What are engine driven pressure washers?

Engine-driven pressure washers are simply pressure washers that use a combustion engine to operate their pumps. Similar to the way your car (assuming it's not a swanky new electric model!) relies on an engine to propel the wheels, a pressure washer employs an engine to drive the pump and generate pressure.

Key Benefit: Portability & Remote Use Potential

The main advantage of engine-driven pressure washers is their portability and ability to be used just about anywhere (so long as you have a water supply!). They don't need an electric power source, so as long as there's water (e.g. water tank/bowser or IBC), they can be used anywhere. This makes them a top choice for mobile cleaning services like driveway, gutter, roof, and patio cleaning, as well as for mobile car valeting and detailing. They're also widely used in the public sector, including local council cleaning services as many models can create enough pressure to deal with graffiti.

Brucey Bonus Benefit: Power

Another advantage of engine-driven pressure washers is their power. Regular 230V electric pressure washers might be limited in pressure and water flow, especially if your single-phase supply isn't at its best. Take the Kranzle K2195, for example – it hits 180 BAR operating pressure, even overclocking to 195BAR (with a reduced flow rate/nozzle change below the standard 8LPM). Its cousin, the Kranzle K2160, is similar but focuses on creating more water flow (11 LPM) instead of higher pressure (140 BAR or 160 overpressure). These machines are really pushing the limits of a single-phase electrical supply. To go beyond this pressure or flow, you would need a three-phase supply, which can be expensive to install, often reaching tens of thousands. That's why getting an engine-driven pressure washer is a more practical choice for those needing higher pressure and water flow rates.

Types of Engine Driven Pressure Washers

There are many types and forms of Engine Driven Pressure Washers. Below we will try to explore and present some options that we offer for each form of engine driven pressure washer. Here is a breakdown of the categories that we will discuss:

• Cold Water Mobile
• Hot Water Mobile
• Petrol/Gas Driven
• Diesel/Oil Driven
• Direct Drive
• Gearbox Drive
• Belt Drive

Cold Water Mobile

Our cold water mobile range is very popular, whether it's electric or engine-driven pressure washers. Cold water pressure washers are typically more budget-friendly and, to be honest, typically far cheaper than hot water engine-driven pressure washers and still get the job done for most tasks. In the engine-driven lineup, cold water pressure washers are not only more affordable but also much lighter and smaller than their hot water counterparts.

As mentioned, our engine-driven range is a hit with mobile cleaning services. The cold water petrol powered Honda Range, usually sporting the powerful GX390 engine, rules this category by a long shot:

• Eco HR 20-21 (200 BAR; 21 LPM; Interpump)
• Eco HR 25-15 (250 BAR; 15 LPM; Interpump)
• Eco HR 25-15GB (250 BAR; 15 LPM; Gear-box driven; Interpump)
• Eco HR 25-15U (250 BAR; 15 LPM; Udor Pump)

Hot Water Mobile Pressure Washers / Steam Cleaners

For some, a crucial solution is our engine-driven hot water pressure washers. Here, the engine powers both the pump and heat coil, cranking out not just pressure and water flow, but hot water too. Among our choices, the top pick is the Ehrle HDD1240, known for its reliability and exceptional performance.

Fueled by a robust 10HP Yanmar Diesel Engine, the HDD1240 delivers a robust 180 BAR pressure with a flow rate of 15 LPM. Plus, it can heat water anywhere from 30 to 98°C, giving you the temperature you need.

Petrol/Gas Powered Pressure Washers

Petrol-powered (sometimes called gas) pressure washers run on petroleum/gasoline, the same fuel you fill your car with at a UK petrol station (usually the green pump). They tend to be lighter because petrol engines are naturally lighter than diesel engines. This makes them a go-to for folks who need maximum portability. Take the NPC Portable Unit, for example. Fueled by a Honda GX160, it can produce 150 BAR with either 8 LPM (P/U 15-08) or 11 LPM (P/U 15-11), all while tipping the scales at just 30kg.

There is also the Honda Range, mentioned earlier in the cold water pressure washers section, and the NPT range, rocking either the Honda GX 160 (NPT E2 15-11 or NPT 15-11) or GX 200 (NPT E2 15-13).

If you’re needing even more power then we also supply the NPC Twin Range, which features a twin cylinder Honda GX630 engine that can produce either 200 BAR at 30 LPM (WF HE 20-30) or 150 BAR at 42 LPM (WF HE 15-42).

Diesel/Oil Powered Pressure Washers

Diesel (sometimes called oil-powered) pressure washers are a handy cleaning solution. Although a bit heavier, they're usually more cost-effective to run over the long term when compared to petrol-powered pressure washers, requiring less fuel for the same power output.

In addition to the diesel-powered Ehrle Hot Water HDD1240 we talked about earlier, we've got various diesel-powered cold water pressure washers. Check out our short-term hire, the belt-driven WF YE BD 20-15 (200 BAR; 15LPM; 1450 RPM). It's a diesel-powered workhorse that's tackled everything from stable cleaning to drain jetting, graffiti removal to truck washing. The wider NPC WF range more widely is a popular range of diesel pressure washer.

Direct Drive

Direct drive pressure washers have engines directly linked to the pump without extra parts like belts or gearboxes.

The perk of direct drive? No extra parts to pay for upfront or service/repair if they act up. The downside? The pump works at a higher RPM, wearing it out faster.

That's why direct drive is common in domestic pressure washers. They're not used as heavily as commercial or industrial ones, so the pump wear is limited. This saves money upfront, a big selling point. However, for folks planning to use their pressure washers extensively (100+ hours a year), we recommend gearboxes and belt drives. The initial savings on a gearbox can vanish quickly with additional pump servicing.

Many of our engine-driven ranges offer both direct and geared options. Quick tip: check the RPM on the spec charts. If it's under 2000RPM, it's likely geared drive. Above 2000RPM, it's likely direct drive. Typically, direct drive engine-driven pressure washers need to run at over 3000 RPM.

Gearbox Drive

Engine-driven pressure washers can have gearboxes fitted between the engine and pump, cutting the engine's drive, usually by about half, to the pump.

The plus side of gear drive? It lessens wear on the pump, a crucial part of any pressure washer, lowering service and maintenance costs.

Downsides? Upfront cost is the main one. Extra parts mean extra money. There's also a potential risk if the gearbox fails. More parts, more chances for issues. However, from our experience, gearboxes need less upkeep than a non-gear-driven pump. That's why we typically suggest gearbox drive for folks using their pressure washers a lot (100+ hours a year).

In our engine-driven lineup, you'll find models with both direct and geared options. A handy tip: glance at the RPM on the spec charts. If it's under 2000RPM, it's probably geared drive. Above 2000RPM, it's more likely to be direct drive. Just remember, direct drive engine-driven pressure washers typically need to operate at speeds exceeding 3000 RPM.

Belt Drive

Belt driven pressure washer operates similarly to gearbox drive but uses a belt instead of a gearbox to lower the RPM.

Belt drives reduce wear on the pump and can be more cost-effective upfront, as belts are cheaper than gearboxes. Though belts wear out faster than gearboxes, they're more affordable to replace.

Identifying belt-driven pressure washers is simple – just check the specifications. Like with gearboxes, look for an RPM lower than 2000 (usually 1450RPM). Sometimes, as seen with the WF YE BD 20-15, the "BD" in the name indicates it's belt-driven.

Close

In the dynamic world of high-pressure cleaning equipment, we've explored a spectrum of solutions tailored to diverse needs. From the popular cold water mobile range, with the mighty Honda GX390 engine leading the charge, to the robust and reliable Ehrle HDD1240 for hot water aficionados. We've navigated through the agility of petrol-powered options like the NPC Portable Unit and the practicality of diesel-driven workhorses exemplified by the WF YE BD 20-15.

Direct drives offer simplicity and cost-effectiveness for domestic users, while gear-driven models shine in reducing pump wear for commercial and industrial use. Belt drives, identified by their RPM specifications, emerge as another versatile and economical choice.

Explore our top-notch engine-powered pressure washers now for a spotless clean! Need advice? Call us at 01652 659759 or drop us a message via our contact form or Facebook Messenger. Embrace the power of infrared heating with Idro Power—where warmth meets innovation!