Foam issue

Ferris

Basically I cannot get my foam to ,well, foam. It sprays too thin as per picture:



I've used both OAC and Elite autoclean foam at 5% dilution with an elite HD snow foam lance (as per picture below). The pressure washer is a new nilfisk C110. The water in my area would be reasonably hard. Anyone have any ideas?

Curran

Have you twisted the knob on the top, fully clockwise? Also, changing the fan of the spray can help thickness, twisting the nozzle at the tip.

*Kol*

Did you try using more foam to see if it improves?

Ferris

Yes Dave, I have tried both in nearly every way possible and I've never gotten it to improve. Kol, I have gone over the 5% on a couple of occasions and never got it to improve. I should add I have started to clean the lance out with APC after use also.

Foxhole Norman

Ferris wrote: »

Yes Dave, I have tried both in nearly every way possible and I've never gotten it to improve. Kol, I have gone over the 5% on a couple of occasions and never got it to improve. I should add I have started to clean the lance out with APC after use also.

The gauze could be knackered in it, would cause it to come out more like water.

Ferris

That might explain it, although the lance has hardly been used, I've only used 1L of snowfoam.

*Kol*

I probably overdo the foam and use about 20% dilution. One day I only had Demon foam and I used it neat!

Curran

If you failed to rinse out the lance after each use, even of only 1l of solution has been used, the gauze may be clogged. The snowfoam solution dries to a crud and blocks it. Can be removed and cleaned but not always successful. Replacements can be purchased

Ferris

Thanks lads, i'll try to clean filter so. Otherwise i'll be onto you Dave.

ianobrien

Curran wrote: »

If you failed to rinse out the lance after each use, even of only 1l of solution has been used, the gauze may be clogged. The snowfoam solution dries to a crud and blocks it. Can be removed and cleaned but not always successful. Replacements can be purchased

Is rinsing with water enough? I generally rinse the bottle out with water and then fill the bottle with water and run that through for 5/10 minutes. Is this OK or should the APC be broken out?

Curran

Water should be fine, but using APC every 3rd or 4th wash wouldnt do any harm!
I generally just screw off the bottle, as there is often plenty left it in, and using another bottle (doesnt have to fit), fill it with water, stick the suction tube into it and spray through for about 10 seconds - thats usually sufficient. Just so that the gauze doesnt dry out with snowfoam solution in it.

ianobrien

Thanks. I found the instructions online so I'll take my filter out and pop it into a descaler solution, just in case.

Mc Love

Curran wrote: »

If you failed to rinse out the lance after each use, even of only 1l of solution has been used, the gauze may be clogged. The snowfoam solution dries to a crud and blocks it. Can be removed and cleaned but not always successful. Replacements can be purchased

This happens to me so every time the foam comes out watery, I just have to use Kettle Degreaser to clean the gauze and the foam is thick as sh1t after it. I do clean out the lance after every wash and its only happened me once that the gauze needed cleaning. Dont take the lance apart unless you have the right tools, ended up buying a new one because it never went back right.

dar83

Another option if you want a good and proper foam with sticking power and your gauze isn't to blame, try adding a small blob of whatever shampoo you're using into the foam mixture. I usually have a bottle of AG Car Shampoo that I use for this purpose as it's easier than using a more costly higher ratio of actual snow foam to try and achieve a good lathery snow foam. Only a tiny bit will do wonders, literally a blob the size of your fingernail. Don't expect this to increase the actual effectiveness of the foam stage though, it generally only makes it a satisfying clingy foam that slowly draws down the car and doesn't leave you with disappointing foam results.

MetzgerMeister

If you have Meguiar's Hyperwash you can use this and it gives an excellent clingy foam.

Curran

Yiz are all about showing off...wanting shaving foam thick snowfoam! :P

Mc Love

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

If you have Meguiar's Hyperwash you can use this and it gives an excellent clingy foam.

I had that and used it on its own and was never impressed, maybe I was doing it wrong

vectra

Mc Love wrote: »

This happens to me so every time the foam comes out watery, I just have to use Kettle Degreaser to clean the gauze and the foam is thick as sh1t after it. I do clean out the lance after every wash and its only happened me once that the gauze needed cleaning. Dont take the lance apart unless you have the right tools, ended up buying a new one because it never went back right.

This happens to me every time I strip the lance.
For some reason the front adjuster always seems tight to twist. Any suggestions?