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Author Topic: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?  (Read 1856 times)

Offline Black9

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Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« on: April 15, 2012, 10:57:58 am »
Hi, my karcher is meant to have a snow foam feature but doesn't work :star:

Before I wash my car I always give her a thorough going over with a high pressure hose then get the mitt out.

Can I do this without The risk of causing swirl marks and can anyone recommend a well & good pressure washer/foamer

 :happy2:

Offline Black9

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Offline andrewparker

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2012, 11:15:20 am »
No, never NEVER wash a car without snow foaming it first. Swirl marks will only be the first of your problems. You'd be very lucky not to cause any lasting damage to the engine and seats.

Offline maxload

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2012, 11:25:42 am »
What model karcher washer have you got?

After rinsing your car with the hose  , make sure you use two buckets with grit guards to wash the car being carefull.

Offline JPC

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2012, 12:34:44 pm »
Your car is hardly going to self combust if not washed without snow foam. It is possible believe it or not to clean a car safely without snowfoam haha!
Just pressure wash rinse the car as much as you can before touching the paint.

Offline mvb12

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2012, 12:44:20 pm »
Quote
You'd be very lucky not to cause any lasting damage to the engine and seats.
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Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2012, 01:44:34 pm »
Snowfoam is a prewash stage to help loosen dried on dirt etc. It helps minimise paintwork damage but using any contact introduces a risk of damage. As JPC states, you'll be fine!

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Offline john87

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2012, 12:35:58 pm »
Its likely that your karcher has a built-in detergent/shampoo feed system (which just adds the mixture of your choice into the water stream) but for a proper snow foam, get yourself a brass-head foam nozzle...around the £40 mark and available from cleanyourcar, i4detailing etc  :happy2:
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Offline RussZS

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Re: Can I wash my car without snow foaming first?
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2012, 12:57:40 pm »
As Jay says, a high pressure rinse should be sufficient in most cases, especially if its wearing decent protection which should release most of the dirt anyway.

A few foams I've trialled recently have great cleaning power, but some seem to be affecting the beading on a wax a bit too much really - it's difficult to find the right balance.
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