adam's has a great one, really sudsy.. which is what you need for a wash, and has UV protection ) if you dont want to get Adam's stuff then at least find one that has UV protection and "says" it's sudsy.

Don't use dish soap. Dish soap will remove any wax or protection you may have on the vehicle. If you do use dish soap ( which can be a beneift if you have a bunh of crap on the paint ).. PLEASSSEEEEEEEEEEEE apply wax afterwards. You will save yourself a lot of grief and hassle in the end. It would also be wise to clay bar your truck/car after you use the Dish Soap!



this is the first time i have ever heard anyone say that dish soap is good to use. i wax my truck every time i wash. i clay bar at the most 1 time every 4 to 5 monts.... well, mostly right before OT

[MikeD1]

Ok..

Hand wash for sure! You could screw up something with the pressure wash and jack something up ( Trim piece, anything.. you never know )

Use a good car wash soap ( Adam's has a great one, really sudsy.. which is what you need for a wash, and has UV protection ) if you dont want to get Adam's stuff then at least find one that has UV protection and "says" it's sudsy.

Don't use dish soap. Dish soap will remove any wax or protection you may have on the vehicle. If you do use dish soap ( which can be a beneift if you have a bunh of crap on the paint ).. PLEASSSEEEEEEEEEEEE apply wax afterwards. You will save yourself a lot of grief and hassle in the end. It would also be wise to clay bar your truck/car after you use the Dish Soap!



this is the first time i have ever heard anyone say that dish soap is good to use. i wax my truck every time i wash. i clay bar at the most 1 time every 4 to 5 monts.... well, mostly right before OT


Actually, Dawn dishsoap is great to use if you want to strip off all the old wax & crud on the paint in preparation for starting 'fresh' with new polish & wax !! BUT - as Pat stated, you MUST wax after cause it leaves the surface pretty vulnerable. Also, NEVER do it on a hot surface or in the sun. Will make a huge mess of things & be very hard to correct.

[pinoytitan]

SO, if i use dish soap, i have to clay bar my truck, than wax it? hmm, I clay bar my truck every 3 months... and wax every other time i was. I already have a car wash soap.. once this is finished im gonna try out Adams Soap Sudsy Soapy UV Protectant Shampoo for Titans. LOL I hand wash my truck and take my wife's car through the car wash. LOL

[MikeD1]

You don't have to clay bar it after the Dawn soap, but you do have to wax it !!

Just curious, but why do you bar it every 3 months ? Shouldn't need to do it that often unless you are in a really harsh environment with lots of industrial or organic fallout.

[pinoytitan]

You don't have to clay bar it after the Dawn soap, but you do have to wax it !!

Just curious, but why do you bar it every 3 months ? Shouldn't need to do it that often unless you are in a really harsh environment with lots of industrial or organic fallout.



the box says every 6 months. I clay bar in peices every time i wash. But, every 3 months i do the whole truck at once..

[Patrick@Adams]

You don't have to clay bar it after the Dawn soap, but you do have to wax it !!

Just curious, but why do you bar it every 3 months ? Shouldn't need to do it that often unless you are in a really harsh environment with lots of industrial or organic fallout.



the box says every 6 months. I clay bar in peices every time i wash. But, every 3 months i do the whole truck at once..


you may be doing that to much. A good trick is to get a plastic bag ( from a grocery store type ) put your hand in the bag and rub it over your truck. If you feel anything it's time to clay. If it's smooth then you dont need to.

[WhiteNite]

You don't have to clay bar it after the Dawn soap, but you do have to wax it !!

Just curious, but why do you bar it every 3 months ? Shouldn't need to do it that often unless you are in a really harsh environment with lots of industrial or organic fallout.



the box says every 6 months. I clay bar in peices every time i wash. But, every 3 months i do the whole truck at once..

Take some of that time and clean that engine bay....LOL

[TitanManiac]

Dish soap is bad because it stripps off the wax, but if you don't wax anyway it doesn't matter.