Pressure Washer Pump Oil Information Guide
The pump oil and the engine oil are very important in gas-powered pressure washers. Pressure washer pump oil protects pumps from rust and oxidation and as a lubricant when the water pump is under high pressure. On the other hand, engine oil is used to lubricate the engine and is designed to absorb water and burn it off. Pump oil and engine oil have many similarities in appearance and uses, but they are not considered interchangeable. If engine oil is used instead of pump oil, the oil color will be milky white. Most pressure washer pumps use non-detergent oil, while their engine uses detergent oil.
Non-detergent oil vs detergent oil
Stating the obvious, the main difference between detergent oil and non-detergent oil is the detergent content. Non-detergent oils are used in pressure washer pumps because additives are not needed. Some people believe that use of detergent oil in pumps instead of non-detergent oil will cause no problem. On the other hand, detergent oil can create bubbles do not lube well enough. And because the oil would be mixed with the other fluids in the system, the detergent can be toxic, causing the pump to fail. Pressure washer pump oil contains an anti-foaming agent, but this additive is non toxic.
Types of pressure washer pump oil
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system to identify the different types of pressure washer pump oil according to level of viscosity. A fluid’s viscosity is internal property that offers resistance to flow. This means that thicker fluids have the higher viscosity than the thinner ones. The different SAE viscosity levels include 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60. These numbers are suffixed with a letter W, which means winter (not weight) or referring to viscosity at low temperature. For example, “0” is much thinner than “60”. Thinner oil moves faster in colder situations.
The second number is the oils viscosity at a high temperature. Such multigrade oils get thicker when cooled and thinner when heated. Therefore, the 10w30 oil has the same thickness (hot) as the strait 30w. On the other hand, both 10w30 and 5w30 oils run at the designated 30 weight in hot conditions. It therefore follows that 10w30 is applicable in warm weather, while 5w30 is better in cold weather. However, recommendations from pressure washer manufacturers should strictly be followed. Otherwise, the warranty will be void once the machine was damaged due to wrong use of oil.
Pressure washer pump oil change
Although some pressure washer pumps do not need oil change, most of them require pump oil to be changed at least once a year or after 50 hours of washing, whichever comes first. The change in color of the oil usually determines that the oil should be changed, but not always. A hard working pressure washer may require frequent oil change. Different pressure washer manufacturers have different procedures in changing oil. All water pumps have a sight glass on the side where the operator can view the oil level. It is also important the washer has no contaminants before doing the oil change.
Before performing oil change, running the machine for a few minutes is highly recommended. This is because warm oil traps dirt better then cold oil. Oil draining can be done in three different ways: Draining it from the bottom of the oil pan using the oil drain plug and an approved container; using a suction gun; using a suction pump (hand-operated or electrical). Tilting the pressure washer assures the operator that the old oil is drained completely. The drain plug should be properly secured before oil filling is done. Oil change procedure should be done only as recommended by the unit manufacturer.
Briggs & Stratton High Endurance Synthetic Pressure Washer Pump Oil
Briggs & Stratton pressure washer pump oil (Model 6033)[/easyazon_link] is applicable to all brands of pressure washers. The container contains 15 Fl. Oz. of 75W90 non-detergent oil. This premium full synthetic oil is notably one of the most preferred oil by leading pump manufacturers. Many buyers claim that this product is listed as oil replacement in their Owner’s Manual.
This Briggs & Stratton High Endurance pump oil has inherently high oxidation resistance, offering effective lubrication even during high-pressure, high-RPM operation. In addition, this oil is designed to effectively protect pressure washer pumps against rust and oxidation, extending their life span.
A lot of buyers claimed that their pressure washers run like new after using this product and had no problems whatsoever. Others emphasized that the oil keeps the engine noise very low. However, there are a few of them who think that this product is overpriced. Buyers who find the price reasonable noted the brand Briggs & Stratton as a maker of high quality products.
