Easy Kleen pressure washers. How bad are they?

[screamin400]

I can pick up the one you guys see all over the place for just under 3k new. I have ready nothing good about them. Have you actually used one? I can also get a used Karcher a few years old for 3k with only 18 hours on it. Typically I would go for new but not thinking so after what I have been reading. What are your thoughts? No, I do not have enough use for a Hotsy etc. I wash one tractor.

 

[mrmikey]

I have no opinion of one over the other but a consideration may be if the used one, even tho it has low hours, could it have been run at all with no water? That's a sure way to fry them in short order.

 

[jonsstihl]

I have a 2700psi. had it for a couple years. comes with a kohler engine, no trouble yet but it isn't very old, I wash cars, tractor, four wheeler, but not every week. Probably run a tank or two per year. I got mine on sale for around 1300$ CAD you must be looking at a huge one for 3000$

I think the pumps are higher quality than the box store brands but not sure how they stack up to higher quality units at your price point. I couldn't justify one at 3000$. but I can run hot water (tap) through it up to 170 degrees according to the manual but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[George2615]

I have a 2700psi. had it for a couple years. comes with a kohler engine, no trouble yet but it isn't very old, I wash cars, tractor, four wheeler, but not every week. Probably run a tank or two per year. I got mine on sale for around 1300$ CAD you must be looking at a huge one for 3000$

I think the pumps are higher quality than the box store brands but not sure how they stack up to higher quality units at your price point. I couldn't justify one at 3000$. but I can run hot water (tap) through it up to 170 degrees according to the manual but I haven't tried it yet.

I'm guessing he's talking about an EasyKleen hot water washer though he didn't mention what model. Those seem to be in the 3K and up price range.

 

[5030]

With pressure washers, it's all about the pumps and the engines and how long they last. I always buy a ceramic plunger triplex pump because you can rebuild them and I prefer a HF pred engine because they are cheap to replace. Consequently, I built my own with an AR triplex pump and a Pred engine. Hoses and wands and tips are all generic anyway. If I required hot water wash (which I don't), I'd by a piggyback on hot water diesel fired boiler to add on the outlet of my cold water pressure washer.

Other thing to consider is taking care of the unit, especially where it drops to below freezing. If you leave water in a PW pump and it freezes, the pump is usually junk. Mine stays in a heated shop in the winter and I change my pump oil every time I change the engine oil. Keep in mind that pump oil and engine oil are 2 distinctly different lubricants as well. Pump oil has to be non detergent 30 weight whereas engine oil can be any multi grade detergent oil or whatever the engine builder recommends.

The one I built for myself is over 8 years old and I've had zero issues with it.

AR Triplex pumps (come from Italy) and CAT pumps are the best choices IMO.