Tips to Get Thicker Snow Foam and Mistakes to Avoid

Рет қаралды 22,082

Күн бұрын

In this video I’ll be talking about some common reasons why your snow foam lance may not be producing the foam thickness you’re looking for and how to get better quality snow foam.
I’m a believer that thick snow foam doesn’t equal effective snow foam, and cleaning power is more important to me than my car looking like it’s covered in shaving foam! Some snow foams are designed to produce thicker foam than others and as long as they do a good job of cleaning, the thickness doesn’t bother me.
However, if your snow foam is so thin it looks like skimmed milk and it has dripped onto the floor completely about a minute after being applied, then something’s probably amiss and hopefully these tips will be helpful to correct the problem!
If you’re looking for some snow foam recommendations, then check out my comparison video: • The Best Snow Foam? Co...
Here are the links to the products and tools used in the video. Some of the links are affiliate links to In2Detailing so if you make a purchase after clicking the link, then I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
- MJJC Foam Cannon Pro: www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
- Wax Planet 8 Below: www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
- Autobrite Magifoam: www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
- Garage Therapy Snow Foam: www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
- EZ Meltdown: www.ezcarcare.co.uk/products/...
Here is some more info about the snow foams and pressure washers being used at various points in the video. All the clips were filmed using the MJJC Foam Cannon Pro on the maximum setting.
• EZ Meltdown (1:10) with Karcher K2 and 1.25 mm orifice at 0:05 and 0:32
• Wax Planet 8 Below (1:15) with Karcher K4 with 1.1/ 1.25 mm orifice at 2:27
• Car Chem Pre-Soak Plus (1:10) with Karcher K2 and 1.25 mm orifice at 3:10, 6:40, 7:35
• Wax Planet 8 Below (1:10) with Karcher K4 and 1.25 mm orifice at 5:00
• Autobrite Magifoam (1:20) with Karcher K4 and various foam cannons (1.25 mm orifice for non-Karcher cannons) at 6:00
• Bilt Hamber Touch-Less (1:3) with Karcher K4 and 1.25 mm orifice at 6:57
Follow me on Instagram! / autocarehq
Thanks for watching!
Time Stamps:
0:00 Struggling to Get Thick Foam?
0:43 Flow Rate
1:13 Orifice Sizes
2:31 Keeping the Lance in Good Condition
3:09 Service the Foam Cannon
3:48 Does Warm Water Help?
4:41 Cheap vs Expensive Lances
5:39 Is Thicker Foam Better?

Пікірлер: 80

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve put some extra info about which pressure washer, office size, snow foam and the dilution ratio I was using at each point in the video in the description along with all the product links. Thanks for watching!

@chriscuthbertson 2 ай бұрын

I've converted my Ryobi EZ Clean battery washer (600 psi) to 1/4" quick connect and i'm now running a foam cannon with a 0.8 orifice, This is so much better than the Ryobi foam blaster. I've also started using 2.0 nozzles and they have improved the pressure washing no end.

@AB-80X 2 жыл бұрын

If I may offer up a suggestion for anyone who thinks about changing the jet in the lance. If your high pressure washer don't have a pressure gauge built in, get an inline one to install between your handle and hose. That will tell you where your pressure is at. As long as you don't exceed what the machine is rated for, you can keep making the orifice smaller. It's also handy to make sure that your nozzles don't create too much pressure. Some 25 and 15 degree nozzles are quite "tight" and can raise the pressure quite a bit. What flow that comes out of your tap also greatly affect your pressure. My Stihl RE150 Plus is rated for 150 bars and 685 lr/h. That is obviously more than enough for my MTM, but here's the catch. If the flow from your tap is not adequate, it will not create those numbers. I can get it there with my MTM and a 1.25 jet when it is hooked up in my wash bay which has a dedicated high flow tap that bypasses the house. When connected to this tap, it will easily run 150 bars with a 25 degree nozzle and 140+ with my MTM. And when running the 15 degree nozzle I turn it down a bit to get it at 150. It does not pulse, but I don't want to hurt it. How if I hook it up to my tap for my garden hose, which is actually not that bad. fat chance of getting those numbers. Best it will do with the nozzles is 125 bars and even with a 1.1mm jet in my MTM, it only gets to 135 bars, and with a 1.25 it's below 100. So there's many things at play, and what jet you need in the lance, can only really be determined by knowing the actual pressure. Few homes actually have enough capacity flow to max out bigger machines, so the chance of a 1.1 being too small, is really low unless your machine is massive.

@TheAgwarn 2 жыл бұрын

The Bilt Hamber snow foam isn’t very thick at all but it’s brilliant as a non contact cleaner, easily the best I’ve used! 👍🏼

@richardharvey8275 3 ай бұрын

thank you lovely for all the help and advice looking too my foam cannon 😊

@samme5513 2 жыл бұрын

Another excellent video Heather with some great tips thank you for sharing enjoyed watching

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Sam!

@davidcarballo9921 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, and well explained. Too many variables to get perfect foam every time nowadays. As long as they clean. 👍🏼

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching David!

@jeffreyrobert9460 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video. Thank you for dropping knowledge

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@marktrower2267 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video Heather 👍🏼

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark!

@RoadToDetailing 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent and “gap filling” video Heather! You really have covered all aspects and arguments around this subject in the video. I personally love thick foams, however I noticed that if the density is too thick, the weight of the foam pulls the foam down too quickly, as you just mentioned, and in my particular testing that did hurt the performance of cleaning. Recently used an IK foamer, that showed the same lack of cleaning when I compared a shaving type density to a thinner, milkshake kind density with the same dilution (only changed the color stuff around). Looking forward to your next vid! 🔥

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Viktor! That's really interesting, I've never tested the cleaning power when using the same foam but adjusting the cannon to affect the consistency side by side but it does make sense!

@baitaddictbaits 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video! Very informative and effectively summarises many of the variables associated with snowfoams and lances. I do the same as you and flush out the cannon and pick up pipe with water after every use and it seems to keep the clogging at bay.

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much for watching!

@markmoore6264 Жыл бұрын

A very useful video Heather, I've yet the give my new pressure washer a try yet but I've got the Mjjc V2 so that should suit the machine as it's a little down on pressure from my previous pressure washer, can't wait for the weekend to give it a try 😀

@andicampbell8621 Ай бұрын

Very knowledgeable young lady 👍

@BobDiggler76 2 жыл бұрын

Solid advice - thanks!

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@abuhamza1970 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant tips, thanks for sharing. 👍🙏

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@jackmason2792 2 жыл бұрын

Another great vid 👍🏼

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Jack!

@simonbradshaw3708 2 жыл бұрын

I use Autoglym Polar Blaster and Polar Blast and it seems to do a very good job. Very happy with the combo. I have had to stop my snow cannon once to clean out and get back to top performance

@RomanticTuna Ай бұрын

Thanks, came to this late, but some handy tips for my cheap Karcher snow foam gun

@craigord 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Heather, good tips 👍🏻 I use a K4 and recently swapped both lance orifices for 1.1mm and got good results but definitely the product makes a difference, like you said. From the experiences I’ve had I’d definitely recommend buying a decent foam first, then using tips like this to try to improve the lance. My spare lance is just a cheap Amazon one but I’m trying a few things currently to get the best foam from it but recently changing to a better product has made noticeable difference!

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Craig! Yep you're right the foam makes such a difference!

@kevinb7058 2 жыл бұрын

Great tip about unscrewing the lance off when you still have product left and flush it out Heather👍. Snow foam the best part of the wash for me, gets the neighbors curtains twitching "what's he doing now" 🤔🤣🤣

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Kevin :) Haha my neighbours definitely think the same, getting my car dryer won't have helped either 😂

@as680783 2 жыл бұрын

Same here. I'm surprised so many people have never seen snowfoam. Anyway, the weather's great today so I'm looking forward to seeing the neighbours curtains moving when they see me drying my car with a vacuum cleaner (blow function).

@bennevis21 2 жыл бұрын

I got the Autoglym lance and snowfoam from Halfords when they reduced the price by mistake. I've got 7.5 liters to use up then I'm looking forward to try Bilt-Hamb or Garage therapy. Clear and informative video to watch.

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I saw that on Halfords actually I wish I'd have got some at the time!

@sixtysecondsofstephens2386 2 жыл бұрын

So true about leaks. I had to join 3 hoses together at my parents to get to where the cars are parked and each joint was leaking a little, the thickness of the foam decreased.

@md-detailing 2 жыл бұрын

Great video,i use a solo foamer for my washes and im satisified with the choice :D

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@jazzam8012 2 жыл бұрын

Great advice for this Heather. not many videos around explaining snow foams. currently use a autobrite lance but think i will take the plunge into a mjjc foam, first though need to upgrade to some garage therapy products ☺

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I definitely recommend picking some GT bits up when you get chance!

@steverabbits 2 жыл бұрын

Now that's a brilliant video Heather. I have the MJJC Pro 2 jobby and it's a major improvement on my old one. I've never taken mine apart but now I know how to thanks! I'm not a fan of thick snowfoam although it does look awesome, I find it just sits on the ground for yonks afterwards and is a bit of a pain tbh. It's Bilt Hamber Auto Foam or Touch-less for me every time. Great work Heather, keep them coming 👍👍

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Steve! It's dead easy to take apart should you ever need to, mine's been going for a year now though and I haven't had any problems with it clogging yet I think because I rinse it through after every wash!

@as680783 2 жыл бұрын

I think I must drop lucky on snowfoam because no matter what what product, prressure washer, or canister I use the foam is pretty much perfect every time. The only thing I probably do different to most peeps is putting deionised water in the snowfoam bottle.

@dashdastardly 2 жыл бұрын

Harder water foams less than softer water....Fit a in-line hose filter before your p-washer or simpler and much cheaper...fill your foam bottle with filtered or spring water.

@sanilsawant1786 2 жыл бұрын

VERY VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEO BY YOU HEATHER GOT TO LEARN A LOT FROM THIS AND OF COURSE YOU. I'M VERY POSITIVE THIS VIDEO WILL HELP Novice and professional 🙌🙌👌👏👏

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Sanil!

@MikesAutoDetailing 2 жыл бұрын

Great informative video

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike!

@iangriff2170 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Heather, great vid and very informative. One tip you missed is for people in hard water areas. Hard water really kills foam, so using an in-line Resin filter with hard water specific resin, or use rainwater which is generally soft water can make a massive difference to foam thickness and longevity.

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ian! That’s a really good tip! I’m lucky I’m in a soft water area but those are great ideas

@as680783 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ian and Heather. Great tip! I'm in a very hard water area of the country, and I've found that filling the snowfoam canister with deionised water or distilled water significantly increases the suds. I'm sure rainwater or bottled drinking-water will do the same so I'm going to be having a go at those because rainwater is free afterall!

@jamesarmitage8399 2 жыл бұрын

Good tips, can vouch for the mjjc one! One if not the best one @ the moment. Valetpro have some pro quality snow foams as well :)

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! The MJJC cannon is brill!

@duncangrainge 2 жыл бұрын

I don’t have access to a hose due to where I live. So I wash my car with two buckets filled from the petrol station next door and use two IK 1.5 foam sprayers. I have a JCW mini and find that the two foam sprayers are more than enough to snow foam the entire car. I then have a large IK spray bottle and lance to rinse. I may have to fill that sprayer again but it’s enough. I do get odd looks, especially the first time I was washing my car but now I’m constantly asked if I’m a car valet or if I could ‘do’ their car etc. my car is immaculate and has won a tiny plastic trophy occasionally. So you can do it with no hose or tap, pressure washer , if you have a friendly petrol station who lets you fill buckets etc from their tap any time of the day 😂👌

@petersmith7126 8 ай бұрын

If Bilt Hamber whuch is a thin runny foam yet possibly the best that you can buy is thickness realy an issue

@ilikechickensausages2075 2 жыл бұрын

I have a new pressure washer 8.3 litre per minute 18650psi And i thought i was going to get thick foam but was using a cheap foam lance I'm going to strip and check, but have a purchased a more expensive one to try

@clay3544 2 жыл бұрын

Would using soft water or distilled water make a difference? I'll have to give that a try. Granted my water supply through the hose delivers neither of those, so it may be just useless as it mixes with tap water hardness.

@AB-80X 2 жыл бұрын

It actually does. Not because it means less hard water, because most of the water is from the tap anyway, but because it does not break down the soap as much when you initially mix it.

@jaymistry9330 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Heather. just have a quick question for you. I use bilt hamber auto wash in bucket. was just wondering would it b possible to use the shampoo in the snow foam cannon as oppose to adding it in the bucket 🪣? just to save time and make the cleaning process quicker. I use the same foam cannon as here, the mjjc

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve tried it before with auto wash and it doesn’t seem to foam up as much as some other shampoos I’ve tried in the foam cannon unfortunately. I did try it with a cheaper lance though so it might still be worth giving a go with the MJJC 😊

@jaymistry9330 2 жыл бұрын

ok thanks for that wi give it try next time

@leo5433 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Heather! Is Nilfsik snow foam good for 140 bar!?

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

I've not used a Nilfisk but 140 bar sounds good!

@bartoszplewa3788 2 жыл бұрын

Great video were useful, but to warn everyone too thick and heavy foam, it run down faster and its less efficient, so you need to choose the right consistency

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Completely agree, it can certainly get to a point where it's so thick that it's counter-productive

@Yaayo90 2 жыл бұрын

What foam cannon do I need to use to marry me? Joking…. I have a kartcher k2 and the foam it generates is very bad. I just saw that hole 1.1 would make a difference due to the lack of flow of the pressure washer but I will check the other points you mentioned. Thanks for the information, it will help many people because I had not seen on video that they mentioned the change of the hole 1.1

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching :) It could be possible that the flow rate/ pressure has a decreased if you've had the pressure washer for a decent amount of time. I had an 7+ year-old K4 and swapped it for a new one last year and despite them having the same specifications the foam was a lot thicker with the newer one! A lot of the clips I filmed here were with a K2 that I borrowed and 1.25 mm orifice but I don't think it's been used that much really so probably is closer to the manufacture specs

@jakandrijauskas6362 4 ай бұрын

God I wish my wife was as verbally articulate as this young ladyn

@steverabbits 2 жыл бұрын

Any idea what the 2 small red rubbery plugs in the MJJC lid are for Heather? They are replaceable and some spares came with mine but without knowing their purpose I have no idea if or when they need changing!

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not actually sure I'm afraid! Pretty sure mine didn't come with any spares so I doubt they're too important!

@steverabbits 2 жыл бұрын

@@AutoCareHQ I'll make it my mission to find out and let you know

@billykeenan1108 2 жыл бұрын

@@steverabbits if you remove them it'll draw more air in and create thicker foam

@AutoCareHQ 2 жыл бұрын

That’s very interesting cheers Billy

@steverabbits 2 жыл бұрын

@@billykeenan1108 blimey I didn't know that! I feel a comparison test coming on 😂 Thanks for the info Billy, you are the first person I've heard who actually knows. You would think it would tell you in the manual really

@Red_turbo 2 жыл бұрын

Up :D

@gillywash1487 2 жыл бұрын

Warm water myth debunked! I can’t say I have ever noticed a difference either but never used side by side like that to check 👍🏼

@GarageTherapyOfficial 2 жыл бұрын

We state use of warm water generally to encourage the chemical to mix better in the bottle. It's more appropriate for shampoo products when setting up.

@steverabbits 2 жыл бұрын

@@GarageTherapyOfficial a very good point!