Peak pressure against working pressure
Is the Kärcher really more powerful, or is it just quoted differently?
This is the clearest illustration on the site of why the word in front of the number matters more than the number.
| Compared on | K 7 WCM FJ | RE 130 PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure quoted | 180 bar maximum | 135 bar working |
| Flow rate | 600 l/h | Not stated |
| Motor | Water-cooled | Brushless |
| Pump head | Not stated | Aluminium |
| Hose | 10 m | Not stated |
| US availability | Sold | Absent |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
Buy the Kärcher for the published flow rate, the ten-metre hose and continuous running — it is the better-documented machine and the cheaper one.
Buy the Stihl for the brushless motor and aluminium pump head if the machine will work weekly for years. You are paying for hours, not for pressure.
We cannot say from the published figures, and neither can anyone else quoting them side by side. A 180 bar peak and a 135 bar working figure are not the same measurement. That is the point of this comparison.
180 bar · 600 l/h · 60 m²/h · water-cooled motor
The top of the domestic range, and the only one here whose motor is water-cooled — which is a statement about running time, not power.
Best for: Large areas cleaned in one session — long drives, farmyards, several vehicles — where the machine runs continuously rather than in bursts
≈ £590 / 500 €
135 bar working pressure · aluminium pump head · brushless motor
A brushless motor and an aluminium pump head, at a price that only makes sense if the machine runs often.
Best for: Someone who already runs Stihl equipment and cleans machinery, vehicles or a yard every week
≈ 555 €
