Thread: pressure washer pump saver

What do by mean "pumped into after use" ? I guess this for preventative maintenance?

When I read your post it started me wondering about my Karcher. I went looking and found this site. It lists several lubricants that sound like possibilities at a lot better prices than you mention. Maybe they can help with info.
AA Spray - Airless Pump Oil, Pump Saver, Piston Lube and Industrial Lubricants

If you do talk to them, let us know what they say.

My Karcher's pump started dropping a small amount of lubricant after periods of prolonged use. It was pretty obvious that there was suddenly oil drops in the poolong water. When I disassembled everything I found the pump casing was a plastic of some type. The designed changed to cheaper fabrication materials some time in the last decade it seems. Anyway there were no obvious cracks in the housings and no lubricant was lost by opening up, so I re-assembled and tightened the bolts on the pump casing without adding any lubricant. It is been okay since but now you've got me worried again.

Thanks for the reply dabbler.
The Briggs and Stratton Pump saver introduces its oil (or whatever) into the pump via a pressure pack:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Stratton-Pressure-Washer-Saver/dp/B0012VY200"]Amazon.com: Briggs & Stratton Pressure Washer Pump Saver - 4 Oz. 6039: Patio, Lawn & Garden[/ame]
You'll see this is reasonably priced at Amazon, but they don't post the product here, and if they did it would still be $30+. It's not easy to source in Australia.
I'm emailing AA Spray to find out if their product is suitable

Update 27/3 -- they replied that they did not know, this product was suitable for their own products, did not know about pressure washers.

I had a mid-sized karcher and it was a hooer of a thing. It often seized, the loose leafed 198 language whole-of-rainforest manual was useless and totally impractical, there was no obvious place or method to apply grossly over-priced lubrication and it was assembled using screws not easliy accessed. So after each time I attempted to use it when IT decided it was going to be a sieze day, I would fling it back into the shed and try again on some other occasion when it WOULD work. Lo and behold the next day it did but could not be relied on. Had a gutful in the end and sold the thing for fifty bucks never NEVER to consider Karcher again.

To all owners of pressure washers!
You must put a water filter in the hose line to trap the minute particles of sand and shell and other contaminants BEFORE they can get into the pump. Most water sources are on sand beds and particles are in your water that comes from your household tap. I have had a Karcher for around twenty years and have not had a problem with seizing. I was told that the single most cause of pump failure was these particles getting into the pump and scoring the cylinder and cutting the seals. the water filter should be available from the pressure pump supplier.
I do not have any affiliation with any of these products.

regards, Ned

PS I do not add any additives or oils to the machine!

Hi all,

Kärcher quality has degraded over the decades. The brand is relying on yesterday's reputation to flog ever more cheaper and simpler consumer grade products. The discovery of many vital parts being made of plastics underlines this. They do have a professional top line but you'll have to shell out handsomely for that. Industrial grade pressure washers still have pump blocks made from carefully chosen alloys, the combination of which is such that corrosion and soiling have little effect on the system and little or no extra care for lubrication is necessary.
In Europe, tap water is of excellent quality (especially here in Holland, where there is an abundance of water), but even so intake filters are used on pressure washers to prevent water mains grid debris (scale or rust or manganese oxide flakes or copper filings or seal remnants or sand) from entering the washer's pump. I think Kärcher designed their pumps for relatively clean circumstances, so the washers may be going through harder times when they are used on well type water supplies.

greetings

gerhard

Karcher pressure cleaners do come with a simple sand filter insert located in the inlet connection on the machine. This is designed to catch larger particles, but not the more minute ones as mentioned by gerhard above. This is where the external filter comes into its own.

1. It ensures the water is free of any potentially damaging foreign particles - the main cause of pump problems in pressure cleaners as described by Ned
2. It's visible outside the machine, so it's very easy to know and be reminded when it needs flushing/rinsing out
3. They're only about $30AUD extra and could save you hundreds of dollars in replacing your unit (post warranty)

This water filter is just a preventative measure though - not sure how it'd go in your situation serving as an alternative solution puttingau. Couldn't do any harm though! Apart from another $30...