Can I clean a boat waterlock?

[GGC]

Can I clean a waterlock? If so what with?

 

[B27]

Asssume it's horribly oily inside?
A detergent degreaser and hot water will probably remove a lot, but the mess than comes out needs disposing of.

 

[lustyd]

You can certainly clean the outside

I'd imagine the inside is better than you think due to the heat and substances in there, it's probably quite toxic to growth and anything else is ejected

 

[Sandy]

Why do you want to clean the waterlock as it will only get dirty again? Seriously, any washing up liquid will work.

Unlike @B27 I have only ever poured water out of a waterlock and would be seriously worried if it was oily.

 

[Tranona]

Should be no need to clean - as suggested if it is contaminated then there is something wrong. It only holds salt water and even though exhaust gases flow through it that should not result in deposits.

 

[GGC]

Should be no need to clean - as suggested if it is contaminated then there is something wrong. It only holds salt water and even though exhaust gases flow through it that should not result in deposits.

I suspect it is leaking/ perhaps a pipe is leaking or damaged. There is oily deposits in my bilge. Engine working OK and water coming out of exhaust (no steam / smoke)……but I’ve definitely got oily deposits after a day out on the water and using the engine. The muck could of course be coming from something else. I’m not losing oil from the engine. But definite smattering opposite the waterlock and on the external surface of the waterlock.

 

[B27]

I helped re-engine a boat once. The old waterlock was a case of 'smoker's lung'.
Any bio-slime which can go through your impeller and so on can fester in the water lock.
Also mineral stuff can end up in there.

Let's just say, if I ever dsiconnect a waterlock, I will be careful to keep the contents out of the bilge.

 

[GGC]

 

[Tranona]

If oily water (or just water even) is coming out of it then there is a leak from either from the hoses or the drain plug which should be at the bottom right of your second photo. Find the source first.

 

[GGC]

Thank you. If I find the drain plug can I drain it? Or is it a sealed unit?

 

[Tranona]

No, not sealed. The drain plug is there so that if you lay the boat up where there is a chance of freezing you can drain the water that is left in the bottom when you shut the engine down.