Pressure washing

[zerocool]

Ok, im a lazy sod and pressurwash the bike mostly clean then then scrub the stubborn bits but im sick of the lack of ability of cold water. Higher pressure in my opinion is the wrong answer as im sure it will just bring off the paint.

Im just wondering if I piped hot water into my pressurewasher and cleaned my GSA with that if it would have a detrimental effect to the bike or surfaces on the bike.

the ZC

 

[Schtum]

You certainly shouldn't use hot water to wash salt off the bike. Think about it.... Hot water would dissolve the salt and create a salt solution which would seep into every nook and cranny that you don't want it to seep into.

 

[Blackal]

The reason for not using hot water is that heat assists the corrosion process between the salt water and the steel and alloys. Heat assists all reactions with the exception of ice formation

Cold water minimises the corrosion

Al

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

you need a foaming agent - which lifts the salty shite off the surface - then wash it off with cold.

if you want to go hot - use it last - then it'll evaporate off - but as said above - get any salt off first - or plan to sell the bike within 2 yrs

 

[(RIP) Stormchaser]

Like to share a recent find - "Stardrops" - (I kid you not) available from Semi-Chem for the extortionate sum of 69 pence. It is a general purpose cleaner and works brilliantly on bikes - it even leaves a nice sheen after you rinse and chamois off. Try it - you won't be disappointed. Just get the right one as there's two types - you do NOT want the ammonia one - go for the piss coloured version or if in doubt read the label!

Just add the equivalent of a couple of cap fulls to your bucket of water, agitate and away you go.

 

[Soptastic]

Depends upon how filthy the bike is. If it is road muck/salt then a good application of "Muck Off" with a paint brush followed by powerwashing does the trick. I always follow this with a wash with a couple of caps full of "Mer" in a bucket of warm water. This is then low pressure washed off and then dried off with a chammy. If I have been off road, (or along a road that has country substances), and it is sticky muck I am trying to remove then I start with a powerwash to get the big bits off - leave it to drip for a while then start with the "Muck Off".

 

[MickDB1]

Most of the cheaper pressure washers will not work long on HW, they are designed for cold water ( it buggers the pump up ) .
If you want a HW / Steam spray get yer cheque book cos they aint cheap !!
Happy new year / when it comes

 

[ovenpaa]

Thanks for reminding me guys! - I notice mine is showing white spot again, I need to get out and power wash it and give it a good a good squirt of FS365.

 

[alimey4u2]

High pressure washing is not recommended for motorcycles as it can blow by seals.....

 

[zerocool]

Ok so hot water is a bad idea but on the point of salt, surely it will dissolve under cold water too, so by getting the bike wet im risking salt caused corrosion, and by not washing it im risking salt caused corrosion.

What solutions would you recommend???

My pressure washed has a adaptor for solutions but it doesnt kick it out at a high enough pressure so I must be doing something wrong I guess.

the ZC

 

[cookie]

You certainly shouldn't use hot water to wash salt off the bike. Think about it.... Hot water would dissolve the salt and create a salt solution which would seep into every nook and cranny that you don't want it to seep into.

what about all the salty water thrown onto my hot engine while i'm riding? process must be well under way before i get a chance to wash it off with cold water, surely?

 

[Fanum]

My pressure washed has a adaptor for solutions but it doesnt kick it out at a high enough pressure so I must be doing something wrong I guess.

the ZC

I think you'll find the adaptor for solutions works on the Bernoulli effect (think sucking stuff up a straw by blowing over the top of it) and will only work at the low pressure.....on my K'archer you twist the end of the spray nozzle and it cuts the pressure, the stuff I want to inject gets sucked into the water stream and once I've covered the car/bike in it, I turn it back up to full pressure and wash it all down

Personally I wouldn't worry about warm water.....even salt in hot water ain't gonna dissolve your bike in the time it takes to wash it, and as long as you rinse it off thoroughly I can't see it will cause any problems

(In fact it may help by softening up and dissolving crud quicker)

I've an idea though that the pressure washer makers say don't use it 'cos it knackers the pump but I might be making that up

 

[BTBR]

I think that they do not recommend using hot water because it softens the seals on piston or pistons within the pump.

The water pressure could then bypass the seals, resulting in an overall drop in water pressure.

I know that the jetting equipment that we make, different seals are required for the hot and cold water jetting applications.

 

[Vern]

My 1100 is covered in oil/grease/chain lube and anything else that stops the road crud getting to the metal at the moment.When the weather gets better,off comes the tank,out comes the steam cleaner,and an hour later,it's all sparkly again.Everything gets the same treatment,no messing about,and it's never done it any harm yet.

The detergent comes in a big drum that says"do not use near electrical components"and it brings all the wiring up a treat