Pressure Washer Pump Protector - Anyone Use It?

[bulletpruf]

I have a Harbor Freight gas pressure washer at the shop and an electric pressure washer at home. My gas powered unit gets started and hooked up to water every 90 days. It starts easily, but it usually takes a minute or two of running before it starts pressurizing water and actually operating, so I think the pump internals are rusty.

Does anyone use pressure washer pump protector? If so, does that seem to help?

 

[Steel_Rain]

I have two gas, and one electric pressure washer. Both the gas units are Honda GX engines with CAT pumps. These get used 2-4 times a year each and I've used CAT pump protectors on them with no issues for the last 3 years (since about mid-2023):

Pressure Washer Pump Protector | CAT Pumps PU6208 | Kleen-Rite

Pressure washer pump protector is a lubricating formula for winterizing and storing high-pressure pumps. From CAT Pumps. Single 12 ounce bottle.

www.catpumpsandparts.com

The electric one is a Karcher light duty unit I use for small items around the house for the last 2-years. For that, I just spray in the water inlet with this stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-12346241-Synthetic-Multi-Purpose-Lubricant/dp/B007Q9QT5I?tag=atomicindus08-20

Bottom line is that all these "pump savers" use a common chemical base...propylene glycol. You want that because these pumps need a lubricant and anti-freeze post use.

Whatever you decide, spray it with something, even WD40, when your done using it and let the pump drain before you do. It will help save the pump guts. Many, many pump failures are due to incorrect post usage storage practices (lack of care / climate) along with hard water.

 

[Beerhippie]

The only problems I have with our two is some idiot leaving them in an unheated environment when below freezing. I try to keep the gasoline PW in the shop and the electric in the brewhouse.

"Below freezing" can happen any night of the year around here and it can be difficult to get new employees to believe that--like all the optimists and newcomers who are planting elaborate kitchen gardens right now.

 

[gagecalman]

I do as well. Every time I'm done with it. Squirt some in and pull the cord a few times and add another squirt.
The last one I bought was STA-BIL pump protector.

Also unless yours has an external bypass never let it run more than a minute or two without the trigger being pulled. The recirculating water gets hot and is very hard on the pump.

 

[danski0224]

Does anyone use pressure washer pump protector?

Yes. I use RV antifreeze, pumped in with a drill operated pump.

Just pulling the cord or turning the bottle upside down won't clear the water from the pressure washer plumbing on mine.

I don't use the pressure washer often, so it gets the treatment after each use.

Have read that drying water in the pump leaves mineral deposits that ruin the seals.

 

[Jay870]

Just once a year as part of winterizing on my Active 2.0 electric unit... or in other words I use it for the freeze protection, not as a routine lubricant.

 

[bulletpruf]

I do as well. Every time I'm done with it. Squirt some in and pull the cord a few times and add another squirt.
The last one I bought was STA-BIL pump protector.

Also unless yours has an external bypass never let it run more than a minute or two without the trigger being pulled. The recirculating water gets hot and is very hard on the pump.

Didn't realize that. Thank for the tip.

 

[MoonRise]

I use some after every use, since I don't know when the next use will be.

Lubes the pump somewhat, displaces residual water somewhat, and adds some freeze protection.

Squirt some in until it comes out of the output hose connection of the pump (high pressure hose disconnected from the pump and gravity drained, if I'm feeling ambitious I'll run a blow gun with the rubber cone tip and the air hose from the air compressor to really blow out any residual water from the high pressure hose), pull the starting cord to turn the gas engine over a turn or two, add another squirt so some more protector fluid comes out of the output hose connection of the pump. Done.

The gun/Lance is also disconnected and drained before storage, spray tips disconnected too. Blow gun and some compressed air through the gun/Lance too before storage, amazing how much water comes out of the Lance and HP hose even after gravity draining for a while.

 

[zendriver]

My experience, if a pressure washer takes a while to come up. It’s because it has air in it.

I will use protective in the gas power washerin the winter time be cause it stored outside

Probablycan’t hard to hit regularly

 

[gizardlizard]

I’ve rebuilt hundreds of pressure washer pumps. Do this and they will not fail unless it’s a mechanical issue: after every use, kill the ignition and pull the rip cord a few times to displace as much water as possible. Screw on the aerosol can of pump saver and depress button until remaining water is out and you see foam coming out. One can of pump saver lasts years. Store pressure washer until it’s needed next. When you do this, you are displacing water and conditioning the seals. If water remains in the pump for a decent amount of time, as it dries up, the minerals are left behind and can eat away at the pump seals. Have you ever seen a pressure washer hose “chatter” on the ground while using it? Pump damage. Use the pump saver and the pump can last indefinitely.

 

[JeepYJ]

I have a gas and an electric. After every use I run some pump protector or RV antifreeze through the pump. The gasser is over 20 years old now and is still going.