[SigmaShift]

MTM Foam Cannon and Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam after you've used Koch Chemie Active Snow Foam.

[danallxt]

Wow... It's almost like an "What Oil is Best" thread... Lmao!

Get a kick out of this Foam is better than that foam... Foam is Foam! Any proclamation otherwise is done by those susceptible to advertising Jedi Mind Tricks! Because foam is Foam! The foaming agent May differ if course, lol.

Kinda agree, but some have properties that allow the foam to be thicker and stick on longer, (true the cannon itself makes a diff as to how thick and foamy it is), but my point is the longer it sits before just running off, the longer it has to work the dirt loose...kinda like washing something really dirty, soaking it for a bit helps loosen dirt. I have found some foam to be stickier than others. Anyway my process is to let foam sit at least 5 miniutes, then rinse off (i don't want to move that foam and loose dirt around) then wash with soap water mitt/s and do a 2 bucket wash. In a sense is use the foam is a "pre-wash" as been stated elsewhere here.

[Merlinii]

Actually, There are many different formulas for car shampoo foam cannons.

Above are a couple of Adam's products.
In short, there a maintenance wash and stripper shampoos.
If I'm going to strip prepare paint I'd choose Mega Foam.
It is designed to remove any Last Step Products (LSP) from the surface.

For a maintenance wash I prefer their Car Wash Shampoo.
There is a price difference but...you use less Mega so per wash it's the same price.

Now, on to the pressure washer. I've used many different ones.
Currently, I use the Ryobi 1.8 GPM Automotive High Flow Pressure Washer Kit

It's electric, small, fits on the shelf (a little bigger than a bread box) and it works well.
Again, this is the "Ryobi 1.8 GPM Automotive High Flow" model. It's not about PSI it's about the 1.8 GPM

Now on to the foam cannon. The one that comes in the "Ryobi 1.8 GPM Automotive" is just "ok" but...

Depending on your budget...I prefer the QUIVR Foam Cannon,

but on a budget I've also gotten really good results from BESHED Foam Cannon from Amazon (under $20)

SIDE NOTE: Use the installed 1.25 tip with the "Ryobi 1.8 GPM Automotive" in the cannon do not change to the 1.1 tip.

Recently, I went to a "detailing" show with LOTS of vendors most of them (IMHO) had the same car shampoo in a different bottle, a different color, a different smell and a different label. In those cases it's the same 'ol, same 'ol relabeled.
I've even seen reviews where soap #1. is much better than soap #2. and I knew they were the exact same product???

[Equilibrandt]

I'm still hunting for a good hose-mounted foam cannon, but I exclusively use Adam's Car Shampoo, agitated in the chamber until it's foamy, and it does well. Probably not as fine-tuned as real car foam solutions or compressor-mounted options.

My Chemical Guys hose-mounted foam gun is a leaky mess. Might try one of Adam's hose options, with metal fittings.

[brownsbuckeyes1]

Originally Posted by SigmaShift

MTM Foam Cannon and Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam after you've used Koch Chemie Active Snow Foam.

This. GSF is the way and if you want active foam, just use a little Green Star in your GSF and you have the formula for Active Foam.

I have the MTM PF22.2 Foam sprayer and have bottles of both for maintenance or more thorough washes.

Use Green Star for engine bays and wheels wells and tires so I already have it.

[Maxx Power]

I have used everything from $20 foam cannons to $120 cannons, and the difference between a good or bad foam job comes down to a few parts:

1. Get an orifice that matches your pressure sprayer. If the pressure is around 1500 PSI or below, get a 1.1mm orifice, for higher pressure you can go up to 1.2mm and higher. Also, use the cleaning needle (or a paperclip) before every use to make sure it isn't blocked.

2. Make sure the mesh filter is clean. This is usually the reason your foam "doesn't work like it used to"... You can pull them out and soak them in vinegar, or just get a pack of triple stack foam makers and replace them when it stops foaming. They only costs a few bucks.

3. The foam you use will depend on your use case. If you have wax or ceramic coating, then you should use a pH neutral foam. If you are looking for a better clean for things like bugs and road grime, then use an alkaline foam. Some foams have added foaming agents that will give you that shaving cream look, but the reality is that this is just a marketing ploy, it doesn't actually clean any better.

One difference between the cheap and expensive guns is usually the straw, but you can pick up a silicone rubber straw with a stainless steel gravity ball for less that $2.

One thing I do recommend is a wider mouth to pour your foam through, especially the thicker stuff, otherwise you will probably need a thunnel.

Also, for a better clean and foam, use warm water.