Karcher 3200 Honda Power Washer-- New disgusted with the reliability

[Cavjock22]

I have been wanting a power washer for the last several years to both use around the house and the ranch. Through a rewards program at work I ordered the 3200 power with a Honda . I began using this on Friday. on Saturday morning I went to use it again and I had oil flow out of the dipstick tube. The oil looked very black and thin. my only guess is somehow there was water getting into the crankcase. I had several projects to use it for this weekend and being I can't call about warranty till Monday I decided to suck the oil out and put fresh oil in it and see what happens. I proceeded to use it again on Saturday and it also made oil but this time it did not get black and not near as much. The wand then started leaking midday Saturday. Look to be a faulty a ring on one of the fittings. I then began having problems with the 15" surface washer attachment that I purchased of the same brand. The pump began cavitating when I tried to use the attachment. After looking into my problem I realized that the Tips we're getting plugged up with small pieces of metal. The metal was coming from the actual surface washer attachment where the threads were not cleaned out correctly. I had to remove both tips flush the pipes several times to get all of the metal threads out of the system. With approximately $500 power washer I'm very disappointed with the problems I had in the first two days of use.

I guess I'm just venting here. Things aren't just not made like they should be or like they used to be.
on a good note the 15 inch surface washer attachment is pretty awesome when it works for cleaning driveways and patios..

 

[Dave M7040]

Does the unit have the high quality Honda engine or the cheapo consumer engine.

Best engine has model number starting GX and the cheapo GC.

When it comes to pressure washers you get what you pay for.

A good pump will cost over $300 and a good engine close to $1,000 so if you have a $500 unit including gun, hose and cart, it is all cheap stuff mushed together.

Karcher is used to making throw away units that you see at the curb side in our area.

If you can return it and get your $ back do so and then save the additional $ to buy a serious unit.

Dave M7040

 

[Gator6x4]

Here is a good explanation of the difference between Honda GC and GX series engines.
Honda GX versus GC Engines used on Ventry Ventilation Fans – Ventry Solutions

I too once upon a time purchased a Karcher Power Washer. Got it home, took it out of the box and during assembly found the metal tube for the wand was missing. Called Karcher Customer Support. Was told they could not ship the metal tube as a warranty item they would have to have a credit card number to charge the item to.

I declined there generous offer and I was asked what I was going to do with the unit without the metal tube for the wand. I informed the gentleman I was taking it back to Costco and after telling them Karcher would not warranty missing parts I know they would not warranty a defect and demand my money back.

Costco refunded my money. I don't think Costco sells Karcher Pressure Washers now.

Good luck with the Washer. The puzzling thing is we're is the extra oil coming from. The pump and engine are separate units and each has it own seals. Now if you are mistakenly checking the pump oil level you could see a fluid increase due to water contamination. It be hard for water to get into the engine crankcase unless Karcher has a different engine pump design now from other Washer units.

 

[Code54]

Fuel in the oil perhaps?

 

[Cavjock22]

I have the Honda GC190 engine, in fact i have the unit G3225 OH pictured above. I ran it today for several hrs and the oil checked OK with no dilution. I don't understand it either. No this pump is maint free. There is no oil reservoir for the pump. The power washer cost me nothing since it came as a reward program from work. I guess I'll live with it and see how long it lasts...

 

[Dave M7040]

Here is a good explanation of the difference between Honda GC and GX series engines.
Honda GX versus GC Engines used on Ventry Ventilation Fans – Ventry Solutions

I too once upon a time purchased a Karcher Power Washer. Got it home, took it out of the box and during assembly found the metal tube for the wand was missing. Called Karcher Customer Support. Was told they could not ship the metal tube as a warranty item they would have to have a credit card number to charge the item to.

I declined there generous offer and I was asked what I was going to do with the unit without the metal tube for the wand. I informed the gentleman I was taking it back to Costco and after telling them Karcher would not warranty missing parts I know they would not warranty a defect and demand my money back.

Costco refunded my money. I don't think Costco sells Karcher Pressure Washers now.

Good luck with the Washer. The puzzling thing is we're is the extra oil coming from. The pump and engine are separate units and each has it own seals. Now if you are mistakenly checking the pump oil level you could see a fluid increase due to water contamination. It be hard for water to get into the engine crankcase unless Karcher has a different engine pump design now from other Washer units.

Gator

The link to the Honda power fire fighting fans was an excellent explanation of the differences between the two Honda engine families.

When Honda introduced the GC engine, I felt like they took a big step backwards, took their excellent reputation and cheapened it.

Now many buyers who are not knowledgeable end up with the GC engine and cannot understand when it starts to age quickly or have problems like rising crankcase oil levels caused by gasoline getting into the cylinder.

Another member on this forum who worked in a tool rental place, said he sees problems frequently with their equipment always being transported and gas ending up in the oil when there is no fuel shutoff valve. Constant jostling causes the carb float to fail to keep the level in the carb at the correct level and the gasoline drains into the cylinder and then into the crankcase.

Adding a fuel shut off valve would go a long way to avoid big damage as diluted oil does not lubricate well .

Dave M7040

 

[4570Man]

I have two of these pressure washers. The pump went down on one, and the nozzle doesn't work good on the other. The hoses are junk on both of them. I've never had any trouble out of the Honda GC engines. I own 4 of them and another GX engine.

 

[Cavjock22]

Is the gas getting into the cylinder wall caused by not letting the cylinder/piston seat in well? I had the same problem with a Yahmaha outboard until i ran the piss out of it. Yes, I also was fooled with the name honda. I was unaware of there cheaper line. Thanks Gator for the quick reference.

 

[Dave M7040]

Is the gas getting into the cylinder wall caused by not letting the cylinder/piston seat in well?


No, the problem comes from the GC engine usually not having a gas shut off valve in the gas line.

We are talking about gasoline as a liquid, not a gas air mixture in a cylinder. the carb floods, liquid gas over flows into the carb throat and then into the cylinder. It easily passes the rings through the ring ends gaps and now it is into the crankcase.

3. GX-series have fuel-shutoff valve so that if they are run infrequently you can run the fuel out, which is easier on the carburetor. Shutting off the fuel valve also prevents the accidental mixing of oil and fuel which can happen if the motor is jostled a lot (for example, when a fan is carried on a truck over bumpy roads).

Dave M7040

 

[crazyal]

My log splitter has a Honda GC on it, starts right up with no issues. Had it since 2003 and it splits about 15 cord of wood a year. It's a vertical shaft engine, like a push mower would have. It has the fuel shut off but it's in the rubber fuel line, not in the panel with the choke like my GX Honda has. The choke is also just a piece of wire with a loop for your finger. Each season I change the oil. I figure the engine has about 400 hours on it now and still doesn't burn a drop of oil. As long as you maintain it I bet it will last a very long time. After all you are not going to run the pressure washer for 6 hours every weekday like a professional would. If you don't have a fuel shut off valve but can see the rubber fuel hose I would add one. I always shut off the fuel and let it run to suck all the fuel out of bowl when I'm done using it for extended periods of time. But that's more for problems with the ethanol than anything else.