Learn how regular high pressure washer maintenance can increase the life of your pressure washer, as well as save you money over the long term.
High Pressure Washer Maintenance
Engine maintenance
It is advisable to always use the engine manufacturer’s recommendations as a minimum for maintaining your high pressure washer. Consult the manual for information specific to your machine. You should also oil every time before starting the engine.
Check the oil every 8 hours, or more often if the manufacturer recommends it. If you don’t have a manual, the same information is generally available on the manufacturer’s website If you need more information about a ThoroughClean high pressure washer? Contact us!
Fuel to use:
- Use clean, and unleaded fuel with an octane of 87 or higher.
- Do not use fuel containing methanol.
- Don’t mix oil and petrol.
Preventative maintenance: check the manual
- Your engine manual will advise you of the exact intervals for maintenance operations required for keeping the engine running smoothly for the expected lifetime of the high pressure washer. Don’t ignore this information! Failing to do so could cost you thousands!
Air filter maintenance
Carburettor air filters should be checked before each use. Engines should have an air filter element as well as a pre-filter. This can be verified and inspected by simply removing the machine’s cover. This takes a few seconds, and could save you thousands of dollars further down the track. A quick look is all you really need. If it’s dirty, remove and replace.
Pump maintenance
As far as mobile high pressure washers go, the most common pumps used are positive displacement, triplex ceramic plunger pumps. The manufacturers of these pumps vary. Although, all seem to agree on the following points about maintenance:
- You should fill the pump with an equivalent amount of water to that which you intend to use.
- Water supplied to the pump to prevent sediment particles damaging the pump.
- The oil must be kept clean and free of moisture.
- Each pump has a defined speed at which it should turn in order to produce the best performance. Do not exceed this speed.
- Pumps have a defined maximum pressure rating. Don’t exceed this either.
The following helpful table was borrowed from here.
Pump Troubleshooting
These tips can aid with the most commonly found problems with a pressure washer:
- The pressure is low, and the gun and hose are vibrating / Foreign material in the check Valves / Check and clean as needed
- Damaged check valves or check valve “O” ring / Check and replace as needed
- Air bubbles in the pump inlet. / Find and repair inlet filter
- Insufficient water supply / Check water supply and inlet filter
- The pump surges when the trigger is released. / There is a high-pressure water leak / Check all high-pressure fittings and the trigger gun also Insufficient unloader-bypass restriction / Check for the proper restrictor or contact the authorized repairer.
- The pump overheats / The oil level is low / Fill to the proper level with the correct oil
- The machine has been running in bypass for a long period of time / Squeeze the trigger and shorten the period of trigger release
- Hot water running through the pump / Lower the temp. of the water inlet
- The discharge water pressure is low. / The nozzle is worn or incorrectly used / Replace the nozzle with a correctly sized one.
- The drive belts are loose / Tighten or replace belts as needed
- Insufficient water supply / Increase the water flow to the pump
- The v-packing is worn / Replace the v-packing
- The unloader valve is defective / Replace the unloader valve
- The engine is too slow / Determine the cause for this and have it repaired
- There is water dripping from under the pump / Cracked or broken ceramic plunger
- Replace the plunger and repair the pump as needed / The plunger packing is worn / Replace packing
- There is water in the pump / The plunger packing is worn / Replace the packing and change the oil
- Cracked ceramic plunger / Replace the plunger, repair the pump as needed, and change the oil
- The pump was subjected to a rainstorm or a direct blast of water from the washer / Drain and replace oil with what is recommended by the manufacturer
If you are still unsure about what high-pressure washer maintenance you might need and want to talk to one of our team today. Then don’t hesitate to contact us.
