Iv been out and brought a steam cleaner from halfrauds today. Its a 4 bar one with the sticker 'was £80 now £50' so i had to buy it
I had a quick play with it before it started raining and cleaned the p/s pump (off the engine). THats got me wondering, could you steam clean a car? Im not too sure as im thinking it may damage the paintwork.

Is that the Vax steam cleaner which is on their web site? Or

I don't think steam cleaning your paintwork would be a very good idea at all to be honest.

No, its more powerful that that. They dont appear to have it one their site.

I think it'd come up lovely and clean and shiney - for a very short time until the rust took hold

Used to have access to a big diesel powered one at a place I used to work.
Regularly steamed the Landy after offroading, came up a treat and no probs.
Gotta be careful with the paintwork, don't pause too long or get too close.
Absolutely fantastic for oil removal.

Little chip in the paintwork and water could force its way behind and lift the paint, I know

I have a pressure washer that I run off the hot tap, good for engine parts but use a a distance on my car to rinse off prior to hand washing.

Steam is the next step up, it will shift most things with ease without detergent.

I would be surprised if you could buy a steam washer for under £500, a pressure washer yes but to heat water and fire out at that rate requires a big big heater....

That aside pop down to your local car factors get some TFR (traffic film remover), better than any of that stuff you buy premixed.

Regards Mark

Use eye protection.

They will throw up loose paint, and stones etc..
Enought to take you eye out if it hits you.

I have a std pressure washer, its not a lot different except a steam one is better!

We used to use on on the fork trucks and one of the fitters decided to do his van with it, it peeled the paint off of his back doors That was a proper steam jenny though not just a pressure washer, you had to light it with a diesel rag before you started the pump. Don't use TFR on aluminium and don't leave it on too long or think of mixing it a bit stronger, some of it is potent stuff.

[Edited on 8/3/09 by Peteff]