SIMPSON 3200PSI Gas Pressure Washer, 2.5GPM, Honda GC190 Engine, Spray Gun, 5 Nozzle Tips, 25ft Hose, 49 States

This is a review of the Simpson model MSH3125-S with the Honda GC190 engine.The short of it is the unit’s easy to setup and use, starts easy (really, it’s just one pull) and has great cleaning power. The container of engine oil provided with the unit is just the right size, pour it all in the crank case, add gas to the large fuel tank and you’re ready to go. The Honda engine has tons for power and the unit is a blast (pun intended) to use. I’ve already used it to clean my patio, the eaves and house siding. I also purchased a soap lance to use while washing my cars which worked great. My wife was a bit skeptical when I told her I was buying a power washer but after seeing the result with the patio and eaves she’s sold.Definitely 5 stars, if you want to know why read on…I shopped around beforehand and looked a multiple brands, size units and features before deciding on this model. Boy, am I glad I did.If you plan to do any heavy cleaning of decks or prepping a house for painting stay away from the electric units or lower (2000) PSI gas units, you’ll want the 3000+ PSI this size engine puts out.I would also like to note that I read the reviews for this unit and saw a lot of complaints about poor customer service. I figured I’d take the chance since I was purchasing through Amazon and if there was a problem with the unit when received Amazon is good about accepting returns. When I received my washer the plastic spray wand was broken. The unit had shifted in the box and the front bumper on the unit pushed against the wand cracking it and breaking a chunk out of the handle. I called Simpsons customer service the next day and a nice lady took my name and confirmed the model and serial number on my unit and then shipped me a replacement spray wand. The whole ordeal took about 5 minutes, done.While trying to decide on a power washer I went to two of the big chain hardware stores and looked at power washers they had on hand. I was looking at the craftsmanship, features and materials the various units were made from.1) One of the first things that attracted me to this unit was the Honda engine. Honda is well known for their small engine reliability. I love Honda engines; my car, motorcycle, lawn mower are all Honda.2) All the other high PSI units costing about the same as this unit had plastic bumpers and plastic hose and spray wand mounts. They were pretty colors and looked nice but almost all the display models had their plastic spray wand mounts broken off. Obviously no plastic parts was top of my list. This Simpson unit is all heavy gauge metal that will hold up to abuse.3) The units with vertical crank shaft engines had the water pump mounted underneath. This made the units taller, less stable, and made it difficult to reach down and connect hoses. This Simpson unit has a horizontal engine shaft with the pump mounted in the rear where it’s easy to get at.4) Another big plus is that the metal frame on this unit completely surrounds the engine and pump housing protecting them from accidental damage. Units with the pumps on the bottom are susceptible to being damaged when pulling them up stairs or across rough terrain.5) One unit I looked at had the muffler mounted next to the hose storage and water pump. There were numerous complaints in the review section about melted hoses. This Simpson unit has the hose storage and pump in the back and the muffler up front. The muffler also has a head shield around it. Definitely no problem there.6) The majority of units I saw had aluminum pump heads. This unit, like the larger more expensive units, has a brass pump head which will hold up much better than the aluminum units. A harder metal means no soft threads to strip and brass, unlike aluminum does not oxidize.

Well, like others, I note that the packaging leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, Mr. FedEx tipped it on its side during the ride to my house, and even though it doesn't come with "oil" there's definitely oil present because the side of the box had a great big stain. Having read all the reviews, I followed the instructions to the letter, but also located the source of the leak and checked the air filter which was unaffected. One thing I'm doing is only using non-ethanol gas. It's still available here in NY, but you have to know what stations carry it and pay a premium price for it. I've found that it's totally worth it for all my small engines. It cuts down drastically on the issues. I was careful to run all of the air out of the water line before I pulled the cord. The Honda motor started on the 3rd pull and runs like a champ. I've used it for 5-6 hours, now and will change the oil before I use it again, as recommended. I've noticed, as others, that there are 2 drain plugs. One has a hole cut through the deck below it, so you can drain into a pan. I've had no issues so far, other than those already mentioned. The spray tips DO rattle out of the "holder". I put them in a ziploc bag and clipped that to the handle. The power of the thing is amazing. I cleaned a Trex deck that had become blackened (we live in the woods) with dirt and mildew stuff, and this thing really made it look great. I used the green tip, which you have to be careful because it will etch Trex and wood if you get it too close. Amazing. The unit is light and easy to move. My wife started it for me a couple times, and it cranked right up. One thing I noticed after about 4 hours of running. It's leaking oil. I'm not too concerned because I can see where it's coming from. The motor unit is dry, but the drain plugs are either not seated fully, or the washers are defective. Either way, I'm not too concerned, since that's an easily correctable issue. I'll edit this if I find out different when I change the oil but I suspect that they were purposely not overtightened at manufacture, and the heat of running may have loosened them up further. I'm not sure about the oil leaks others have experienced but if this is it, then it's not a biggie. Only 4 stars, since there are longstanding issues that Simpson seems to be ignoring (tips, oil leaks, packaging/mailing). I would suggest that they address the tip holder, solve the oil leaks and PROMINENTLY MARK their shipping boxes. One or two tiny this-end-up arrows on a big and heavy cardboard box is apparently not enough for the shippers to notice. It took me a while to find them and I was looking for them. Performance-wise, it has worked real well. I have yet to try all of the spray tips, change the oil, and use it for a more extended time, but so far, so good.Edit 9/27. Oil change was easy. I tightened up the two oil drain plug bolts when I was done. (There's one on each side of the motor. One has a hole in the deck cut under it for easy oil drainage). This stopped the slight oil leak, as I suspected would be the case. I've used for another 8 hours, and it hasn't skipped a beat. I'm using it to clean my house of cobwebs and dirt and it looks brilliant. You have to be careful because it WILL strip paint if you're not careful. I'm very pleased with this investment. No problems so far other than those stated above. I think the oil in the box was a non-issue, but I'd still like to see Simpson take care of it. The extra nozzles must be kept in a bag. I'm going to hang a string bag from the handle to take care of that issue.Edit 10/2021 This thing has been very good. I'm going to up my review to 5 stars. Caveats to buyers: I keep the trigger pulled 98% of the time I'm running this. I do not let it run against itself for more than a minute at a time. I always start it with the trigger pulled. I got this tip from another user and nothing's leaking, everything's working after 5 solid years of ownership. Also, I have put nothing except ethanol-free gas in it from the get-go. I do this for ALL my small engines, but it works. ALWAYS ETHANOL FREE. That little Honda starts first or second pull every time with next to no babying. Also I always empty the hose before storage. It's been a good unit. My only complaint is that the little tip storage rack is worthless. I just put mine in a bag zip-tied to the handle. Also, the machine vibrates enough to walk. They need to include some sort of wheel stops. I recommend this machine IF you are willing to do basic care with the above stuff.