If you’re going to use a pressure washer but want to avoid the hassle of Fuel, you’re probably going to have to drain the Fuel out of it. If you don’t, you’ll be left with a big mess and possible gas leaks.
There are two ways to drain and share your pressure washer fuel:
- By an external pump system: This method is relatively easy, but the process can take some time. The entire unit has to be taken apart and all its parts drained. This can be done manually or with a siphon pump, depending on the model. The manual method requires patience; siphon pumps do the job faster, but they’re more expensive.
- By an internal pump system: This is less work and much cheaper. But since it’s an internal system, it may be difficult or impossible to remove the Fuel from the lines before you run out of gas.
Is it Necessary to Drain Fuel from a Pressure Washer
Drain the Fuel from your pressure washer if it needs serious work, because that may not be in the best interests of your motor and its warranty.
The decision to drain Fuel from a pressure washer is fraught with many considerations. It’s important to understand the internal workings of a pressure washer motor before you decide whether to drain the tank or not. The following are the main reasons for draining Fuel from a pressure washer.
- Clogged engine parts. If your engine has a clogged or worn-out spark plug, you can get a misfire condition that will prevent it from starting or running properly. That can lead to damage to the ignition system and other components, which could require replacing the entire unit. Removing the clog will help get your engine going again. But thenyou will have to drain the Fuel first.
- Repairable leaks in the system. Some leaks are easy to repair (such as a pinhole leak in your gas line), while others are more difficult or impossible to fix (such as an out-of-tolerance fuel cap). If you’re experiencing a problem and have access to another unit with the same model number, it might be worth draining some fuel so you can diagnose and fix what’s wrong.
Safety Precautions When Drawing Fuel from a Pressure Washer
- Use a high-quality filter designed specifically for gasoline. Don’t use anything else. Make sure your gas cap is tight and properly sealed before you start your engine. Keep the engine running until the gas runs completely out of the tank, which takes about an hour under normal conditions.
- As you drain the Fuel, keep a close eye on the gas level. You should have at least a half-inch of Fuel in the tank at all times, and when you’re done draining Fuel, take a moment to verify that there’s enough remaining.
- After finishing draining the tank, it’s best to let your pressure washer sit for an hour or two before inspecting the engine. When you do decide to start up your pressure washer again, make sure it’s well-oiled and has plenty of gas before turning it on.
- Don’t overfill the tank. Once the tank is full, it’s hard to tell if there’s still Fuel in it or not. If you don’t want to risk running out of Fuel while you’re cleaning, fill as little as possible.
Find more about draining Fuel and refueling your pressure washer from the Giraffetools collections site.
