Do Electric Pressure Washers Need Oil? With Helpful Tips

Have you ever wondered about the maintenance of your cleaning equipment? We’re here to shed light on one aspect that often confuses us. Is oiling a necessity or an option? Let’s find out.

Electric pressure washers do not need oil except for the pump. To maintain: store properly, clean after use, inspect the wiring. Change pump oil regularly to prevent thickening. Dispose of oil responsibly. Regular maintenance will extend life.

Are you wondering about the best ways to maintain your cleaning equipment? We’re addressing a common point of confusion and offering clear, actionable advice. Learn how to extend the life of your tools with our expert tips. Curious? Read on!

Changing the oil in your pressure washer

You risk electric pressure washer pump burn-out if you don’t change the oil as often as necessary. Thus, when conducting a maintenance routine on your machine, start by powering on the washer. The catch is that warm oil drains faster.

You are saving the stress of cleaning oil residue in the pump afterward. Next, switch off the engine, then remove the fill bolt and drain plug, respectively. Removing the drain bolt on top of the pump before anything else is to lower the pressure of oil pouring out from the pump.

Letting the oil drain into a container would avoid soil and groundwater pollution. Now, fix back the drain plug. The next thing you should do is refill the pump with brand new oil, not overfill it, lest leakage become an issue.

• Checking the Oil Level Before Powering On

Most importantly, check the oil level before powering on the washer. We recommend refilling up to 85 percent of the pump volume.  A dipstick should help you check the oil level, especially if your machine does not have an oil-check window.

Dry the pump using a cloth before powering it on the electric power washer. You can find pressure washer pump oil here.

How often should you change the oil in your pressure washer?

Changing pump oil in pressure washers improves the health of the machine, its functionality, and its longevity. But here comes the next question. How often should you do it? Depending on where you live, temperatures often affect the frequency of changing the oil in pressure washers.

The best advice for people in temperate regions is to change pump oil every spring.  You can also do it at the end of winter, given that a long spend of frost must have thickened the oil.  Thick frozen oil can damage your washer, forcing you to spend extra bucks on maintenance and repair.

What is the best oil for your power washer?

Choosing suitable oil for a pressure washer can be challenging, especially for a novice. From our end of the bargain, we would say that the consumption rate is equally important, apart from temperature, which plays a significant role.

From our experience with these machines, low-consumption pressure washer oils are often the best, significantly if you save money. Synthetic oil such as 5W-30 is a perfect example.

The catch is that the oil type matters; the 5W-30 type works best in temperatures below 20 and above 120 degrees. However, non-detergent pump oils are handy if engine oil does not meet your taste and preference. Non-detergent oils are ideal for pumps because they are clean.

• The Importance of Non-Detergent Oils

You should also note that non-detergent oils lubricate the pressure pump’s internal parts, giving it maximum protection from rust at all times. They are specifically recommended for high-pressure washer use.

Before choosing an oil, always refer to your owner’s manual to understand what oil my pressure washer uses. Remember, the motor oil used to cool and lubricate the engine of your pressure washer will significantly affect its performance and lifespan. So, choose wisely!

How does Pressure Washer Work: Electric Pressure Washers

You should note that the main difference between electric-powered and gasoline-powered pressure washers is their energy source. Both have a motor and a water pump. There are a few more differences, especially in the way they work.

Below, we walk you through the basics of electric pressure washers and how they work. Take a look.

• Water intake: After powering on the machine, an intake hosepipe is usually plugged into the washer, and a reservoir draws water into the electric pressure washer due to the pump’s suction power.
• Mixing: The pump then mixes incoming water with detergent (Note that you may not need detergent for some surfaces).
• Heating: Depending on your washer type, you may have to heat the water to a set temperature.
• Water exit: The next stage is pumping the water to an exit hose with a pressure nozzle.
• Use a suitable hose: If you want to pump water at a higher pressure, go for narrow hosepipes. It would help if you also turned up the motor power.  On the contrary, working with low pressure means you turn down the motor power and use a wider hose.

– Understanding the Basics of an Electric Power Washer

Understanding how an electric power washer works is essential because troubleshooting the machine for problems becomes easy.  Machines often develop mechanical hitches but woe onto those who cannot diagnose simple issues such as pump failure.

If you can identify a problem, it means you can fix it. Most importantly, explaining the issue to service providers who repair broken electric pressure washers is easy.

It also means that your washer will last longer because the sooner you discover a hitch, the timelier repair you seek to cushion it against further damage.

How to maintain your electric pressure washer

Because you should not oil the motor in your electric power washer, many people often ask, how do you maintain these machines? While oiling is only a tiny part of the maintenance routine, it does not mean you should sit and watch your machine waste away due to wear and tear.

You must undertake maintenance activities to ensure your electric power washer works well. We did some homework on this and sampled the following maintenance tips:

● Always store your power washer properly

Proper storage of any machine is an integral part of care and maintenance. With pressure washers- in this case, the electric variants-you should keep the machine in a cool and dry room. The danger with hot storage rooms is that plastic components can melt.

In the same way, storing electric pressure washers in cold rooms often causes deterioration of their plastic construction.

● You should clean and dry your washer after use

You don’t want to end up with an electric pressure whose functionality is compromised by dirt, water, and oil residue build-up. Thus, you should always clean and dry the machine after every use. This way, you maintain its performance integrity and improve its lifespan.

● Clear residue from the water pump

Water pumps are the workhorses of pressure washers, which means they get dirtier than any other component. You should, therefore, clean off soap residue from the pump after use. Any blockade will disrupt your washer’s proper function, whether in the water outlet or pump.

● The wiring system should be intact

Electric pressure washers have a wiring system. Therefore, any mishap in the system means the machine will stop working. Even more worrying is the fact that faulty wiring and naked wires can cause electrocution.  

You already know that water and electricity can be a recipe for an accident; hence, you must check the wiring system regularly to avoid accidents. Ensure proper ground circuit breaking when using the machine indoors and outdoors as an extra safety measure.

Proper disposal/recycling of used pump oil

For the records, note that used oil can be recycled and reused. It is only dirty but hardly wears out. But the question is, how should you recycle or dispose of used oil?  We know strict environmental laws will penalize you for improper oil disposal.

But don’t worry because we are here to advise accordingly. Pouring used oil in storm drains soil or throwing the can into disposal/trash bins is carelessness and lawlessness. You will be causing water and soil pollution, something that is illegal.

It is especially worrying in this century, given the growing concern over the pollution of water bodies. Thus, to reduce the threat of environmental pollution related to oil waste, you should do the following:

● Certified Collection Centers (CCC)

Countries that take proper disposal of used oil seriously have established Certified Collection Centers. They are places that the general public can access at any time and day.  If your country does not have such establishments, oil service stations should help with disposal.

However, because these centers receive massive volumes of used oil every day, call them in advance to book your space. The catch is that certified collection centers have a set gallon limit for waste oil they collect daily.

Remarks

Most electric pressure washers have plastic bodies; hence, oiling is only essential for the water pump. Most importantly, changing pump oil ensures the optimal functioning of your machine and its longevity.

Timely maintenance of the machine components prevents unwanted breakdowns and saves you from repair expenses.