Karcher car wash: how to choose, review of models

A little history of Karcher

Structurally, high-pressure washers consist of a gasoline or electric engine and a motor pump. By changing the technical parameters, dimensions, availability of heating elements, and the material used to manufacture the motor pump, the manufacturer provided affordable equipment for all types of work.

The invention was started by the German engineer Alfred Karcher, who in 1950 proposed using hot water under pressure to clean pipes. The invention became famous thanks to the marketing policy carried out by his wife, opening numerous branches, first in Europe, and then in many parts of the world.

At the moment, there are other companies producing similar equipment, each of them either reduces costs by reducing the quality of parts, or specializes in a certain line, which also has significant disadvantages leading to increased costs.

Rating of professional mini high pressure washers

The equipment is designed for washing cars and removing stubborn dirt from delicate surfaces. The devices are equipped with a metal case, ceramic pistons, and additional nozzles. Some manufacturers produce sandblasting washers - surfaces are cleaned with a mixture of water and sand. Detergent is supplied through a built-in hose or nozzle. The reliability rating will help you choose a high-pressure washer.

Stihl RE362

Model with two built-in tanks for household chemicals. A brass pump with ceramic pistons passes 1000 liters of water per hour. Technical characteristics of the device - power 3.5 kW, pressure - 180 bar. The hose is 10 m long, this allows you to use the device for cleaning garden paths. For transportation, you need to turn the telescopic handle.

Important! A possible drawback is that the manufacturer only provides a 1-year warranty.

Portotecnica RPDSPL 3060

The set includes a gun with an extension cord, an 8 m hose, and a nozzle with a pressure adjustment function. There are 2 nozzles, steel and brass - used for uniform spraying of the cleaning agent. Power – 7 kW, pressure – 215 bar. Pump with three ceramic pistons, material – forged brass. The disadvantage of the model is the high noise level.

Karcher HDS 8/18-4M

At the top of the list of high-pressure washers is a device that removes grease, oil, and organic contaminants using a mixture of water and hot steam. The design consists of a 3-piston pump, air blowers, and a water heater. There is a switch, temperature sensor, and idle protection. Pressure drops and current drops in the electrical network are compensated. Technical characteristics - power 5.5 kW, pressure - 180 bar.

Stihl RE163 Plus

Sink with a productive pump, piston material – ceramics. A 3 kW motor pumps 650 liters of water per hour. The hose is 12 m long, there is a special nozzle storage system. A possible drawback is that the gun must be turned off to wind the hose onto the reel.

Karcher HDS 7/16С

The most powerful Karcher with a water heating function is equipped with a three-phase electric motor. There are several steam generation modes, a fuel shortage protection system, and automatic shutdown. The design uses high-speed connectors. A special regulator smoothly changes the pressure and water pressure.

Important! There are built-in tanks for fuel and household chemicals.

Advantages and disadvantages of Karcher sinks

Karcher carried out a timely campaign to develop new business, which allowed him to achieve a high rating:

• Open a large number of retail outlets and representative centers;

• Make its design repairable and provide branded spare parts;

• Open service centers for your equipment.

Karcher devices do not belong to the budget class, but it corresponds to the declared quality and cost. One of the important features is that the Karcher can be used without running water. Karcher has a number of advantages over other companies:

• The ergonomic design is thought out in every respect.

• A large selection of accessories that increase the functionality of the device.

• Beautiful design, easy to move and store.

• High safety margin with proper use.

• Affordable prices, large selection of modifications.

Review of the main sink models

Based on their purpose and power, washers are divided into household and professional, which determines the price range. Classes are determined by marking:

• K - household (electric motor) - cost range 3.7-40 thousand rubles ;

• G - household (gasoline engines) - 30-70 thousand rubles ;

• HD - professional (without heating) - from 40 thousand rubles;

• HDS - professional (with heated water) - from 130 thousand rubles.

One of the popular areas is Karcher household car washes, small in size and power, for washing cars with an electric motor . Structurally they consist of:

• An electric motor operating from a single-phase network has a productive capacity of:

• 1.4-2.5 kW for household models with a working life of 150-300 hours

• 3-7 kW for premium household models , service life 300 hours.

• Motor pumps or pumping system - performance depends on its strength, namely the material of manufacture:

• plastic - used in low-power models that supply pressure of only 110 bar ;

• brass - an alloy of copper and aluminum - is characterized by increased strength and corrosion resistance, used in powerful household and low-power professional models;

• silumin - an alloy of aluminum with silicon - the most durable corrosion-resistant material, used in the most powerful models.

Video: How to choose a Karcher sink

Description, features, price and rating

Universal models are considered to be household electric washers. Easy to carry thanks to:

• optimal design;

• nominal weight 4.8-30.9 kg ;

• available type of energy carrier.

The line contains 7 models of different power, sizes and, accordingly, technical features.

K2 Compact - devices with a power of 1.4 kW with a brushed air-cooled motor and a high-pressure hose length of 3 meters . Unit weight 4.8 kg without wheelbase. The pump is made of high quality plastic. Low productivity, only 110 bar, determines the duration of work (15 minutes) and the intended use for washing bicycles, tools, and garden furniture. The stated service life is 100-150 hours.

K3 Compact - starting with this model, water-cooled asynchronous motors with a power of 1.8 kW . This allows you to work without stopping for up to 30 minutes. The length of the high pressure hose is 4 meters. Operates under pressure up to 130 bar. Enough power to wash a small car.

K4 Compact - the engine is similar to K3, but the length of the HP hose is increased to 6 m

K5 Compact, K5 700b, K5 Premium - a 2.1 kW motor , which allows you to provide a pressure of 140-145 bar. Starting from the K5 model, metal pumps are built in, most often brass due to their relatively low cost. Hose length is 7-9 meters with a winding system. The service life of such models is 350 hours. Starting with this model, the structure is mounted on a wheelbase.

K7 and K7 Premium - the 3 kW motor still runs on single-phase power, but when connected through an extension cord, power is lost. Provides pressure over 160 bar and 3 kW (220 W). A reinforced high-pressure hose is built into the system, which is marked with a yellow stripe.

Review of household high pressure washers

The most convenient devices for washing cars are those where the reservoir for household chemicals is located in the device body. The set should include 2 attachments - a standard one and a mud cutter. To choose the right mini-wash, you need to take into account the water intake - from a container or from a water supply. You should not buy air-cooled models - they overheat and often fail. The rankings highlight the best pressure washers for cars, cleaning, and other household tasks. The review was compiled according to customer reviews, the list includes top sellers.

Karcher K 5

The device can be used in horizontal and vertical positions. The sink has a water-cooled motor and an aluminum pump, which allows you to quickly clean any surface from dirt. The telescopic handle is easily adjustable in height, the equipment is mobile and takes up little space. Technical characteristics - jet pressure 145 bar, power 2.1 kW, productivity 500 l/h. There is a built-in water purification filter.

Karcher OC3

A compact high-pressure washer can be chosen for washing a car, bicycle, or motorcycle. The power type is a lithium-ion battery, which allows you to use the device anywhere. The liquid is sprayed through a fan nozzle; the volume of the water tank is 4 liters. Maximum operating pressure – 5 bar, capacity – 120 l/h.

Important! The kit includes a 3 m long hose.

Patriot GT340 Imperial

A powerful device for cleaning a car, garden plot, tools. Thanks to copper windings, the motor is protected from overheating. When stopping, the engine turns off automatically - the Total Stop system is activated. The sink operates from the mains, the pressure is 110 bar. The kit includes an extension cord, a spray nozzle, and a cleaning needle.

Nozzles and components, consumables

There are basic attachments, which are equipped with all types, and narrow ones, which can be purchased as needed.

• High pressure hose (supplies water directly to the gun). For power over 150 bar, a reinforced design is used;

• The low-pressure hose is designed to draw water either from a container or when connected to a water supply system; there are no special requirements;

• Spray gun , used for mixing detergents and dispensing under pressure;

• The foaming nozzle is used where a high degree of purity is required;

• Coarse and fine filters can be installed selectively, but their use eliminates a number of breakdowns associated with small debris getting into the spray nozzle.

, brushes for washing floors (tiles, stones) are also purchased They can be round or triangular in shape to cover the largest possible area.

Selection criteria when purchasing a mini washer

If the brand is determined, then in order to buy a Karcher high-pressure washer, you need to formulate the main selection criteria. These include:

• purchase budget;
• frequency of equipment use;
• availability of a source of water supply under pressure;
• the presence of impurities and contaminants in the water (the need for filtration).

In our opinion, choosing a mini-wash model should be based on the following considerations:

1. If you are considering a country use option (no more than 5-6 months a year) for washing one compact class car and if there is a source of water supply under pressure (the water itself must be free of foreign impurities) and the budget to buy a Karcher is limited, then the K2 model is suitable .
2. If the mini-wash is designed to be used for 2-3 cars in a family, is used constantly and there is a need to draw water from open tanks, then it is advisable to purchase a model from the K5 class.
3. If a car enthusiast is willing to pay for additional options and ease of use of the equipment: pressure regulation from a gun and display of the adjustment result on a liquid crystal display, an energy-saving start-stop function, an expanded set of accessories and accessories, then you can consider purchasing a model from the K7 class.

In any case, it is worth remembering that the stingy pays twice. Therefore, we advise you to be responsible when choosing a mini-wash and carefully weigh all the Pros and Cons before purchasing it, and not after.

Criteria for choosing a sink, tips for use

• Water supply

It is advisable to connect sinks K2 and K3 in the water supply system so that power is not wasted on pumping water; for more powerful models, the connection may consist of lowering the end of the water supply hose into a container located 60 cm above the level of the sink itself.

• Hose size

It doesn’t matter if the model is light to carry, but with a weight of 30 kg (despite the wheelbase), it is better to purchase a length of 7-9 meters; in general, 6-7 m is enough for washing a car.

• Chemistry

It is important to use the type of chemicals specified in the instructions, as some of them have a detrimental effect on plastic elements.

• Working hours

The choice of a Karcher car wash for washing a car should be based on the exact purpose, i.e. the duration of use; if 30 minutes of work with subsequent breaks is enough to wash a passenger car, then for regular washing of trucks you need the power of professional equipment. Failure to comply with these criteria will result in rapid wear and tear of the equipment.

Kärcher classification

Today, the word “Kärcher” mainly refers to mini-car washes that are based on a non-contact washing method. This method of cleaning allows you to completely eliminate the possibility of causing microdamages on the varnished or glass surface of the body, in contrast to the mechanical method, when, due to friction, solid dust particles leave abrasions, meshes, cobwebs or individual scratches on the paintwork of the car.

In a Karcher, high water pressure literally squeezes out dirt and dust from all secluded places and simply washes them off the surface. After this, you can use mechanical brush attachments for contact cleaning of more resistant dirt, which will be in a liquefied state. This increases efficiency and significantly reduces car wash time.

As development progressed, depending on the purpose and conditions of use, Karcher car washing equipment was constantly improved, and currently the range of this equipment can be divided into 3 different classes:

Miniwashers Karcher entry-level or compact class

These include washing units of series 2 and 3, for example, models Karcher K 2.110, K 2.38M, K 3.75MD, K 3.200, etc. Their main difference is their small size and low price. These devices are intended for individual use, occasional washing of small surfaces such as motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, and strollers, 1-2 times a week.

Unlike equipment of other classes, entry-level equipment has the following application and characteristics:

1. The low limit of the created pressure is up to 100-120 bar, which affects the speed of work and its duration. When using a unit to wash a car, a significant amount of effort and time will be spent.
2. Limited service life of the unit, since the washer is of low power and the pump is usually made of plastic.
3. Series 2 units require water to be supplied from the plumbing system or from a high-mounted container that ensures gravity flow, since they cannot suck water from tanks located below the level of the unit.
4. Models of the 2nd series do not have a system to protect the pump from overheating, so long-term and uninterrupted operation is contraindicated for them.

Video: Mini-washer karcher k2 vs karcher k3 / Pressure Washer k2 vs k3

Thus, compact Karchers are not fully suitable for washing cars; they can be effectively used for cleaning certain areas, for example, wheels, glass or optics.

Middle class mini washers

These include units of series 4 and 5, for example, Karcher K4.200, K5.200, K5.600, etc. These are the most popular devices used for domestic purposes for washing personal cars. They are optimally suited for washing 1-2 cars, done 1-2 times a week, as well as for washing other areas in small volumes.

The basis for the reliable and long-term operation of these devices is correct and careful operation, which ensures resource savings. The pump pump, made of durable silumin, ensures a much longer service life of the unit than plastic. The limit of the created water pressure at the nozzle outlet has been increased to 130-140 bar.

Sinks of this class can work with both cold and heated water up to 40C. In this case, water can be supplied both from the water supply system and from autonomous containers located at the same level as the unit or no more than half a meter lower. If water is drawn from a separate tank, then the supply hose must be equipped with a special check valve (K4.400-238.0), ensuring one-way water flow. If the water tank is located higher and flows by gravity, then a check valve is not needed.

Extra class mini washers

These include models of washing machines of the 6, 7 series and the Xpert series, for example, Karcher K 6.500, K7.750, Xpert HD 7140, etc. Samples from the Xpert and 7 series are close in their technical parameters to professional devices. The high-pressure pumps in these series of models have a brass body, which provides them with high strength and long service life. The engine power reaches 2.5-3 kW. They develop water pressure at the pump outlet of 150-160 bar.

Extra-class washing units can be used for washing and cleaning large areas, including trucks and buses. The usual mode of use of such mini-washes is 2-3 cars twice a week, in addition, they can be used for washing carpets, paths, swimming pools, etc.