Washing cars with a pressure washer nozzle is not the most harmless but quickest way to bring a spotless car back. The water pressure can damage the car paint if you choose the wrong degrees. So what pressure washer nozzle is safe for car?
The suitable nozzles for car washing are 25-degree and 40-degree tips. Whereas the former allows you to eliminate tough dirt in truck beds and wheels, the last tip is gentle enough to rinse off detergent from cars.
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What Pressure Washer Nozzle is Safe for Car
Although there are 5-colored nozzles, you can only use 2 nozzles for pressure washing car. If you choose small degrees, the spray will be more powerful. Otherwise, the higher degrees create a bigger fan pattern; the water jet isn’t violent.
- 25° nozzle (Green)
The 25 degree pressure washer nozzle creates a spray pattern to wash your car. The water sheet is less aggressive than the 15-degree type, but its water jet can have a wider coverage.
In case you don’t know where to start washing the car, a 25º pressure washer nozzle is a good option. The spray power is quite high; it can remove mud from wheels, truck beds, and other solid surfaces.
The green nozzle can pre-wash your car effectively. You shouldn’t use it to clean a full car. The spray pattern isn’t wide enough, so it’s quite time-consuming.
Plus, it can damage car paint if the distance between the nozzle and your car is improper.
- 40° nozzle (White)
To protect your car’s appearance, a 40-degree nozzle is an optimal selection. It can produce a 40º spray pattern to save you valuable time.
Hence, it has the least impact on your car. Yet, it still removes debris and rinses foam off your car without affecting the paintwork.
This white nozzle can wash delicate car parts: blinds, windows, and even car engines with more caution.
Is It Ok to Use a Pressure Washer on a Car?
Cleaning car details with a pressure washer is a time-saving and convenient option. It can remove all dust and debris in a wink.
If you are wondering if it is fine to use pressure washer nozzles for car, the short answer is yes, as long as you pick proper nozzles and safe PSI for car wash.
A pressure washer requires less water to work. Plus, you should opt for an electric pressure washer instead of a gas one, and here are the reasons:
- An electric pressure washer produces a less aggressive spray compared to the gas one. Car painting is easy to scratch and damage. The less powerful the washer is, the less damage on your car.
- The electric product is more convenient to use and quieter while working.
- If you use the electric option, you can start cleaning right after you turn on the machine. For gas one, ensure the water can run through the hose constantly.
- If there is no water running in the hose for more than 2 minutes, the motor is really hot. When the water comes out, it can reduce the heat.
- The foam the electric device creates is thicker. This machine also delivers more water to rinse off the car, so it takes less time to clean a car compared to the gas one.
Can Pressure Washers Damage Car Paint?
Pressure washers cannot damage car paint if your cars are modern and you apply proper PSI.
To be specific, modern cars are produced with advanced technology and experience higher temperatures to create a solid appearance. Classic car paints, on the other hand, are thinner and less water-resistant, so higher pressure is more likely to damage them.
However, even newer cars are susceptible to scratching if exposed to high PSI. Anything above 2200 is highly likely to deface your car, regardless of how modern it is.
Let’s follow tips to protect your modern car paintwork from damage.
- Before washing cars, you always need to fix the chips or scratches on the car paint to ensure the water cannot penetrate it.
- You should refer to the car manufacturer’s guide on using a pressure washer before washing your car and set PSI accordingly.
- Choosing a pressure washer allows you to adjust the PSI manually. You should pay attention to it while working to ensure the PSI doesn’t exceed the acceptable limit.
- The right pressure washer nozzles – 25 degrees and 40 degrees – never cause any scratches to your car. The fan spray pattern is the safest for cleaning car details.
- The ideal angle for pointing the nozzle to the car is 45 degrees. This angle helps you rinse off foam quickly and has the least impact on the paintwork.
- Never stand too close when washing a car. Keeping a distance of 2-4 feet is a wise option.
- You should move the water jet constantly instead of focusing on one point. Focusing too much pressure on a single point can destroy the car paint.
What PSI is Safe for Washing Cars?
Generally, pressure washers for cars PSI under 2000 PSI are suitable for washing a car. However, note that even 2000 PSI can cause potential risks for your vehicle. Never try to use 3000 PSI on your car since it is too much and will damage the car’s paintwork.
The best range for cleaning without worrying about the car’s look is from 1200 to 1900 PSI with 1.4-1.6 GPM, as it’s sufficient to remove mud and debris with minimal effort and time. That said, 1500 PSI will be the best choice for optimal and risk-free performance.
In case you use gas pressure washers, you should check the instructions and set the PSI suitable for car washing. The force of gas devices is always more powerful than electric ones.
What Nozzles Shouldn’t Be Used on Cars
We will present more 2-colored nozzles. They are not a suitable pressure washer tip for car.
- 0º nozzle (Red)
The 0º nozzle produces the most powerful straight water jet, which can cause severe damage. Its coverage is the smallest, homeowners rarely use it.
However, some people use the red nozzle to wipe out debris from concrete and solid surfaces. It can approach hard-to-reach areas, you can also use it to clean construction equipment.
- 15º nozzle (Yellow)
The 15-degree nozzle tip has a wider spray pattern than the red 0-degree tip, yet it still has a maximum blast. Hence, it is perfect for tidying dirt from bricks, sidewalks, and cement.
Washing with this yellow tip is also a prep step for resealing, painting, and staining surfaces. It offers you the optimal result when you keep a distance of 4×4’s but you should be cautious.
What Nozzle Can Be Used for Foam Spraying
- 65º nozzle (Black)
The black 65º nozzle tip has the widest fan and brings you the broadest coverage. Many people use it as a soap nozzle.
It requires the lowest pressure to eliminate anything, but it can create constant foam to spray detergent on your car thoroughly.
You can refer to the pressure washer nozzle chart to have brief information about what degree nozzle for pressure washer car.
| Nozzle for pressure washing car | Surfaces |
| Red 0-degree nozzle | Construction equipment, concrete, solid surface, not suitable for fragile surfaces |
| Yellow 15-degree nozzle | Preparation for painting, resealing, and staining, sidewalks, bricks, and hard surfaces. |
| Green 25-degree nozzle | Truck beds, wheels, siding, sidewalks, driveways, and more. |
| White 40-degree nozzle | Windows, mirrors, blinds, and fragile surfaces |
| Black 65-degree nozzle | Used to spray detergents |
Conclusion
What pressure washer nozzle is safe for car? The green 25-degree tip and the white 40-degree tip are the appropriate choices. Plus, you should adjust the correct PSI between 1200-1900 PSI and keep the nozzle at a 45-degree angle while washing to protect your car.
If your car is a classic model, you should check carefully before washing it to avoid potential rísks. For a modern car, you also check for any scratch or chip, fix them immediately, then wash the car. Happy washing car!
