Kärcher foam attachment, is it necessary?

Reflective

I've owned a Kärcher pressure washer for quite some time (one of the earlier models), and it comes with a fluid reservoir built into the unit. The main solutions I've been using would be non-foam based fluids (for car washing primarily), as I was under the impression that I would need to have a foam nozzle attachment equipped for those to function (only came to my attention recently that those actually exist).

However, looking at their newer models, it seems like its a necessity as most (if not all) don't have the built in reservoir (aside from their purpose-built fluid containers).

I'd like to give a foaming solution a try for a deeper clean; have a car that hasn't been washed in a long while, so I'm feeling that it'll require more than a single wash to clean it thoroughly otherwise.

Does anyone know whether or not it will successfully foam up like the attachment units on these newer models? Without the pressure gun/nozzle (or on it's lowest setting), it takes the liquid from the reservoir in a similar fashion as the foam attachments illustrate.

Curran

Built in reservoirs or "foam" attachments that come with domestic pressure washers are not up to the job of creating a thick layer of foam that will dwell for several minutes.

VictorRomeo

Yep. it does work well. I also recommend Karcher's Ultra Foam detergent foams up great too...

To be clear tho, this is what I use;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diy-K%C3%A4rcher-FJ10-Connect-shampoo-2-643-144-0/dp/B00HH9QI6W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461494511&sr=8-4&keywords=karcher+snow+foam

Reflective

Curran wrote: »

Built in reservoirs or "foam" attachments that come with domestic pressure washers are not up to the job of creating a thick layer of foam that will dwell for several minutes.

To be honest, I'm just looking for an at-home temporary solution and would like to give it a try. The other solutions I use work fine for regular maintenance but I might have to bring this one to a detailer, get it cleaned/clayed/polished/sealed etc.

VictorRomeo wrote: »

Yep. it does work well. I also recommend Karcher's Ultra Foam detergent foams up great too...

Hm, it's not the attachment that I'm looking for. If you're referring to the fluid itself, I might be inclined to try a new solution. Otherwise, I don't feel like spending the additional for a single use scenario - will be purchasing a new pressure washer and other detailing equipment in the near future.

VictorRomeo

Ah. Well then the fluid along in your machine's tank probably wont do it. the nozzle is cheap enough though and with their fluid, works a treat.

shietpilot

VictorRomeo wrote: »

Yep. it does work well. I also recommend Karcher's Ultra Foam detergent foams up great too...

To be clear tho, this is what I use;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diy-K%C3%A4rcher-FJ10-Connect-shampoo-2-643-144-0/dp/B00HH9QI6W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461494511&sr=8-4&keywords=karcher+snow+foam

This foam lance should be good. The smaller version with no adjustable knob that comes with some of the Karcher pressure washers is rubbish though. It's as good as mixing water with shampoo.

Curran

VictorRomeo wrote: »

Yep. it does work well. I also recommend Karcher's Ultra Foam detergent foams up great too...

To be clear tho, this is what I use;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diy-K%C3%A4rcher-FJ10-Connect-shampoo-2-643-144-0/dp/B00HH9QI6W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461494511&sr=8-4&keywords=karcher+snow+foam

Just looked at a video or two, and it seems to perform reasonably well.

Just a quick question; does it look like its a serviceable part? Can it be taken apart if the gauze were to get clogged, so it can be changed?

*Kol*

Curran wrote: »

Just looked at a video or two, and it seems to perform reasonably well.

Just a quick question; does it look like its a serviceable part? Can it be taken apart if the gauze were to get clogged, so it can be changed?

I have the one with the grey tank. It looks like the nozzle will come off to get at the gauze, though I haven't tried to remove it. You have to be careful which Karcher foam attachment you buy. Some of them used to have a perforated plastic disk in the nozzle instead of gauze.

philstar

*Kol* wrote: »

be careful which Karcher foam attachment you buy. Some of them used to have a perforated plastic disk in the nozzle instead of gauze.

is that good or bad ?

*Kol*

philstar wrote: »

is that good or bad ?

The gauze would be better to produce foam.

GustavoFring

My lance isnt working and I used the Karcher lance on the father's car last week. To be brutally honest apart from using more detergent to create the foam I was hard pressed to tell the difference.

Curran

Out of curiosity, how much extra solution was needed? 1.5 times, double?

*Kol*

The Karcher lance has a smaller bottle than other lances. The amount of solution required is probably not much different than others.

SBPhoto

I use the Karcher Lance all the time for for snow foaming and find it very good. I got the small container with the Washer when i bought but bought a bigger Lance recently which holds double the amount, I use the solution mix as directed and get very good thick snow foam no problem.

*Kol*

Curran wrote: »

Just looked at a video or two, and it seems to perform reasonably well.

Just a quick question; does it look like its a serviceable part? Can it be taken apart if the gauze were to get clogged, so it can be changed?

I just took mine apart. It was easy to do. The gauze is about 15mm in diameter. Is that a standard size?

fryup

VictorRomeo wrote: »

Yep. it does work well. I also recommend Karcher's Ultra Foam detergent foams up great too...

To be clear tho, this is what I use;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diy-K%C3%A4rcher-FJ10-Connect-shampoo-2-643-144-0/dp/B00HH9QI6W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461494511&sr=8-4&keywords=karcher+snow+foam

do you have to dilute the solution the lance comes with ?? how many washes does one bottle do??

GustavoFring

Curran wrote: »

Out of curiosity, how much extra solution was needed? 1.5 times, double?

I didn't measure it scientifically tbh but if I had to guess 1.5 times the amount? There was a lot of soot on it and I gave it two shots of snow foam which I would normally do and I had to top up the lance for the second one.

Odyssey 2005

Halfords have a K2 I think it's called. The one with the foam bottle in the box for €110. Is this a decent price. My poor Kranzle has given up the ghost after 19 years

shietpilot

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Halfords have a K2 I think it's called. The one with the foam bottle in the box for €110. Is this a decent price. My poor Kranzle has given up the ghost after 19 years

That foam attachment is rubbish though. It just soaps the car up, not foams it

*Kol*

shietpilot wrote: »

That foam attachment is rubbish though. It just soaps the car up, not foams it

I use the Karcher foam attachment with 50Cal foam. It works very well.

shietpilot

*Kol* wrote: »

I use the Karcher foam attachment with 50Cal foam. It works very well.

Which attachment are you talking about? There are 2.

The good:


The ball of ****e:


I have both and the first one is absolutely amazing. The second just soaps up the water.

SBPhoto

This is the one i use and find it excellent

*Kol*

shietpilot wrote: »

Which attachment are you talking about? There are 2.

The good:


The ball of ****e:


I have both and the first one is absolutely amazing. The second just soaps up the water.

I have this one

shietpilot

Yeah, that's probably better than the one I posted because you can adjust the thickness of the foam. The non-adjustable one is a complete waste of time though

Odyssey 2005

Looks like I should get the cheapest washer and look for the adjustable foam Lance???