Snow Foam - where am I going wrong?

Snow Foam - where am I going wrong?

Author
Discussion

Belle427

9,040 posts

234 months

Saturday 16th December 2023
quotequote all
I had the Autoglym drying cloth for years which was a bit chamois like and excellent but ive since gone over to a towel, the rag company the gauntlet is fantastic and im now converted.

Stick Legs

5,000 posts

166 months

Thursday 21st December 2023
quotequote all
I just started using snow foam.

I picked up a Draper cordless jet wash on the Black Friday sales, not super powerful but does a ok job.

I used Autoglym Polar Blast.

Really like it, as said above it gets to work on the toughest bits, which allows me to wash the car easier once I get to the bucket & mitt stage.

Having always used Autoglym I use the green shampoo & hot water.

Even when the car is filthy at this time of year the hand wash is SO much easier because the worst got softened or lifted.

Not going back.




tight fart

2,937 posts

274 months

Sunday 5th May
quotequote all
I picked up a bottle of snow foam in Costco, I’ve not a clue how to use it, do I need a pump type pressure bottle, or can I use it as you would soap in your pressure washer?

Belle427

9,040 posts

234 months

Sunday 5th May
quotequote all
The instructions should advise if it can be used in a pump sprayer etc but they are generally designed to be used in a foam lance.

8bit

Original Poster:

4,883 posts

156 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
I'd forgotten about this thread, thanks for resurrecting it. To close out my OP, I got some Bilt Hamber Auto-Foam. The instructions say to "Dilute as required to obtain a PIR (panel impact ratio) of between 1:100 and 5:100". I haven't a clue what that means so I've been diluting it maybe 8:1 in favour of warm water in the bottle. I've also found it seems to work well with a bit more time to dwell, so I rinse the car with clean water from the pressure washer first, then apply the foam then go fill the buckets and get the mitts etc. ready while the foam sits on the car.

I'd say that just the rinse, foam and second rinse probably get the car about 95% clean at this time of year (the car is ceramic coated, granted) so I'd say it's working pretty well for me.

_Hoppers

1,238 posts

66 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
8bit said:
The instructions say to "Dilute as required to obtain a PIR (panel impact ratio) of between 1:100 and 5:100". I haven't a clue what that means so I've been diluting it maybe 8:1 in favour of warm water in the bottle
Extract from the instruction on the BH website

"Use on cool surfaces. Dilute product as required to reach a PIR (Panel Impact Ratio) of 1 part in 100
for light cleaning and up to 5 parts in one hundred for heavily soiled vehicles. It is important to know
the flow rate of your equipment to determine the correct add rate.


To correctly calculate the required quantity of auto-foam to use in a pressure washer reservoir or
foam lance bottle;
For virtually touchless cleaning 4% is needed at the panel not in the detergent bottle or reservoir. To
obtain this fill up the detergent bottle or reservoir. Take a large container and discharge the lance into
this until the detergent bottle is empty of water. Measure the total amount of water collected, and
multiply this number by 0.04. Fill the detergent bottle or reservoir with the calculated amount, and
top it up to full with water. This method will create the correct concentration of auto-foam discharging
from the lance."

8bit

Original Poster:

4,883 posts

156 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
Extract from the instruction on the BH website

"Use on cool surfaces. Dilute product as required to reach a PIR (Panel Impact Ratio) of 1 part in 100
for light cleaning and up to 5 parts in one hundred for heavily soiled vehicles. It is important to know
the flow rate of your equipment to determine the correct add rate.


To correctly calculate the required quantity of auto-foam to use in a pressure washer reservoir or
foam lance bottle;
For virtually touchless cleaning 4% is needed at the panel not in the detergent bottle or reservoir. To
obtain this fill up the detergent bottle or reservoir. Take a large container and discharge the lance into
this until the detergent bottle is empty of water. Measure the total amount of water collected, and
multiply this number by 0.04. Fill the detergent bottle or reservoir with the calculated amount, and
top it up to full with water. This method will create the correct concentration of auto-foam discharging
from the lance."
Thanks - doesn't say that on the product page "how to use" panel for some reason so not sure where you found that?

_Hoppers

1,238 posts

66 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
8bit said:
_Hoppers said:
Extract from the instruction on the BH website

"Use on cool surfaces. Dilute product as required to reach a PIR (Panel Impact Ratio) of 1 part in 100
for light cleaning and up to 5 parts in one hundred for heavily soiled vehicles. It is important to know
the flow rate of your equipment to determine the correct add rate.


To correctly calculate the required quantity of auto-foam to use in a pressure washer reservoir or
foam lance bottle;
For virtually touchless cleaning 4% is needed at the panel not in the detergent bottle or reservoir. To
obtain this fill up the detergent bottle or reservoir. Take a large container and discharge the lance into
this until the detergent bottle is empty of water. Measure the total amount of water collected, and
multiply this number by 0.04. Fill the detergent bottle or reservoir with the calculated amount, and
top it up to full with water. This method will create the correct concentration of auto-foam discharging
from the lance."
Thanks - doesn't say that on the product page "how to use" panel for some reason so not sure where you found that?
There’s a PDF instruction on the download tab, it would be better under ‘How to Use’ though!