Snow Foam

[Steviewevie]

Pressure washer + foam lance + Bilt-Hamber Auto-foam = lots of fun, not really done justice by the pic below :

I would have taken a picture of the clean car but it started raining !

[Parthiban]

Yep snow foam is great fun and good stuff too............that foam lance is pretty expensive though, is it a lot better than the karcher one? Only difference I can see is the ability to control the mixture, but can't say that has been a concern of mine :)

[Tango]

Needs more foam : Snow foam: -

[Steviewevie]

Yep snow foam is great fun and good stuff too............that foam lance is pretty expensive though, is it a lot better than the karcher one? Only difference I can see is the ability to control the mixture, but can't say that has been a concern of mine :)

I don't know. But both the (very similar) foam lances from CleanYourCar and AutoBrite seem to be the top-rated ones over on the DetailingWorld forums, and there are plenty of people there who would say if they didn't think it was worth the money.

Tango - yep, I've seen pics with much thicker foam :D. Reports on the Bilt-Hamber foam seem to suggest it doesn't go on as thick (Bilt-Hamber recommend a ratio of 4% on the car, which is what I used), but cleans more effectively as it disperses and runs off. I used the method detailed here to find out exactly at what rate my pressure washer used up the mixture in the foam lance, so that I could then calculate exactly how much snow foam to put in the lance.

[Purvesh]

Yeah I've got the Foam Lancer with 5L Autobrite snowfoam.

Goes on real thick... I'll have to take a pic next time!

[Tango]

Tango - yep, I've seen pics with much thicker foam :D . Reports on the Bilt-Hamber foam seem to suggest it doesn't go on as thick (Bilt-Hamber recommend a ratio of 4% on the car, which is what I used), but cleans more effectively as it disperses and runs off. I used the method detailed here to find out exactly at what rate my pressure washer used up the mixture in the foam lance, so that I could then calculate exactly how much snow foam to put in the lance.

I do not use anywhere near the amount of neat foam liquid suggested in that article, Just 10-15mm depth in the bottom of the lance bottle you see in the pic. It is one of the more powerful Karcher PW's though so maybe that's the difference? I find the dwell time is pretty good and the more time the foam has on the surface, the more time it has to dissolve the crud. Only problem I have is rinsing the foam out of the door seals and especially the lower front grill.

[WylieCoyote]

So does the snowfoam eliminate the need for a sponge or does it just act as an aggitator and still needs sponging down before rinsing?

[Steviewevie]

So does the snowfoam eliminate the need for a sponge or does it just act as an aggitator and still needs sponging down before rinsing?

The "experts" tend to advise not using a sponge at all, instead a lambswool or microfibre mitt, see this thread.

The snow foam is effectively a pre-wash. So you leave it on for a few minutes to help break up the dirt on your car, then you rinse it off. Then you wash the car as normal, which should be easier since the snow foam will have helped shift some of the dirt already.

If the car was only very lightly dirty in the first place, you *might* be able to get away with skipping the main wash, and just rinse off the snow foam and dry it.

[PJ S]

A thick foam, whilst looking lovely and pretty, is practically next to useless for cleaning ability - you should be looking at a consistency of double cream, and letting dwell for at least 6-8 mins.

As per the calculation thread above, you should try and find out what PIR the foam you use, is recommended at.

Measurements based on cms, mms, ins, whilst well meaning, are meaningless if the pressure and flow rate of the attached pw are not equal for the other various users. So one user will get great foam, others going by the same measurement, may get a very different output.

At the mentioned amount, I'd hazard a guess that you've got a very weak solution, which may foam well, but is not really being all that effective for doing the task intended.

It's no secret I'm a big BH fan, and of course user, but it's with very good reasons - their foam being just one of them.

So, try doing the maths with your pw if/when you get a PIR figure to work with, and see the difference that makes.

@ Wylie - as already stated above, foaming is a pre-cursor to the 2 bucket method of washing, so that most of the looser grime, and bigger particulate matter has been removed, thereby offering the mitt or Zymöl/B&Q grout sponge less to potentially move across the paintwork when you wash the car.

As said, depending on the level of dirtiness, you may find you can get away with just foaming for a mid-week wash - completely touchless if you rinsed with filtered water, leaving no water spots when left to dry unaided.

[Steviewevie]

I don't have anything to compare it to (other than not using snow foam at all), but I was impressed at how well my first attempt worked. I'm sure that it helped that I'd used the linked method to calculate exactly how much snow foam to use, so that I was using it in the manufacturer's recommended concentration.

After I rinsed off the snow foam I really had got rid of a lot of the dirt on the car, there was a lot less to get off with my two-bucket wash.

[Parthiban]

So does the snowfoam eliminate the need for a sponge or does it just act as an aggitator and still needs sponging down before rinsing?

The idea is that the snow foam works a lot of the dirt off, and as it slowly slides off the car it takes most of the dirt with it. You still have to wash afterwards as normal, but this means there's less on the car for you to scratch the surface with.

With well treated paintwork (waxed, etc) it does work quite well.

[dgman]

took the plunge and ordered a hd foam lance from clean your car .co.uk,all in with vat and delivery £44.95.i have been using snow foam through my karcher,its the model that has the suction pipe that mixes with water but not at high pressure and therefore the snow foam was not being delivered as intended.so we shall see.

[Parthiban]

Has anyone used both types of foam lance? I'm not looking to buy another as the Karcher one I have produces a nice foam, but just curious as to why there's such a big price difference..........

[Steviewevie]

Has anyone used both types of foam lance? I'm not looking to buy another as the Karcher one I have produces a nice foam, but just curious as to why there's such a big price difference..........

I have no basis of comparison myself, but there are varying opinions on the subject in a thread over on detailing World here.

[Parthiban]

Ok now I'm more confused, according to that thread the majority of responses are in favour of the Karcher lance (which I'd also agree with)

I get a good foam when using normal shampoo, and a really thick foam when using snow foam - plus it fits perfectly and as there's no metal it won't rust (as one member mentions about the 50 quid one)

I'll take some pics next time I use it to show the quality of the foam, but doesn't seem to make any sense to spend £50 when something costing £15 does the same job just as well (possibly better going on the replies on that thread)

[PJ S]

Has anyone used both types of foam lance? I'm not looking to buy another as the Karcher one I have produces a nice foam, but just curious as to why there's such a big price difference..........

Brass, larger container, variable mix ratio - all cost more to implement and manufacture, than a smaller bit of plastic does.

Simple as that really.

[dgman]

tried the hd lance from cyc for the first time,i put 100ml of snow foam in the bottle and topped up with warm tap water to the 900ml mark.the bayonet connection was tight so i smeared vaseline around the area which helped.tuned on and wow,super thick snow foam just amazing,the car looked like it had been in a blizzard.left the foam on for about six minutes and then connected the karcher lance and rinsed offand i have to say that i am very impressed with the cleaning power,it's very close to not needing a hand wash at all.i got my snow foam from jetwash direct which cost £41 for 20ltrs inc delivery,that's great value at 20p per wash.highly recommended.

ps there is still foam on the driveway an hour later.

[PJ S]

If that's the case, you've used too much product. It should NOT be like shaving foam, and by 6-8 mins, look like it's almost gone.

You'll soon find the right setting and amount to use, so that you're using enough to do what it's intended to do, but not too much so that it removes or weakens your LSP.

[dgman]

pCleaning Detergents

JetWash Direct has a wide range of cleaning detergents to meet the needs of most cleaning requirements for the home, car or work place, including Wash 'n' Wax, Alloy Wheel cleaners, snow foam, hard surface cleaners, vehicle shampoo, Grafitti remover and much more...

Detergent Delivery For UK Mainland ( ONLY )

THERE MAY BE AN EXTRA DELIVERY CHARGE FOR SCOTLAND

YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AFTER ORDERING IF THIS APPLIES

All prices include VAT

Vehicle Snow Foam System

Snow Foam is the name for Jetwashdirect's foaming system, compromising of specialist foam products.

A foaming TFR used with a special foam lance.

A specialist foam product which provide a double thick mouse style foam to rapidly break down dirt. This super thick high foam, neutral cleaner contains a blend of detergents, wetting agents, foamers and sequestering agents for the removal of traffic film, grease, insects and dirt from all car & commercial vehicles. The foam acts like a sponge, drawing the dirt into the foam and pulling it gently down the vehicle. Rinse off to leave a streak free finsh.

This product is used through commercial car wash equipment and also domestic machines. The foam lance has a M22 screw fitting. This will not fit domestic Lavor / Karcher guns that have a bayonet fitting.

AVAILABLE WITH OR WITHOUT WAX

4 x 5 Ltr Snow Foam Concentrate - £41.00

1 x 25 Ltr Snow Foam Concentrate - £46.50

1 x 200 Ltr Snow Foam Concentrate - £345.00

js,

[PJ S]

It's a TFR designed for commercial vehicles - I'd be very confident in saying you'll have probably removed your LSP after using that.

You might have edited the spacing in your advert there! :P

[dgman]

It's a TFR designed for commercial vehicles - I'd be very confident in saying you'll have probably removed your LSP after using that.

You might have edited the spacing in your advert there! :P

well it actually says that it is for car and commercial,i guess you must have missed that part.as regards the carlack sealant,it is still there as when rinsing off all water sheeted off the car as usual.to my way of thinking the thicker the foam the longer it stays on the car and therefore loosens the dirt as opposed to a product that does not,this after all is the purpose of snow foam.

[Steviewevie]

to my way of thinking the thicker the foam the longer it stays on the car and therefore loosens the dirt as opposed to a product that does not,this after all is the purpose of snow foam.

I'm no expert, but surely you need the foam to be "wet" to loosen the dirt ? After all, the foam just sits on the car, it's not like shaving foam that you rub in to your face, you need the foam on the car to loosen the dirt as it sits there.

I would have thought if the foam sits for ages then it's not really very "wet" and perhaps is not doing its job properly ?

[Tango]

Seems to be a bit of BS on here. I find the Snowfoam I use, in the quantity I use it (miniscule) generates a thick foam (see pic) which stays on the car for 5 to 6 minutes. I usually go and fill my wash buckets while it's draining off and in that time it really dislodges the crap enough to rinse off. Makes a final wipe over with Poorboys suds very easy and a final rinse with the Karcher on it's lowest setting using mains water through tandem particle filters means it sheets off and dries without water marks, but I usually give it help with a MF towel.

The LSP isn't removed, if it was the foam wouldn't be so effective. I tend to top up with a coat of carnauba wax every couple of washes but that doesn't last too long on the car.

[dgman]

what amount of product are yuo fella's putting into the hd lance.

[Steviewevie]

what amount of product are yuo fella's putting into the hd lance.

Different snow foam products might need to be used at different strengths. And then the rate at which the foam is being delivered at the car is going to vary depending on the characteristics of both your foam lance and your pressure washer, possibly also your water supply too. So comparisons aren't really going to be helpful.

Bilt-Hamber recommend a 4% strength of their Auto-foam product at the car, and as previously mentioned, I used this method to calculate how much snow foam to put in the bottle. The same method can be used by anyone with any product to calculate how much is needed, it's just that you need to know the manufacturer's recommendation for the strength coming out of the foam lance.