Pressure Washer & Small Engine Maintenance

The topics covered in this video apply to most small engines.
Change the oil, use pump saver, check the air filter, adjust the water pressure, and use ethanol-free gas.
0:00 - Intro
0:59 - Overfilling
1:57 - Oil Change
7:17 - Pump Saver
11:59 - The right way to turn it off
13:21 - Pressure Adjustment
14:21 - Air Filter
17:15 - The gas I use
18:00 - Science Lesson 1 - Use soap to clean up oil
19:05 - Science Lesson 2 - The pH scale

[@jjyemg2397]

you're not running water while you run the fuel empty. This will damage pump. Also, shutting the valve and letting it quit does not drain the carburetor. You have to open the bowl drain or remove the bowl to get all the gas out of the carburetor

[@lindamoccia6583]

Wow excellent video good job

[@6058jeremysmith]

Thank you very much Mike .. For a thoroughly educational video…

[@MikeM100]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comments.

[@MrFresh559]

Thanks for the help brother . Just got mine today and I was lost and now I know how everything works thanks 😊

[@MikeM100]

Cool. Thanks for watching. I've had mine for 2 years and change the oil every 4-6 months, use it at least once a week, and it is still going strong.

[@jjolsness2593]

Just found this brand new at Lowe’s for $150 cause it had no box. Thank you for such a great video ! 💪

[@MikeM100]

That's a steal. I paid $297. Good luck with it. Thanks for watching. They last if cared for. I use mine almost every week for the last 2 years and it always cranks on the first or second pull.

[@sampozzi2746]

Much help on this video. !!!

[@MikeM100]

Thank you.

[@andraecarter76]

Again. GREAT JOB.

[@MikeM100]

Thank you. I appreciate you watching.

[@saintnificent5532]

Just bought this unit at Lowes. $350. Not that heavy duty, I will have to be gentle with it! Good Info here, bookmarked it, Thanks!

[@MikeM100]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I made that video about 18 months ago and our washer is still going strong. My son used it to pressure wash driveways and houses all summer and made many thousands of dollars. It could use some improvement, but it's not bad for the money.

[@llukazllukaz1878]

What is the second oil caps purpose. I know one is to check the oil level with the dip stick but what is the other cap used for?

[@MikeM100]

No purpose that I have been able to find. They just included a second cap. Both caps expose the same oil reservoir.

[@ml1062]

i just got this exact washer and used it for the first time yesterday. It took A LOT of effort to get it started but I finally got it running. I went to use it again today and it will not start. Again, it's a brand new unit and it shouldn't be this hard to run. I added oil and checked the level, am using fresh 91 octane gas and have the settings as you've indicated. I've even replaced the spark plug. This is very frustrating. MY 12 year-old lawnmower started on the second pull after being stored all winter. I'm not impressed with this Briggs unit and regret buying it.

[@MikeM100]

If I were you I would take it back to the store and complain. I own two of these units and they always crank on the first or second pull and I've never had any trouble with them. You got a lemon.

[@dsensat]

I have the 2800 psi pressure washer with the same engine. I put about 17 ounces of the 18 ounce bottle that came with it. I’ve ran it for a total of about 4 hrs over the month I’ve had it. Today I wanted to see if the oil level was ok. I noticed the bottle of the cap had oil on it and it was above the full mark. I wiped off the dip stick and checked again with the same results. I also noticed oil was at one edge of where you put the oil in. I was just wondering if you ever had this issue. I just thought as I was writing this that maybe the ground wasn’t quite level so I’ll check that tomorrow.

[@MikeM100]

That has happened with me as well. Those small engines are not precision machines, and the resting position of some of the internal parts may affect the observed level of oil. You definitely need to check the oil on level ground. Just remember how much oil you put in. If it has not been leaking or smoking then it probably still has the amount you added. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@dsensat]

@@MikeM100 thank you so much for your reply. I couldn’t seem to find anything on this so I was really glad I came across this video and the other one you did as well they were very helpful. I did check it again today on a level surface and that was the problem I was having with it showing it had to much oil. Thanks again for your help.

[@nancyh9030]

Great video, I learned stuff! Do you use pump saver after every use or just in the winter? Also, my Craftsman 3000, which is new to me, is from 2009. Do you think I should attempt a pump oil change? Thanks so much!

[@MikeM100]

I typically use pump saver about every other use. Year round. And I change the oil at least 4 times a year. My oldest washer is 8 years old and still going strong.

[@nancyh9030]

@@MikeM100 The manual for my pressure washer says the pump oil, not the engine's oil, should never need to be changed due to it being sealed. Is that the one you were talking about? Good to know about 4X per year. I've never done more than one time per season on my poor equipment.

[@MikeM100]

That is correct about the pump oil. You should never open the seal on the pump. Pumpsaver is meant to be run through the pump as I showed in the video. It is a lubricant that oils the path that the water runs through. Just a few squirts before and after every other use should suffice.

[@docky1456]

Just got a 3300psi 2.4gpm at Lowe’s bc someone was dumb and thought it was broken. Paid $260 for a $500+ machine. Works mint

[@MikeM100]

Cool. You got a really good deal on that. Mine is still working great after 2 years.

[@reginaldoakley8348]

When I remove my oil cap , gasoline floods out of it…it’s pretty much brand new…do you have any idea why this might be…it’s a CR950 like this one

[@MikeM100]

I'm not sure what causes it, but it's happened to me also with this same washer. The pull cord would not pull out and I thought it was locked up. I emptied the oil and refilled it and turned the shaft with a wrench and socket about a dozen times, them emptied and refilled the oil again and it was ok.

[@saintnificent5532]

@@MikeM100 Huh? Good to know. I haven't even gassed mine up yet. Sounds like that gas shut off switch doesn't shut off all the way even when you run out the gas line as in This vid. Might look into an inline switch if this happens to mine!

[@MikeM100]

@@saintnificent5532 Even with that problem, this has been a great washer. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@tomc2692]

Same problem for me. Washer is 8 months only old, its been stored for last 4 month. I left some gas in it and left the gas value on. I like how you run the gas dry in the video, (lesson learned!). I think the gas leaked past the carb needle float valve and flooded into the oil. What do you think?

[@rogerzindler8144]

@@tomc2692 that's exactly what happened. After using the unit, and then shutting it off, the float inside the carburetor didn't properly push the needle to seal against the needle seat, therefore, the gas keeps flowing from the gas tank, which is higher than the carb, flooded the carb and then flooded into the intake and into the motor. I've worked a couple of these which that happened. Even a new carb can have a faulty needle and seat. This is why you should ALWAYS turn the gas valve off after using, as he mentioned in the video.

[@lutherfieldsjr6020]

I went to check the oil on my pressure washer and water 💧 shot out of it. Is this a serious problem? I've only used it only about four times

[@MikeM100]

Yep. That's a serious problem. You should return it to the store. Sounds like the engine block is cracked.

[@BlkTechMobileServicesL.L.C.]

🔥

[@jaemock9016]

Clean this particular pressure washer carburetor.?

[@MikeM100]

I usually just spray some carb cleaner into it about once a month and it keeps running fine. If you let it set over the winter, then the carb may need to be removed and cleaned out. I've had the unit in the video for 2 years and never removed the carb to clean it. It usually cranks first pull. I still use it once a week more more.

[@racheldipirro3928]

Thank you! I have never had an engine with two oil caps on it and I was worried I would do something wrong putting the oil in it. you explained it perfectly and now i'm ready to get it washing!

[@MikeM100]

I'm glad I could help. A lot of the smaller consumer quality pressure washers have two oil caps because they are based on the same Briggs and Stratton engine design. Thanks for watching.

[@alexishigdon8465]

Thank you Mike. I bet you are a school teacher. For me, you explained all the things I needed to know about using my new power washer (the same as yours). You covered topics thoroughly and clearly, complete with tips. Would be able to make a video on how to use the soap dispenser? thank you!

[@MikeM100]

Alexis, thanks for the nice comments. I'm not a school teacher. I'm an odd mix of software engineer, farmer, and writer. Will work on the soap dispenser video and comment back to you when it's done. I appreciate you watching.

[@philsutton1632]

My pressure washer will not start and the carburetor needs to be cleaned. How do I clean it. I tried spraying it with carburetor cleaner with no luck.

[@MikeM100]

If carb cleaner won't clean it, then you probably need to take it off and clean it manually. Sounds like one of your valves is clogged up or maybe the gas gelled in it. If you have never done that before make sure you are careful with all the parts because some are really small and easily lost. Soaking all the parts in clean gas and/or spraying everything off with carb cleaner should clean it good. If you do that, make sure you spray cleaner into all the small valve holes. Good luck.

[@philsutton1632]

@Mike Moncrief ok, thanks... I did already do that, but I will do it again.

[@MikeM100]

You may also want to remove your spark plug and make sure the electrode is clean. You could also try removing the air filter and spraying some starting fluid directly into the air intake. That usually helps to get the engine turning, which creates a vacuum in the fuel lines and sometimes helps to pull anything blocking the lines into the ignition chamber.

[@rayaguilar9085]

Mine was new. Used it once last year. Pulled all the fuel out to store it. Now it still runs good but no water will go through the system. Even with it off, no water will come through. Its like its clogged.

[@MikeM100]

I would use an air-hose to try to blow air through it. I've never seen one do that. Maybe some bugs built a nest in it. Maybe try to force water from the outlet to the inlet.

[@rayaguilar9085]

@@MikeM100 I think what happened is the concrete cleaner I sprayed through it last has built up some residue that clogged it. In the mean time, my float must be stuck because when I checked the oil a gallon of gas poured out.

[@crazyeaglefan]

I dunno. I got one of these over the summer. 1st time trying to start and won't start at all :(

[@MikeM100]

You may want to try spraying a small amount of starting fluid into the breather. or carb. I've used my unit every week since early summer of 2021 and it's still working good. I use only non-ethanol gas. Regular gas tends to gel up.

[@FJBsaidcornpop]

Looks like you need a pump saver saver to attach to the hose connection. 😅

[@ikegarrett1]

I have that exact washer, anyone else having rusty tank issues? Used it once and stored it indoors with ethanol free gas, tried to fire it up 3 months later and the tank was full of rust.

[@MyRcGoSlow]

What if my oil smells like gas ?

[@MikeM100]

If you oil smells like gas, then there is a leak somewhere. Return it to the store.

[@MyRcGoSlow]

@@MikeM100 I got it for free I started it her up removed oil and all the gas went through it then I refilled with oil no gas started it up thru air filter with carb cleaner it started right up waiting on new carb hopefully that’s the problem

[@TinyHouseCustoms]

@7:17. Why wouldn’t you explain the oil level.

[@MikeM100]

Sorry, don't know what you're referring to.

[@Carlsensverden]

Oil level on that type of engine is right Before it runs out of the hole

[@timb7775]

They should not sell these to someone who doesn't know how to do the most basic of things like changing the oil. These are the same people who write bad reviews when there pressure washer doesn't start because they let the gas get stale and clogged the carburetor. And who actually asked how you change the oil, it's in the instruction manual. Hilarious, people who can't figure out how to change the oil don't even bother reading the manual that came with the machine. I guess I shouldn't complain, I recently bought 2 of these machines from Lowes for only $25 each, both were customer returns where they claimed they are broken, turns out it was only stale gas thay clogged the pilot jets. Cost me a can of carburetor cleaner to fix.