It's getting time to think about winterizing your pressure washer. First, I would change the oil. Consider using a synthetic oil for easier starts. (I use Wal-Mart's brand.) Run some pump saver through the pump. FYI, pump saver is a 50 / 50 mix of RV antifreeze and mineral oil. You can mix your own using RV antifreeze (which many places have on sale right now for about $3.99 a gallon) and mineral oil from Wal-Mart (paid $1.49 a pint recently.) Drain tank and carb are DRY. Ethanol fuels are **** on small engine carbs. If you can't drain it, consider some of the blue Stabil, or Star On. Next spring oil will already have been changed, so you only need to add fresh fuel and fire her up.
Winterizing the Pressure Washer
- Thread starter junquecol
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RV antifreeze is used in the potable water systems in RVs hence has a non toxic base. It is also thinner than automotive antifreeze. :wsmile:
I have the Pro 900 series. Only mistake I made with this machine is not buying it 10 years earlier!! :icon_thumIt's simply the best! On their website you might find a demo unit. That's what I did. Couldn't tell it'd ever been used and came with a new warranty. DR (Done Right) is good people! :wsmile:
For a power washer does it really matter which is used? Potability doesn't seem to be an issue here. I don't have a power washer, but I'm just curious. :icon_scra
It will when you crank it up again. The automotive AF will have to be purged & usually ends up as a soils contaminant.
Residual moisture in the pump cylinders could freeze & cause distortion on the cylinders, it also helps keep the cylinders lubricated, as many pumps use brass cylinders, ceramic valves, and neoprene seals. Dried seals tend to deteriorate faster.
Just to add MYTCW, auto antifreeze is also toxic and apparently our four legged friends are attracted to it. :confused_
Ah, I see. So if it will be in a garage that does not freeze, I don't need to worry about the water freezing...so I can leave water in the pump? And if I leave water in the pump, I don't need to worry about seals drying out? This just got a lot easier :>
As long as you don't do like my dad, who would only put 1 gallon of antifreeze in his tractor(s) and say. "It'll be all right" until we had a HARD FREEZE and then he'd tell me to run drain them "right quick" - or crank them up & let them run.
Diesels don't like cold weather. I don't either, when I gotta get my hands wet. :wmad:
BTW, if you're keeping it in a heated garage all winter, be sure to drain the gas to reduce the fire risk. Most small engines use a vented cap and will release flammable vapors that could be explosive over time.
Oh, I don't even need to do that. My washer runs on non-toxic, non-flammable, eco-friendly 100% recycled electrons!
Just be sure to purge those electrons too! :gar-La;
Interesting discussion with a spinoff re: toxicity of "antifreeze" and what are the differences.
RV antifreeze contains propylene glycol (Pg) which is non-toxic and considered safe for human and animal consumption, but it's pretty toxic to cats. Pg is FDA approved for use use in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Automotive antifreeze is marginally cheaper, but it is ethylene glycol (Eg). Highly toxic to humans and animals, but the toxicity is significantly reduced by dilution with water and soil degradation occurs in 10-30 days so it doesn't hang around long in the environment (compare that to the phosphate based fertilizers that we routinely use in our lawns and gardens). Which is worse?
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=12&po=0
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethylene-propylene-glycol-d_904.html
It's worth keeping the word "toxicity" in a relative perspective IMHO as a pharmaceutical chemist. :eusa_thin My apologies for hijacking this thread, but I don't believe in political correctness whatever the forum.
RV antifreeze contains propylene glycol (Pg) which is non-toxic and considered safe for human and animal consumption, but it's pretty toxic to cats. Pg is FDA approved for use use in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Automotive antifreeze is marginally cheaper, but it is ethylene glycol (Eg). Highly toxic to humans and animals, but the toxicity is significantly reduced by dilution with water and soil degradation occurs in 10-30 days so it doesn't hang around long in the environment (compare that to the phosphate based fertilizers that we routinely use in our lawns and gardens). Which is worse?
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=12&po=0
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethylene-propylene-glycol-d_904.html
It's worth keeping the word "toxicity" in a relative perspective IMHO as a pharmaceutical chemist. :eusa_thin My apologies for hijacking this thread, but I don't believe in political correctness whatever the forum.
I'm not sure how your electrons were generated, but every method of generating electricity (hydro, thermal, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, gas turbines, etc) produces pollution. Some in the actual generation, and others in the manufacturing of generating system, and most in both.
You are correct and I never claimed it didn't.
I'll just point out that there are few things more polluting than small gas engines of the type used in lawn equipment. My electric washer puts them to shame. I only wish my lawn was conducive to an electric mower.
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