Absorbent mats for dieselly bilge

Generally polyurethane foam will absorb oil and displacing water in it. So a car wash sponge should work quite well. The oil can be removed from the foam afterwards using a detergent.
 
I have in the past used an absorbent sponge made for the purpose. It was more like a large sausage than the mats shown, but seemed to work well.
 
webcraft said:
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These absorbent pads are designed to only soak up oils/hydrocarbons. You can float them on water in the bilge. Have sent off for a pack, ten for a tenner free postage and a capacity of a litre of hydrocarbons per pad.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-Oil...Heavyweight-boat-bilge-car-truck/151346369192

Will report back on their effectiveness (or otherwise) at some point in the future.


- W
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They are excellent, I always have a pack aboard. Good for separating oil out of bilge water too.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
+1 for disposable nappies.
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The trouble with nappies is that they are designed to soak up watery liquid. Once they become saturated with water they won't soak up oil.
the oil absorbent pillows and blankets etc are hydrophobic and lyophilic which means they don't soak up water but will continue to absorb oil from a mixture of oil and water.
 
It would be better still to prioritise the action of tracing and curing the fuel leak (which might prove to be simple such as a fuel filter worked loose due to vibration).
 
I used the ones from ASAP that soak up oil and leave the water. I then used my Pela oil extractor to suck up the water. Wash afterwards with bilgex.

I once used nappies and they split, the mess was incredible, I would not go there again. My sump tray is now very clean and stays that way.
 
Deal with both problems, i.e. find and fix the diesel leak, and the water.
A sump tray is a great help, one boat has a cat litter tray which fits neatly between the engine bearers. Another has a cut down stack'n'store box. If I couldn't find something the right size/shape, I'd probably laminate one.
Also a little low bulkhead behind the engine traps any drips from the shaft and keeps the bilge under the engine dry.

A catch-container under the fuel filter is a great idea, which we've not yet copied.

If you go zero tolerance on oil, fuel and water in the bilge you should never have to deal with a mixture.
When the inevitable happens, if there's only a small amount of water and oil I just use a j-cloth to mop it up and take it away in a plastic milk bottle. Then clean the bilge.
 
MartynG said:
It would be better still to prioritise the action of tracing and curing the fuel leak (which might prove to be simple such as a fuel filter worked loose due to vibration).
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Yeah, well, this is on the radar, but there are more immediate issues over the next couple fo days (unless thte problem gets worse) , so am buying the pads as a temporary measure.

Places to check: primary and secondary filter, lift pump, injectors - anywhere else?

- W
 
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When I had an oil leak from a rear engine main bearing seal (not a trivial fix as substantial dismantling and gearbox removal needed) I used oil-absorbent sheets in the "under-engine" drip tray. Worked very well. Leak now dealt with, but for a year it kept things cleanish.
 
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