Guys,

Up until recently I've been using Autobrite Magifoam, Autobrite lance and a Karcher pressure washers. Unfortunately my Karcher died and my detailer who put Exo on the new car advised not to use Magifoam as it was too aggressive and would strip the Exo.

I replaced the Karcher with a Nilfisk Titan and the foam with ValetPro PH Neutral Advanced.

Now for my problem - the old gear produced a thick foam that dwelled for ages whereas the new gear produces a foam that doesn't tend to sit much and looks too thin and watery. I've tried twiddling the knobs on the lance but it's made no difference. I also tried the small amount of Magifoam I had left but got the same results.

My lance then broke so I replaced it with the one from Direct Hoses and although slightly better it's still nothing like it used to be.

Any ideas?

Turn the dial all the way to the - sign. VP foam is no way as thick as Magifoam. Don't forget you have a well protected car so the foam won't want to stick to your car. As long as the foam is running off, then it will be loosening the dirt.

Turn the dial all the way to the - sign. VP foam is no way as thick as Magifoam. Don't forget you have a well protected car so the foam won't want to stick to your car. As long as the foam is running off, then it will be loosening the dirt.

That was with the dial all the way down

I'd say the car was free of all foam within 2 minutes. I did suspect the coatings on the cars stopping it sticking so squirted at the wall with similar, watery results.

That was with the dial all the way down

I'd say the car was free of all foam within 2 minutes. I did suspect the coatings on the cars stopping it sticking so squirted at the wall with similar, watery results.

How much foam? Try 1" & fill bottle just over half way. As said VP foam is a more watery foam compared to Magifoam. It doesn't look too bad to me.

Thanks - I did consider that maybe the Magifoam had skewed my expectations. Looks like that might be the case.

I was doing 1" in the bottle filled up to the neck with warm water. I also tried putting in about 2" and filling with warm water but the results didn't really change.

FYI - those photos show the car in the time it takes to put the lance down and take out my phone.

I've got a nilfisk e140 and use the AB lance with the standard 1" of SF as per above topped 3/4 full with hot water. So far I've tried 4 different ones including magifoam and valetpro and have always got much thicker foam than your picks. It tends to dwell for ages on my drive too at this time of year which is why I got some maxedpower tfr to try as an alternative so yours doesn't look right to me from a thickness perspective. What sort of results are you getting, is it lifting the dirt off?

I think its worth remembering that Snow Foam has to `run off` the car in order to do its job.

If its too thick and just sits there waiting to be blasted off with the pressure washer, all its really done is `wet` the crud.

Whilst I get that the foam has to run off, I expected it to last at least 60 seconds before it did. I think maybe Magifoam has skewed my impression as that stuff just doesn't budge (which now explains why it was crap and never shifted anything)

The foam is moving some dirt but even mixed with Powermaxed TFR I expected it to shift more than it does. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from it.

I found the VP foam to be thinner than the Magifoam, but it did just as good a job even though it didn't dwell as long. I've also used Bilt Hamber Auto Foam which is thicker, and Car-Chem snowfoam which is thicker still. That does well nicely. AB dial turned all the way to - then back off half a turn. This was doing the Yeti this morning.

 

You have to realise, that all these products..be it Snow Foam and/or TFR are plainly ...Pre wash products

They are to remove as much dirt as possible without you touching the car..before using the wash buckets

Simply...There is no such thing as a 'Touchless' wash.

I found the VP foam to be thinner than the Magifoam, but it did just as good a job even though it didn't dwell as long. I've also used Bilt Hamber Auto Foam which is thicker, and Car-Chem snowfoam which is thicker still. That does well nicely. AB dial turned all the way to - then back off half a turn. This was doing the Yeti this morning.

How long had that been on?

You have to realise, that all these products..be it Snow Foam and/or TFR are plainly ...Pre wash products

They are to remove as much dirt as possible without you touching the car..before using the wash buckets

Simply...There is no such thing as a 'Touchless' wash.

That I get Chris. I'm not expecting the car to be clean after a quick foam, but hoped it would loosen/remove a bit more especially with TFR in it.

I much prefer Magifoam over the Valetpro, I found it also cleaned the car better

I much prefer Magifoam over the Valetpro, I found it also cleaned the car better

The reason for the change is I was advised by my detailer that Magifoam is far too aggressive and would strip the GTechniq Exo.

The reason for the change is I was advised by my detailer that Magifoam is far too aggressive and would strip the GTechniq Exo.

Your Detailier told you that?

Magifoam isnt strong enough to affect Exo

A strong mix of TFR might do, but even that will take many washes

The reason for the change is I was advised by my detailer that Magifoam is far too aggressive and would strip the GTechniq Exo.

Agreed as it has a very high Alkaline content. As said your car is well protected which will affect how long a pre wash will stand on your car.

How long had that been on?

About three minutes I think. I did SWMBO's car, after taking the photo, without refilling the foam. There was still 2" of mix left in the bottle at the end. That's starting with 1" foam topped up with warm water.

About three minutes I think. I did SWMBO's car, after taking the photo, without refilling the foam. There was still 2" of mix left in the bottle at the end. That's starting with 1" foam topped up with warm water.

Major difference then. I literally did the wife's car, put the lance down and took that picture. I'd used a full bottle of mix as by the time I'd done a lap of the car it had totally run off from the panel I started on. That's 1/2" TFR, 1" foam and topped up with warm water.