Pressure washer, what is too much?

[Removed user as requested]

Hey,

Wanting to buy a pressure washer this weekend. How much PSI becomes too much for washing a car?

My chevelle is black with fresh paint, clear coat, mirror finish.

One pressure washer i saw at 1450psi, another at 2300psi (electric) Is there too much where paint can get damaged? Etc...

[1965gp]

Is it for the undercarriage or are you planning on using it on fresh paint? That's too much for fresh paint or really any paint with a mirror finish. I don't even use my garden hose at full blast! Use good soap, a good wash mit / sponge and get a grit guard for your bucket and you should be good.

I use a micro fiber wash mit with all the straglers on it (hard to explain.) the grit guard will help keep all if the dirt al the bottom of the bucket and out of the sponge.

[MonzaRacer]

OK so after many years and many different tries with different washes produced I have still found one method that works well, has so far never been bashed by ANY paint company I talked to but do understand you might need too reapply a glaze or wax if you dont have relatively new coat on.
I start with 1 gallon washer solvent, summer blend, add a healthy dose of Dawn dish soap this will cut road grime and tar and grease to best degree without harsher chemicals on paint.
I use around 3 or 4 gallons of hot water, hot enough to put your hands in comfortably. In shade cool car paint with stream of water, then start washing with soft mitt or wash sponge that claims reduced or too NOT scratch paint. Wash from roof down too windows, rinse, touch up as needed. Wash hood/trunk and rinse. Then wash sides down to around even with wheel wells, then I thin down my wash water a little and wash below belt line to rockers and under bumpers etc.
The wash and rinse procedure I used to use at a dealership cleanup. Old guy who taught me this showed me how it keeps from damaging paint and my mixture cleans well, generally never spots and removes most all road grime and leaves a surface clean enough to reglaze or wax.

[andrewb70]

Check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/user/AMMONYCdotcom

There are a lot of very useful tips there. He mostly uses a rubber hose without any attachment, yet alone a pressure washer.

Andrew

[Dave B]

Never wash a car, with a power washer, no matter the size.

[bergers59]

The only time i've used the pressure washer on my car is under the hood after i pulled the engine, I wouldn't use it on your car. Also don't ever get an electric power washer, those things never last. Pressure shouldn't matter much, as long as you have an adjustable spray tip.

[groho]

I've got a 5hp, 2100psi unit, and it WILL take paint off. Unless you're planning to do some clean up in the engine compartment or undercarriage, keep it clear of your paint! Its perfect for cleaning up dirty greasy parts like rear ends, engine blocks, etc.