Koch Chemie PFE PreFoam Efficient 5 L is a highly alkaline pre-wash concentrate with a citrus scent. You apply it as foam to your car, van or truck before the contact wash. It loosens insect remains, bird droppings and road grime, so your wash mitt drags less dirt across the paint and the risk of scratches drops. In short: dilute PFE 1:30 for a normal pre-wash, 1:20 for heavy insects, leave it for one minute at most and rinse off thoroughly.
In summer, when the front end is covered in bugs, it is a practical pre-wash. Below you can read what the product does, how to dilute it and how it differs from the pH-neutral GSF Gentle Snow Foam.
Key facts about Koch Chemie PFE PreFoam Efficient
Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
Content | 5 L concentrate |
Type | Highly alkaline pre-wash with plenty of foam |
Dilution, pre-wash | 1:30 |
Dilution, insects and heavy soiling | 1:20 |
Dilution, trucks | 1:15 to 1:20 |
Contact time | 1 minute at most |
Scent | Citrus |
Application | Foam lance or foam cannon on a pressure washer |
These are the figures Koch Chemie gives itself. The maximum application concentration is 1:100, so with light dirt you can safely use more water. The product is meant for foam application, not for spraying neat onto the paint. If you are unsure, start with 1:30 and only go to 1:20 if insect remains stay put. Measure the concentrate with a measuring jug, so the ratio stays the same at every wash.
How to use this Koch Chemie pre-wash step by step
Dilute for the job. Use 1:30 for a normal pre-wash and 1:20 for insects or heavy soiling. Fill the tank of your lance with the right amount of concentrate and top up with water. Tip: write the mixing ratio on the bottle, so you do not have to calculate it next time.
Work on cool paint. Do not apply PFE to hot paintwork. Let a car that has stood in the sun cool down first and look for shade. The foam must not dry.
Spray from the bottom up. Start at the sills and work towards the roof. That covers the whole surface evenly and keeps the foam on the dirtiest areas longest. Tip: pay attention to the front bumper, the mirrors and the rear.
Let it work briefly. Koch Chemie states one minute at most. Set a timer if you tend to wander off. Pitfall: leaving it longer because it looks so good.
Rinse thoroughly. Use the pressure washer and rinse from top to bottom, including panel gaps, around the mirrors and at the number plate. Tip: keep the lance a few decimetres away and walk round the car steadily.
Carry on with the contact wash. If you want a shampoo to follow, read our guide to the two-bucket method. Thanks to the pre-wash, far less grit ends up on your wash mitt.
Koch Chemie pre-wash: PFE or GSF Gentle Snow Foam?
PFE is highly alkaline and made for dirt that sticks: insects, bird droppings and road grime. GSF is pH-neutral, safe for ceramic coating, wax and PPF, and you can also use it as a contact shampoo. Read our separate guide: using Koch Chemie GSF Gentle Snow Foam.
Situation | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
Lots of insects or heavy road grime | PFE PreFoam Efficient | Concentrate for stubborn dirt, 1:20 |
Weekly wash of a coated car | GSF Gentle Snow Foam | pH-neutral and coating-safe |
Pre-wash and contact shampoo in one product | GSF Gentle Snow Foam | Can also be used as a hand-wash shampoo |
Common mistakes and tips
Leaving it on too long. Stick to one minute at most and then rinse.
Mixing too weak or too strong. Start with 1:30 and only go to 1:20 if insects stay put.
Letting the foam dry. In warm weather, do one half of the car at a time and rinse straight away.
Treating PFE as a shampoo. It is a pre-wash, so you still wash with a shampoo afterwards.
Skipping the rinse. Rinse well, including in the seams and around the glass.
What to combine PFE with
A solid foam cannon, such as the Chemical Guys TORQ Big Mouth Foam Cannon, for a dense layer of foam.
The D-CON Snow Foam Lance V2 with its 800 ml tank if you want a compact lance. How to connect it is covered in our guide to connecting and adjusting a foam lance.
A pH-neutral pre-wash for in between, such as the Koch Chemie Finisher TropicSnow.
For trucks and commercial vehicles, the Koch Chemie CoPo BMP T pre-cleaner. All pre-washes are in the snow foam and pre-wash category.
General background on the foam itself is in our guide to using snow foam.