A petrol pressure washer has the ability to generate hot water, which is a lot more effective in getting every last bit of dirt and dust off your vehicle. Professional detailing services use them when performing a valet job to a car, and quite often, the process is quicker than when you use a corded or cordless electric pressure washer.
You might be interested in a petrol-powered pressure washer if you run a detailing firm, or if you’re interested in upgrading your own car washing routine. They’re highly capable machines, especially compared to a budget or compact pressure washer.
Nevertheless, a petrol pressure washer is a fairly specialist piece of equipment and requires a bit of love to maintain properly. They’re a different league over budget pressure washers, and are used for more professional jobs. We’ve rounded up the best petrol pressure washers to suit every budget and range of capabilities.
It may already be obvious, but you must use petrol in the machine before proceeding with work. It’s also worth noting that more powerful engines are likely to sip a little more fuel than less powerful ones. A lot more punch than battery-powered cordless pressure washers for example.
The best petrol pressure washers at a glance
Although you don’t need to worry about a plug sockets or extension cables with a petrol pressure washer, it may not be easy to manoeuvre due to the size, with some weighing in at up to 40kg, they’re a lot heavier than electric variants. Usability is often helped with the feature of larger, chunkier tyres and proper grab handles, but if you can, try and see how easy a machine is to move around before buying.
How to use a petrol pressure washer
Much the same as a standard electric one under operation, a petrol pressure washer does require some extra preparation as they’re more powerful than their electric counterparts. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential; waterproof overalls, heavy duty gloves, goggles, and tough boots recommended when dealing with a full-grade professional unit. The pressure from engine-powered machines is more substantial than your standard electric units.
If you’ve ever tinkered with your own car before, you’ll know these next bits. Check the oil level of the pressure washer’s engine as well as the fuel and other fluid levels. Running any engine low on oil or fuel can be damaging, so ensure the levels are sufficient before firing it up. When you connect the hose to the water supply, check that there’s no leaks throughout the machine.
Once you fire up the engine, let it warm up on idle like you would to a car engine. This allows the oil to circulate properly and reduce the risk of wear to the engine. Hold the nozzle securely and move it from side to side smoothly – spraying in one place risks damage to the surface, so keep the movement consistent when using any pressure washer.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, maintenance is key. Even electric pressure washers may require servicing every few years, so changing the oil and fluids in a petrol-powered unit is key as well. Think of it, really, like a car – it’s good practice to do an oil change annually to maintain the running condition of your machine.
The best petrol pressure washers 2025
Editor's pick
The engine is rather powerful, too. It's got a 7.5hp engine which generates about 105dB of noise under operation. The tyres even have foam filled in them to ensure they don't run flat. It also comes with a three-year warranty if you use it privately. The downside is that the warranty is reduced to one year if you use it commercially/for work.
Pros
- Great quality construction complimented with a three-year warranty
- Long 12-metre hose and quick-release lance, which makes it easy to use
- Very high pressure of 642l/h at 213 Bar of pressure - meaning it's capable of tackling heavy-duty tasks
Cons
- Warranty reduced to only one-year if you use it for commercial purposes
Best entry-level petrol pressure washer
This is where the Draper shines through as it only . This is one of the best-value petrol pressure washers that you can buy. At 30kg, it also weighs nearly 10kg lighter (dry) than the JCB, which makes it easier to move about. It also churns out 474 litres per hour (flow rate), which while it's powerful, can easily be outclassed by an electrical pressure washer of premium stature.
Examples include the AVA Of Norway Evolution P70, which has been rated our top pressure washer. The performance of that isn't too dissimilar to this petrol-powered Draper unit.
Pros
- Great value for money compared to the JCB machine
- Powerful enough for most people's needs in a domestic environment
- Relatively lightweight for it's type at a mere 30kg
Cons
- Not the most powerful option available for a petrol engine
- One-year warranty only, no matter what use you have for it
Best petrol pressure washer for warranty
It's supplied with a number of accessories, including four quick-release nozzles and a turbo nozzle as well as all the usual trigger guns and hoses. The tank is even 10-litres big, which is fairly substantial for a pressure washer. You even get a spark plug spanner, so the whole kit is very thorough.
Unfortunately, however, it's let down by a 7.5-metre hose, which falls short of the JCB unit at this price point. It also weighs 38kg which makes the Hyundai a hefty unit to move around But at 600 litres per hour, the flow rate is mightily impressive and scores some points back.
Pros
- Three-year warranty included, which is reassuring for buyers
- Powerful at 3,100psi of pressure and 600l/h of flow rate
- Good build quality and durable materials throughout the machine
Cons
- Shorter 7.5m hose length lets it down compared to the big JCB unit, which has a 10m hose
Best engine in a pressure washer
The engine pushes out a whole 7hp, which is fairly decent for a pressure washer. It comes with a two-year Honda engine warranty, a brass-headed pump, and large, chunky tyres for easier movement on rough terrain. We see it as a pretty ideal machine for cleaning tasks if you live on a farm or at a remote property.
The hose may be described as heavy-duty, but it's only eight-metres long which is fairly disappointing compared to others on this list. Some machines have up to 10m hoses, which is more handy for trickier cleaning tasks.
Pros
- Powerful engine at 7hp which comes handy with a two-year warranty from Honda
- Large handle to easily push/pull it around, supported by large, chunky tyres
- High flow rate of 660l/h at 165 Bar of pressure - which supercedes most electric pressure washers
Cons
- Hose shorter than other machines at a mere 8m (some have up to 10m hoses)
Best petrol pressure washer for power
It comes with a 12-month warranty - which isn't as great as others, given that you're paying over £700 for it. The flow rate is rather enormous: 720l/h which is arguably overkill for what most people need. However, for rapid patio work, exterior house cleaning and possibly cars to an extent, it's a rather impressive machine for it.
It's a rather heavy machine, too. 55kg to be precise, which makes it a heavyweight to move around, so keep this in mind when shopping for your next machine. For context, our top rated electric pressure washer - the AVA Evolution P70 - weighs about 22kg.
Pros
- Very powerful: 720l/h of flow rate at 262 Bar of pressure which makes cleaning effortless
- Comes on chunky tyres and a large handle, which should improve manouverability
- Useful for patio cleaning, exterior house cleaning, and heavy-duty vehicle cleaning
Cons
- Very, very heavy at 55kg which is massively excessive for most users
- Probably very overkill for what most people need in a pressure washer
FAQs
How much does it cost to run a petrol power washer?
It’s really down to the machine itself. For example the Champion unit has a 3.4 litre fuel tank, and at current average fuel prices (at the time of writing) at £1.52 a litre, it’ll cost just over £5.10 to fill up. In contrast to a powerful electric pressure washer, a Karcher K7 which uses 2,800W of power, equates to 2.8kW/h. On average, the cost of electricity at that power rating is £0.69 per hour. Using the same estimations, a less powerful Nilfisk Core 140 (1,800W – 1.8kW/h) will cost around £0.44 per hour.
How long can you run a petrol pressure washer for?
Most petrol pressure washers can run continuously for 30-60 minutes before needing a break, though this varies significantly by model and manufacturer. Consumer models typically handle 30-45 minutes of continuous use, while semi-professional units can run for 45-60 minutes, and commercial-grade machines may operate for over an hour.
The actual runtime depends on factors like engine size, cooling system efficiency, ambient temperature, and workload intensity. Many manufacturers recommend following a 50% duty cycle – if you run the machine for 30 minutes, allow it to rest for 30 minutes to prevent overheating.
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