How to wash a car with a pressure washer
Bring the car wash home effortlessly, by using a pressure washer. With a little care and our instructions, you’ll get great results.
21.11.2025
Why would I wash my car with a pressure washer?
A high-pressure cleaner uses water, directed at high pressure, to effectively remove dirt from your car, saving you a great deal of effort in washing the entire body of the vehicle by hand. However, to avoid causing damage there are a few things to consider when using a pressure washer on your car.
Wash a car with a pressure washer: choosing the right device
When selecting a pressure washer to clean your car, the first thing to consider is how easy the tool is to handle and manoeuvre, as you’ll need to move it around frequently to wash your whole car. So lightweight design is an advantage here: the RE 90, for example, weighs just 9.8 kilograms.
Another factor that affects how well the pressure washer will wash your car is the water pressure available – you need a minimum of 80 bar, but it need not be above 200 bar. It is not only the pressure level that determines how effective the clean will be though, but also the amount of water delivered. The pressure washer you choose should have a throughput of 300 to 500 litres per hour. It’s also useful if you can attach a wash brush for cleaning your car – all STIHL pressure washers feature this capability.
Tips for pressure washing a car
When you wash your car, you should not expose it to dramatic changes of temperature. That means it’s best to avoid using a pressure washer on it in winter if temperatures are below -10°C, as there is a chance that spraying warm water onto the cold surface could cause fine cracks in the paintwork. Conversely, in hot summer conditions you should wash your car either in the morning or in the evening: the aim is to avoid shocking sun-heated paint with cool water. We would essentially advise against hand washing your car or taking it to the car wash when temperatures are very high or very low.
To protect the finish of your car, you should only apply the jet of the pressure washer at a shallow angle to the exterior paint and start at a low pressure setting. Be sure to keep the washer a sufficient distance from the car bodywork (at least 30 centimetres). If you need to, gradually increase the pressure until it effectively removes dirt – however, remember that excessively high pressure (over 200 bar) may damage the paint.
Is it allowed to wash the car with a pressure washer?
Washing the car with a pressure washer on your own property or on the open road is not allowed everywhere. The water jet can loosen oil from the car, causing the oily water to get into the ground, water bodies or sewage system. Even the oil-free wastewater must not be allowed to run off into the sewage system or an open body of water. Both would pollute and endanger the environment.
For this reason, car washing is often only allowed in places with an oil separator in the water drain, such as car wash facilities. To protect the environment, we recommend that you only clean your car in car washes that are approved for this purpose. In any case, find out about the applicable rules in your municipality before you start washing your car.
Washing a car: Legal
Car washing on private property is only permitted under strict legal conditions. Therefore, please observe the local regulations regarding the permissibility of car washing. To be on the safe side, find out about the relevant regulations from your local municipality.
Washing the engine with a high-pressure cleaner
Engine washing is prohibited wherever there is no oil separator. Therefore, washing a car engine with a pressure washer may not be carried out on private property or on a road, nor in most self-service car wash boxes. Find out in advance where you are allowed to perform engine washing.
Wash a car with a pressure washer: step-by-step instructions
Working with powerful tools is fun and means you can extend your abilities, which is great as long as you are relying on effective and safe protective clothing while using them. Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with pressure washers. This includes safety glasses, ear protection and more. Please see the operating instructions for your product for further details. Before you wash with your pressure washer for the first time, you should thoroughly familiarise yourself with the tool and ensure it is in flawless condition before each use. On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your tool for its first use, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working techniques.
First remove any loose, coarse matter such as leaves or twigs from your car by hand. Doing this means that the woody material will not scratch the paint when you use the pressure washer on the car.
Now, you can get to work with the pressure washer. Use the fan jet nozzle and start at the lowest pressure setting; be sure to always maintain a minimum distance of 30 cm from the car so that you do not damage the paint or the delicate rubber parts. With the water jet directed so that it is at a shallow angle to your car, rinse away any coarse dirt. Rims and tyres can also be rinsed with the high-pressure cleaner. Rubber elements should not have strong jets of water pointed directly onto them during this process.
If your wheel rims are very dirty, apply some wheel rim cleaner to them. Pour some car shampoo into the spray set as directed in the instructions for use, then secure the spray set to the pressure washer. Now spray the cleaning agent all over the car’s metal areas and paintwork: avoid spraying it onto windows and mirrors as car shampoo contains wax which is not suitable for those surfaces. Leave the cleaning agent to work for a few minutes.
Attach the wash brush to the pressure washer and use it to wash the car – alternatively, you can use a soft sponge. Use the same method to clean the wheel rims, where the cleaning agent should have released the dirt.
Rinse off your car with plain water from the pressure washer until no dirt or cleaning agent remain. Dry the body of the car with a soft cloth or a chamois.
Summary: how to wash a car with a pressure washer
- You can wash your car effortlessly and efficiently using a pressure washer
- Always wear personal protective equipment while you work, as directed in your operating instructions
- When washing your car, use a low pressure setting on your pressure washer, hold it at a shallow angle to the vehicle and ensure that it is a sufficient distance from the surface so that the paint is not damaged. Use the fan jet nozzle
- First remove leaves and twigs by hand. Then rinse the car with the pressure washer to remove coarse dirt
- Spray car shampoo onto paintwork and treat stubborn dirt on the wheel rims with wheel rim cleaner. Attach a wash brush to the pressure washer to gently wash the car, or alternatively use a soft sponge. Finally, rinse the car with plain water and dry thoroughly
The right time to wash your car is when it is not exposed to any extremes of temperature. So in summer, mornings and evenings are better, and in very low temperatures it is best not to wash the car. This avoids paintwork damage caused by thermal shock.
You should use the fan jet nozzle on your pressure washer to clean a car.
A pressure washer can damage car paint if used incorrectly. Work with a fan jet nozzle at the lowest pressure setting that is effective (never go above 200 bar), and ensure you apply the water jet at a shallow angle to paintwork, not directly into it.
Your pressure washer needs a minimum of 1150 PSI to clean a car. Anything over 3000 PSI risks damaging your car.
Though you can pressure wash a car engine, it is not recommended. Many of the components of an engine are likely to be damaged by high pressure or water ingress.
