When it comes to power washers and car paint, it comes down to several factors:
- The pressure. If the pressure on your washer is too high, it could damage the paint on your car. Make sure that you are using the correct pressure washer and the correct pressure on your vehicle. This will typically be between 1000psi to 2500psi (100-160 bar).
- The water. With the pressure and the detergent used for your car, hot water is not necessary for a deep clean. And in fact, hot water could hurt your car’s paint. While hot water pressure washers are available, we do not necessarily recommend this feature for your car. For a deep clean, you can use a foam cannon with your pressure washer.
- Your car’s paint. Not all paint is made the same, particularly for older vs. newer cars. If your car’s paint is weak and old, a power washer may be too much for the delicate paint. However, a modern vehicle’s paint is likely to come out perfectly fine (in fact, shiny and new looking) after a good pressurised washing.
Damage to car paint is rare for modern cars if the right pressure is used. So make sure you are purchasing the correct washer for your vehicle, and you can enjoy getting the best clean for your car!