the trick to using one of these babies is the think before you spray, if your washing your quad or car use a tip that has a wide pattern, not a straight blast, personally i would opt for the gas you can use it where ever you have water and on our property we have hydrant far from where we have available electricity

 

I have and prefer gas powered, just be careful . Keep back a little more for lower pressure. It's bad enough having to string out one hose. I've been using it on quads and m/c for years-- no prob yet.

 

Mark82, go with gas......I have a John Deere with a Honda motor that has 2000 PSI. I could'nt do without it now...You need a fair amount of psi to clean serious mud and grease off. I use mine all the time on my quads with no problems...All you have to do is be careful how close and where you are aiming the nozzle at. A good pressure washer should come with different nozzles and pressure settings to adjust to what you are cleaning. A gas powered pressure washer is way more portable and I do not like the idea of electric washers with all the water that is involved.....

 

I suggest a gas, at least 2000 psi, 2200-2300 ideally for home use. Remember, you can always turn the pressure down but when you need higher pressure, for concrete or something, you will have it.

 

Walmart has a decent electric on that has 1330 psi, but it has a differant nozzle called turbo that takes it up to 1600psi. it also has A "built in" soap dispenser that is really nice.

The one secrect I learnt from an old buddy that works on pressure washers is this.
The biggest reason most are returned is because of the on off valve / switch in the unit itself. When you pull and release the handle it will get stuck in the off postion all of time.

its because of hard water build up. so if this happens take a cut pc of hose and attach it to the unit and fill with vegtable oil and let soak down into the unit this will unstick any and all switches and valves in the unit!

And for preventive maintance you can dump a spoon full down into the unit after a couple of uses and turn it on real quick and then let sit. the vegtable oil will not hurt the gaskets or orings. Yes vegtable oil will shoot out of the wand for a little while but it will go away. dont panic.

 

Stick with gas. Electric and water dont sound very reliable

 

Be carful or you will end up trashing all your bearings and piviot points.
You need to relube EVERYTHING after using a pressure washer.
They have a bad habit of forcing water into places you don't want it.

 

I use a steam cleaner on my stuff. It doesn't have a whole lot of pressure, but the hot water makes the grime come off easier.!