"Camilo" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in message
.. .

"VITO" wrote in message
om...
what variety of oil should i select for the pressure washer pump. I
haven't changed it yet this year. We have a Karcher 3500 hd. i'm sure
it's detergent free

Pressure washer pumps usually call for 30 weight non-detergent, which is
hard to find sometimes.
Home Depot sells plastic bottles of pump oil made for pressure washers.

Eisboch

What does non-detergent mean? What do you think would happen if regular
30W
automotive oil or even a multi vis was used? Just thinking ahead to what
I
might do some day.

Cam


Detergent oils contain additives to help keep contaminants and combustion
by-products in suspension in the oil. This keeps the engine cleaner and
reduces "sludge" buildup. Back in the "old days" before the advent of
detergent oils, a car engine built up crud to the point where oil returns
became plugged and hydraulic or mechanical lifters didn't get oil.
Clack-clack-clack. We used to mix up a batch of 50% oil and 50% kerosene and
run it in the engine for 15 minutes or so to clean out the sludge.

I am quite sure that the regular (detergent) oil in the pressure washer pump
would foam up prevent the pump from building pressure. It may, but I am not
sure, eventually wreck the pump. It would probably work - for a while.
Your pump may be different, but I've had three pressure washers - all called
for a pump oil (can't remember the name, but it is what Home Depot sells)
or, if you can't get the pump oil, use 30 weight, NON Detergent only.
Unfortunately, non-detergent oil is getting hard to find because there is so
little demand for it.

Eisboch