Having a pressure washer can only make things better. Think about all the ways that adding one to your collection makes things easier. This piece of equipment can help you clean your car, your powersports gear, and even your house or driveway. DIYers will get more out of one than just that. A power washer makes it easy to clean road grime and grease off of parts during major repairs or restorations. It’s one of those tools that you’ll use for almost every project. But you already know that. You’re trying to decide which ones belong in your collection. There are a lot of choices out there, and some will work better for your project than others. Let’s sort it out.
Table of Contents
Best Pressure Washers for Cars Review
Sun Joe Electric High Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 2,030 psi
- Weight of item: 31 pounds
- Length of hose: 20 feet
Pros
- Electric motor with 14.5 amps and 1,800 watts
- 1.76 gpm
- Two onboard, removable 0.9 gal detergent tanks
- Includes five quick-connect spray nozzles
Cons
- Over time and with use, quick-connect nozzles can rust.
The Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric High Pressure Washer is a strong machine, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for something to help you clean your car. With its 14.5-amp, 1,800-watt electric motor, this machine takes all of the hard work out of washing. At its highest power level, it can make up to 2,030 psi of pressure and 1.76 gpm of flow. It can be used to clean your car, RV, lawnmower, boat, deck, and areas outside and around your home. And with features like two onboard detergent tanks and a set of five quick-connect nozzles that can be switched out, you can easily adapt to any cleaning situation or area of your car.
Users’ reviews point out that the quick-connect nozzles that come with the product can wear out with time and use. After a few years of regular use, these nozzles can rust and leak, so they’ll need to be replaced later in the life of the pressure washer.
Greenworks 1500 psi 1.2 gpm Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 1,500 psi
- Weight of the item: 17.36 pounds
- Length of hose: 20 feet
Pros
- 13-amp electric motor
- 1.2 gpm
- 35 feet pressure cord
- Soap dispenser with two nozzles and a detergent bottle that can be taken off.
Cons
- May not be big enough for some cleaning jobs
The Greenworks 1500 psi 1.2 gpm Pressure Washer is cheap and easy to use when washing your car. It is a great value and a great choice. It’s not as big as other electric pressure washers, but it does the job just as well. This upright machine is easy to move around, and its 20-inch hose and 35-foot power cord give it a good range. It can pump water at up to 1,500 psi and 1.2 gallons per minute. You’ll especially like the soap applicator, which has two nozzle tips for use, and the detergent bottle that can be attached to it. These are all well-designed for washing your car. The pressure washer’s wand is also adjustable, giving you more freedom (and a longer reach) when you’re working outside.
The Greenworks pressure washer for cars, on the other hand, is less powerful because it is smaller. That might not be a problem if you’re trying to keep your paint job in good shape, but it might not clean as well as other tools for some jobs.
Briggs & Stratton Electric Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 2,000 psi
- Weight of the item: 43.25 pounds
- Length of hose: 25 feet
Pros
- An electric induction motor without brushes
- 1.1 gpm
- Easy to use layout
- Folding frame
Cons
- Customers often get units that are broken.
- Some Briggs & Stratton parts do not work with it.
The Briggs & Stratton S2000P Electric Pressure Washer is a well-balanced machine that can deliver a good amount of water pressure and strong cleaning power. But it’s still gentle enough to get rid of dirt and other things on the outside of your car. Its durable brushless induction motor, which has a maximum pressure of 2,000 psi and a flow rate of 1.1 GPM, and its 7-in-1 nozzles make it a good choice for a number of projects. It’s made with a frame that can be folded up for easy storage, and the way it’s set up makes it easy to use.
It’s important to note, though, that this pressure washer often has problems with quality control or shipping, and a lot of broken units get sent to customers. Another problem is that some Briggs & Stratton pressure washer accessories won’t work with it.
Westinghouse Gas Powered Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 2,700 psi
- Weight of item: 63 pounds
- Length of hose: 25 feet
Pros
- 212cc gas engine with four strokes
- 2.3 gpm
- Includes four quick-connect nozzles
- Steel frame and wheels that never go flat.
Cons
- The engine can be tight and needs time to loosen up.
- Needs to cool down if it’s been running for a long time.
The Westinghouse WPX2700 Gas Powered Pressure Washer is a good choice if you want a powerful pressure washer. Unlike most electric pressure washers you’ll find when shopping, this one has a powerful 212cc 4-stroke Westinghouse OHV horizontal shaft engine that starts with a recoil. It lasts a long time, doesn’t need any maintenance, and can deliver an impressive maximum of 2,700 psi. The 25-foot hose, 2.3 gpm flow rate, and 1.6-liter tank make it easy to clean with. The machine also comes with a lightweight spray wand and four quick-connect nozzles with different spray angles, one of which is just for soaping up. The steel frame of this pressure washer and its strong wheels make it easy to move around your garage as well.
The only problem with this pressure washer is that the engine is a bit tight, so it may take some time to work properly. User reviews also say that after the machine has been running for a long time, it needs to cool down. If it doesn’t, you might have trouble starting it up or problems with wear over time.
Stanley Electric Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 2,150 psi
- Weight of the item: 27 pounds
- Length of hose: 25 feet
Pros
- 13 amp electric motor
- 1.4 gpm
- Includes attachments like a pressure washer gun and wand, foam cannon, and more.
- Includes four quick-connect nozzles
Cons
- There is a plastic part in the connector that can break.
The Stanley SHP2150 Electric Pressure Washer can clean everything, from the outside of your car to your outdoor furniture, ATVs, and RVs. It can wash your car, make cleaning foam quickly, move around to clean from all angles, and more. This pressure washer is very flexible and can be used for both light and heavy-duty jobs. At 27 pounds, this machine isn’t too heavy, but it can pump up to 2,150 psi and 1.4 gallons per minute. It also works well because it has a pro-grade brass hose connector, a pressure washer wand and gun, and a 25-foot high-pressure hose. You’ll also get a lot out of the attachments that come with it. The foam cannon, detergent tank, and different quick-connect nozzles give you more ways to wash your car.
The water inlet connector is the only thing that bothers me about this pressure washer. Even though this connector is made of brass, which is strong and shouldn’t wear down or break over time, it has a small piece of plastic inside that can break. Users say that this small piece of plastic can crack or break over time, leaving you with an unexpectedly leaky connection after years of use.
Karcher Electric Power Pressure Washer
Specs
- Maximum Pressure: 1,700 psi
- Weight of item: 20.7 pounds
- Length of hose: 20 feet
Pros
- 1.2 gpm
- The foot switch pedal is easy to use.
- Accessories can be stored in a removable bin
- 0.5 gal detergent tank
Cons
- Some people may find the hose too short.
Choose the Karcher K1700 Electric Power Pressure Washer if you want something that is easy to move around the house and works well. This machine is surprisingly light, but it has the same power as bigger ones when it comes to pressure washing. It’s also easy to move to wherever it’s needed. This pressure washer is a great tool for washing cars. It weighs only 20.7 pounds. You’ll enjoy up to 1,700 psi max and 1.2 gallons per minute. There are also built-in features that make it easier to use, like a foot pedal to turn it on and off, a removable storage bin for accessories, and a place to store the cord. Three quick-connect spray nozzles, a bayonet spray wand, and an onboard detergent tank that holds 0.5 gallons are also helpful for washing cars.
The only thing people don’t like about this pressure washer is how long the hose is. For some, the 20-foot hose that comes with the unit may not be long enough. But it’s easy to switch it out for a longer one.
Our Verdict
The Sun Joe Electric High-Pressure Washer is the best pressure washer for cars overall because it has a good balance of strong psi and great cleaning power, and the dual detergent tanks make it very easy to soap up and rinse off quickly. Plus, the nozzles that come with it give you more control. And the Greenworks 1500 psi 1.2 gpm Pressure Washer is a great choice for those who want to clean well without spending a lot of money. It has a single detergent tank and a variety of nozzles.
Things to think about before you buy a car pressure washer
There are a lot of things to think about when choosing a pressure washer for your car, such as its size, max psi, wand style, and reach. If you don’t know where to start, here are some things to think about as you search for and buy the best products.
What Kinds of Car Pressure Washers Are There?
Pressure washers that use electricity
If you want a pressure washer that is easy to use, does the job well and requires little maintenance, you might want to consider an electric model. Electric pressure washers are mostly corded, but some are cordless. They can handle most light to moderate jobs, and their electric motors are powerful enough to clean full-size sedans, SUVs, and trucks. But if your electric power washer is lighter and easier to move around, it won’t be as good for tougher jobs as washing your car.
Power washers that use gas
If you want a pressure washer with more power, the best option is one that runs on gas. Professionals often use these more powerful pressure washers, which tend to be more expensive investments. But if you want to use your pressure washer for things like removing paint or power-washing concrete in addition to cleaning cars, these are the better choice. Just be careful about how hard and how much pressure you use when working on your car.
Car Pressure Washers: What You Need to Know
Adjustable Nozzle
If you can’t control how much water or soap comes out of the nozzle, a pressure washer isn’t very useful. So, make sure you choose a machine with a nozzle that you can change. That will let you change the angle of the spray and concentrate (or lessen) the amount of water that comes out. Most pressure washers have either a set of colored nozzles that can be switched out or an all-in-one adjustable nozzle. The adjustable kind is simpler, more streamlined, and easier to use on the fly.
Strong CPU
You’ve probably already looked at the psi and gpm of any pressure washer you’re thinking about buying, but you should also consider the CPU. The CPU, or cleaning power unit, tells you how well a pressure washer can clean. It’s not always in the product description, but it’s a good way to figure out how well a pressure washer can clean. And you can easily figure it out by multiplying the gpm by the psi. The better it will be for deep cleaning, the more powerful the CPU. Just keep in mind that extremely high pressure and low gallons per minute can be too strong for a car’s exterior. You want a balanced and solid CPU, but you don’t want a psi or gpm that is too skewed in one direction.
Wand That Can Grow or Grow
Look for a pressure washer with a telescoping or extension wand so you can get into tight corners and around the curves of your car without having to move the whole thing. With this style of wand, you can reach farther with just a few twists of the handle. This is especially useful for getting into tight spaces without having to move around as much. Plus, it’s helpful if you use your pressure washer to clean your car and other parts of your home.
A Long Hose
Even though pressure washers are mostly about the water that comes out of the wand, you shouldn’t forget about the hose. The length of the hose determines how far you can reach, and a shorter hose makes it harder to move. If you don’t want to have to stand on a stool or ladder to wash the roof of your car, choose a pressure washer with a long hose. Twenty to fifty feet is a good range, especially if you want to be flexible.
Price of Pressure Washer for Cars
You can find pressure washers that cost anywhere from $100 to $300 when you go shopping. Most models cost between $150 and $250, with cheaper ones costing between $100 and $150 and more expensive ones costing between $250 and $300. If you don’t need a lot of psi, you can stick with prices in the lower and middle ranges. But if you need a lot of power or want the most features and functions, you might be better off with a premium pick.
