I recently hooked up a foam cannon to an electric pressure washer (1600psi). I used DP Xtreme foam - following the 2oz soap and 6oz water mixture. The foam went on evenly with great coverage. However, I found the foam ran off rather quickly - by the time I went around foaming the car (Boxster), the foam on the first section has already ran off the hood (before I even pick up the wash mitt)

Having only seen online videos on how foam cannons work, I don't think what I'm seeing is normal. Is this a result of too little soap, the cannon (too much water), or something else?

Thanks in advance!

 

Your foam cannon should be adjustable.

 

What to adjust? I'm thinking the soap to water mixture in the canister should be higher (for soap). Correct?

Thanks!

 

There should be a **** on the top which you turn to adjust the foam. The mixture you're using is plenty strong, should get lots of foam.

 

Thanks again Dan. I do get pretty thick foam coverage - can't see a spot of yellow paint. The newbie question is whether it's normal for the foam to run off the car, relatively quickly. Basically, I would foam the car... but by the time I get the buckets and mitt ready, foam on 1st panel has run off, meaning there isn't much foam left on the panel.

I was thinking (maybe my expectation is off) the foam would pretty much stick to the paint as I go back with the wash mitt. Again, I'm new to the foam cannon concept and only seen videos on youtube.

 

Majority will be gone after ~3- 5 minutes or so. I did a timed test of this a few years ago with different soaps, including DP Extreme. I did 1 oz. soap with 16 oz. water.

 

Good to know. Thanks Dan.

 

For what it's worth, the true value of a foam gun is not only in preparing the surface to be slick for your wash mitt, but also in allowing the soap/foam to encase contaminant and let it slide off of your vehicle before the wash process even begins.

Letting the car soak for a few minutes with the foam running off of it can be valuable in maintaining a swirl-free finish.

Personally I find that 2oz of DP extreme foam soap is TOO MUCH soap. I generally use 1 oz.