Hmm, a Little Help Please?

I

imported_Denzil

New member
So I've had my Gilmour Foammaster II for quite some time already and I still haven't cracked it open. I think now I am finally ready to put it to use. However, through my several searches, I'm still lost as to what sort of dilution ratios I should be looking at. Some say 2 oz., some say 4 oz., etc. :think: Also, some tips for setting up the foam gun correctly for the desired ratio would be nice. :o



What I have available for use is Meg's DCCW, Meg's Shampoo Plus, Eagle One Nanowash & Wax, Blue Coral Wash & Wax, and a little bit of Meg's NXT. Will dilution ratios be the same across the board for all car washes for LSP-stripping and non-LSP-stripping applications?



Please chime in if you have any experience with the foam gun and the above car washes or just have general advice for the foam gun experience. I'm too excited to try it out in a few hours time! :grinno:
 
Well, here's the thing. For me, I always thought the idea would be to get the same ratio/dilution coming out of the gun that you would get in your bucket (typically 1oz/gal). So to get that with my quart-sized reservoir, I typically put in 8oz of soap, and fill it with water, so that it's 1/4 soap. I then put the gun on the middle setting (4oz per gallon), which, if my math is correct, should give me 1oz/gallon out the nozzle.



As you noted, others seem to use way way less soap, while others seem to perhaps use more (I bought some of that DP Xtreme Foam, and their label directions come out to 6oz/gallon at the nozzle, although they tell you if you are using a bucket to use 1oz/gal...gee, do you think you'll have good foam at 6oz/gal?)



Also, when I use a shampoo that doesn't suds much (Turtle Wax from Big Lots, or the original Sonus Gloss, although nothing really helped that) I notch it over a bit to get perhaps 2oz/gal at the nozzle.



Oops, that brings up something else. Part of the reason for doing the 3:1 dilution is that thick soaps like Meg's GC or NXT won't draw properly up the siphon tube, so you need to dilute them. The cheap TW is thin and I use that in the cup straight.



Hope I haven't confused you more than helped.
 
raises hand..im confused..but then again i sucked at math

i just got my FMII yesterday and played around some using Armorall wash/was soap. it doesnt have good suds at all, smells great but thats about it.



whats the best setting for max foam?



if i have to use a ton of soap i think ill just keep doing the two bucket method and use the FM for wheels/wells and go buy some of that cheap stuff like cherry power to do it .
 
For maintenance washes, I fill mine with one pump (1oz) of Hyper soap, then 15oz of water, then I use it on the maximum setting.



For LSP stripping, it's 2oz of APC, plus 1oz of Hyper, plus 13oz water.



Double the numbers for a 32oz foamgun. The key that I've found with mine is getting the pump dispenser for my gallon bottles, it really helps me keep the dilution ratios in check and it keeps my soap bill down. Without it, I've got a tendency to pour really heavy and strip LSPs over time.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, here's the thing. For me, I always thought the idea would be to get the same ratio/dilution coming out of the gun that you would get in your bucket (typically 1oz/gal). So to get that with my quart-sized reservoir, I typically put in 8oz of soap, and fill it with water, so that it's 1/4 soap. I then put the gun on the middle setting (4oz per gallon), which, if my math is correct, should give me 1oz/gallon out the nozzle.



As you noted, others seem to use way way less soap, while others seem to perhaps use more (I bought some of that DP Xtreme Foam, and their label directions come out to 6oz/gallon at the nozzle, although they tell you if you are using a bucket to use 1oz/gal...gee, do you think you'll have good foam at 6oz/gal?)



Also, when I use a shampoo that doesn't suds much (Turtle Wax from Big Lots, or the original Sonus Gloss, although nothing really helped that) I notch it over a bit to get perhaps 2oz/gal at the nozzle.



Oops, that brings up something else. Part of the reason for doing the 3:1 dilution is that thick soaps like Meg's GC or NXT won't draw properly up the siphon tube, so you need to dilute them. The cheap TW is thin and I use that in the cup straight.



Hope I haven't confused you more than helped.
Click to expand...



Hehe, at first I didn't quite get what you meant but I reread it again and did the math and you're right, it comes out to 1oz/gallon at the nozzle with the Gilmour set to 4/oz per gallon. As per your suggestion, this is probably the best setting unless you want more solution in the reservoir (16oz of soap and 16oz of water for the 2oz/gallon setting or even 32oz of soap and 0oz of water for the 1oz/gallon setting :eek:).



themightytimmah said:
For maintenance washes, I fill mine with one pump (1oz) of Hyper soap, then 15oz of water, then I use it on the maximum setting.



For LSP stripping, it's 2oz of APC, plus 1oz of Hyper, plus 13oz water.



Double the numbers for a 32oz foamgun. The key that I've found with mine is getting the pump dispenser for my gallon bottles, it really helps me keep the dilution ratios in check and it keeps my soap bill down. Without it, I've got a tendency to pour really heavy and strip LSPs over time.
Click to expand...



Yeah, I have one pump dispenser for my gallon jug that I purchased from US Plastics. I'll have to purchase more pumps and possible more gallon jugs should the pumps not thread into the car wash soap's OEM packaging.
 
I put 4-6 ounces of shampoo in a gallon jug and fill it the rest of the way with water.



Then I fill the foamgun from that and adjust the mixture at the gun to get what I want.



With my wash techniques, I often get by with a surprisingly weak mix and setting. Setec Astronomy has sorta :eek: about how my preferred mix compares with the usual dilution, but hey...I go through enough shampoo as it is what with the foamgun spraying almost consantly (except when I'm rinsing).



I suppose my soft water and boosted pressure might be a pair of wildcards though :think:
 
Well, I just gave the Gilmour a shot yesterday and I have to say that washing with the foam gun is very fun and somewhat convenient. I actually did a full wash with the foam gun, first pre-soaking the entire car and then re-shooting at every panel I wiped with GS. I ended up only using 1 bucket for the rinse bucket.



As per Setec's suggestion, I filled my reservoir with 8oz of Meg's DCCW mixed with some NXT soap and filled the rest with water while using the "C" setting on the foam gun. I was not impressed with the amount of foam I got from this soap so I might just add more than 8oz of Meg's DCCW to hopefully achieve more foam. After I finish this stuff off, I'm never buying it again, LoL.



I've heard DP Xtreme Foam and CG CWG is great with the foam gun. Anyone care to share their experience with these soaps or any other soaps with the foam gun?
 
Denzil said:
Anyone care to share their experience with these soaps or any other soaps with the foam gun?
Click to expand...



Car_Wash.jpg


if you want a good shampoo with LOTS of foam that can be bought OTC, this can be bought at your local autozone or pepboys for around $5...
 
Thanks BigAl, I'll have to pick up some of that stuff. Now I'm curious how the Eagle One Car Wash will compare to the Eagle One Nanonwash & Wax that I currently have, hehe.
 
Oh, I didn't bother to decode DCCW (I was thinking it was something out of the detailer line). Deep Crystal isn't a great foamer like GC and NXT are, which I think has something to do with what makes them really thick liquids.
 
Hehe, yeah the lack of thickness in the DCCW would explain it's poor foaming behavior.



I feel the need to try every soap in the market now with the foam gun. :drool:



It's a good thing that our family fleet has 7 cars. That'll work out to a car washed every day. :woohoo:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top