Lowes, Home Cheapo, Northern, etc. all sell an aerosol can of "storage
anti freeze and conditioner" made for power washers. I would advise
against using windshield washer, or anti freeze because of the reaction
with the "cheap" rubber seal materials the manufactures use now a days.
A can or this stuff costs like $4 and hooks up to the water supply hose
inlet of the pump and all you have to do is press the button and the
pressure blows old water out the pump while adding the anti freeze and
pump conditioner, and it lasts for many "flushings".




wrote:
On 19 Nov 2006 13:25:10 -0800, "
wrote:

You guys in Northern climates -- what do you do to prepare your
pressure washer for winter. Amazingly, my manual says absolutely
nothing about the subject.

I'd take it down in the basement if it was an electric model but its
gas powered so it must ramain out in the garage where the temperature
will plummet bellow freezing. Afraid the pump will freeze up and
crack. My idea was to fill the pump with 50/50 automotive antifreeze.
Is that the prevailing wisdom?

Brian

Run the gas out as normal. Then rig a funnel to a tube and
connect the tube to the water inlet. Fill the funnel with either
winter windshield washer solvent or RV antifreeze solvent. Crank the
engine/pump by hand without starting until you get the solvent to
run all the way through the pump. You're done until spring.

They also sell aerosol cans that do the same.