FAQ

Pressure Washer’s frequently Asked Questions:

1. How often should I change the oil?

Once a year or every 200 work hours.
First oil change should be after 3 months (or 20 work hours)
If oil is too low or looks milky, it should be changed regardless of work hours. If the pressure washer is used frequently or for commercial purposes, it is advisable to change the oil more frequently. At all times the oil should be clean and free of water.

2. What type of oil should I use?

Use 30W non-detergent pump oil. Do not use motor oil as this will cause it to change its color to milky white.
Use 80W-90 gear lube oil for pressure washers with gearboxes. Be careful not to confuse gearbox oil with the pump oil and vice-versa.
Use SAE 30W motor oil for the engine if you have gasoline pressure washer. Be sure to check the specific manufacturer’s instructions before oil change.

3. What do I need to check if I don’t get any pressure?

  • Almost all pressure washers of less than 1500 PSI use push/pull nozzle type adjustment. To adjust the stray pattern, turn the nozzle sleeve. Pull the sleeve back for low pressure; push it forward for high pressure. Check if the nozzle is in place by inspecting the nozzle holder
  • Quick-connect nozzles are used for pressure washers of 2000 PSI and above. Nozzles are color-coded for easy recognition and can be exchanged to vary the spray fan pattern:
    • Black nozzles are for soap injection and low pressure spraying
    • Red nozzle is 0 degrees, high pressure
    • Yellow nozzle is 15 degrees, high pressure
    • Green nozzle is 25 degrees, high pressure
    • White nozzle is 40 degrees, high pressure
  • For proper pump operation, the engine should be running at full speed. Otherwise the pump won’t be able to make appropriate water flow to give full pressure to the pump.
  • The keyway may slip out of the pump sleeve and engine shaft. To check if that is the case, remove the four bolts that attach the engine to the pump and slide the pump off. Perform a visual inspection to ensure whether the key is in place.
  • Water seals may start to leak after the pressure washer has been in use for a certain amount of time. A quick visual inspection is enough to check if water is dripping between the pump and the manifold. If that is the case, the seals have to be replaced. This is standard procedure as they are wearable item.

4. What should I do if the engine doesn’t start?

  • The trigger has to be pulled while starting the engine if the pump does not have pressure release.
  • Check whether all -the gas, choke and throttle are on.
  • If they are on, the next step is to check if the air filter is soaked with oil. If it is, replace both air filer and the spark plug.
  • If this does not solve the problem, check the level of the engine’s oil. Add more if there is a low-oil alert.
  • In case neither of the suggestions above does not solve the problem, call a local service center.

5. What should I do if I don’t get any soap injection?

  • Check if you got the right nozzle (black quick-connect nozzle) and adjustment (for push/pull type of nozzle).
  • Ensure that the metering valve for the soap injection is on.
  • Check the consistency of the soap solution – it should be like water
  • Make sure that the there is nothing clogging the low-pressure tip.
  • In case neither of the steps above helps in solving the problem, remove the high pressure hose from the pressure washer. Then run the machine without the hose to see whether it is working. In case it does, replace the following components one by one in this order to establish which one is defective: hose, gun, wand, nozzle and tip.

6. How to winterize my pressure washer?

The best way to prepare a pressure washer for the cold season is by running a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water through the unit. This will not only prevent the pump from freezing, but also will prevent rusting and will keep the inner components lubricated. We highly recommend using eco-friendly antifreeze solution and the following winterizing procedure:

  • Mix the same amounts of antifreeze and water to prepare the solution
  • Connect the water inlet of the pump to a short 2-3ft garden hose and use a funnel to pour the solution into the hose. You may find this to be a bit tricky to do alone, so you may ask someone to help you with this part
  • Disconnect the high pressure hose from the pump (if attached). Drain it completely, fold it and store it in warm place.
  • Start the pressure washer and let it draw into the pump the solution you’ve poured into the short hose. Wait until it begins to spray from the pump outlet (it will take 1-2 minutes). When ready, shut down the pressure washer and it is ready for storage.
  • Before using it again, simply flush it out with clean water.

7. How should I clean an unloader which is stuck open?

The most likely reason for the unloader to strike open is that there are some debris or metal burrs into it. You have to disassemble it and clean it through. The procedure is as follows:

  • Find the large red cap above the manifold and unscrew it.
  • Remove the washer and spring that are located below the cap
  • Unscrew the brass bold from the manifold and then pull it out.
  • Remove any debris, metal burrs or foreign particles you may find on the unloader valve. Use warm soapy water to clean it through.
  • Completely flush out the cavity in which was the unloader. Do it by running water through the pump. After you’ve cleaned the cavity, inspect it again for any remaining debris that may cause the problem.
  • Assemble the unloader carefully, making sure you do not strip the brass threads.
  • Hand-tight the red knob firmly. Make sure it is tight, but do not use tools to tighten it!
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