Karcher K 3.690 vs Karcher K 5.85 M

Hey guys I am looking to purchase a Karcher Pressure washer and I have narrowed it down to these 2 units. I know the main difference between them is that the K 5.85 M has the Direct-Drive Axial Aluminum Pump and the K 3.690 has the Direct-Drive Axial Pump.

Both have:

1.5 gpm
1800 psi + or - 50 psi
25 feet pressure hose and reel

My question is this the K 3.690 is $169.99 at Walmart and the K 5.85 M is $279.99, is there anything else that better from unit to unit and worth spending the extra funds on for the K 5.85 M? Also is getting a Karcher with a Direct-Drive Axial Aluminum Pump that much better than the regular Direct-Drive Axial Pump and will it really last me years longer? I want to know because I will purchasing one this weekend and cant decide which route to go yet. I have compared both pressure washers on the Karcher site and they both seem very alike which is making me unsure which route to go.

Kärcher Residential - Electric and Gas Pressure Washer Models - Consumer, Prosumer, Professional

K 3.690




K 5.85 M

 

the 2000psi that costco sells (or used to) is 199 might be better =p

 

Thanks man but I dont have a membership at costco, what I am really looking for is gpm at 1.5 or over.

 

Hi Danny. I have the 5.85M and I love it. I dint think going with the aluminum pump is going to extend the life before you start having problems. My K3.67M started giving me trouble with the control head which supposedly developed a small leak. The pump was working just fine but a $60 fix for a $150 unit wasn't worth it for me so I put the money towards a new unit (the 5.85M).

If this is your first PW then get the cheaper model. Unless you step up to a $700+ unit, it's not going to last more than a few years without some maintenance/replacing a few parts here and there.

 

Thanks Emile how long have you had your 5.85M for? I am only going to be using this for weekly washes not any housework hopefully it wont die out on me soon. How long would you expect a Karcher like the 5.85 M to last?

 

I was using my K3.67M one to two times per week year-round and it lasted 16 months before I started having the problem with the control head not being able to hold maximum pressure. I wasn't always using the 3.67M for an entire wash, sometimes just wheels/tires/and foaming/rinsing but sometimes I was using it throughout the wash. That saves me some usage to switch to the garden hose after doing wheels and foaming.

My Amazon receipt says I've had my Karcher since beginning of September 2010. So far it is holding up just fine, and I've still been using it at least once a week for wheels. Obviously during the winter I don't do any foaming as the soap will just freeze up on the car.

Keep in mind that even after 16 months of use with the 3.67M, it wasn't broken, it was just the control head unit that needed to be replaced. A $60 fix would have kept it going...it was merely my decision to get a new model.

 

Thank you I think I'm leaning towards the K 5.85 M just for the fact that I feel that it might last me longer and looks better built

Sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk

 

Power Washers Direct has a lot of information especially reviews on all brands of power washers. The reviews do not seem to be overly filtered (where only good ones shown) so it can you some idea what could happen to power washers (warranty, what breaks, complaints, etc). Of course, they sell many brands.

They recommend getting the K5 because of the motor along with a Briggs and Stratton unit around the same price as the K5.

 

Just make sure you get one with an induction motor versus the cheaper ones that have a universal one. Induction will last much longer.

 

I ended up purchasing the K 5.85 M thanks for help guys!