Cleaning engine bay

[salar]

What is the best way to clean the bottom and sides of the engine bay, when I can barely reach it (or not, in some parts)? The paint is sound, but a few years of maintenance spills and a bit of blowing soot has left a mess of gooey black on top of the paint under the engine. The engine bay drains into the bilge. Would you spray engine cleaner in then swill it out with water into the bilge then pump out or is here a better way?. It is a 25 foot Harley semi displacement motor cruiser, 260HP Yanmar with an outdrive.

 

[Heckler]

What is the best way to clean the bottom and sides of the engine bay, when I can barely reach it (or not, in some parts)? The paint is sound, but a few years of maintenance spills and a bit of blowing soot has left a mess of gooey black on top of the paint under the engine. The engine bay drains into the bilge. Would you spray engine cleaner in then swill it out with water into the bilge then pump out or is here a better way?. It is a 25 foot Harley semi displacement motor cruiser, 260HP Yanmar with an outdrive.

Bilgex
S

 

[Halo]

Best thing I found is oven cleaner. It will take off the paint and needs a good rinse but works like a charm.
On an ongoing basis put some washing powder solution in the bilge at the start of each trip and pump out at the end. This will keep bilge clean and sweet smelling

 

[theoldsalt]

I use Gunk engine cleaner in a spray bottle then rinse with warm soapy (or detergent) water.

 

[aslabend]

Could try muc off bike cleaner
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/muc-off/trigger-bottle-1-litre-ec005520?country=GB&currency=GBP&gclid=CMmQm5L6lMUCFasEwwod5yMAZw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Momac]

Virosol (diluted with water) is an excellent degreaser
http://www.cloverchem.co.uk/2013/uk/product_detail.asp?prod_code='326'&range_sub='20'
.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Dump some washing machine powder in there, or better still liquid. It smells nice and gentle emulsifies and breaks down the oil.

 

[john m]

G101 from autosmart is the best degreser

 

[KevB]

I've just discovered cillet bang - grease and sparkle. It is by far the best oil remover I've ever used and I've tried a lot. And you don't have to pay silly chandlery prices.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cillit-Bang-Cleaner-Grease-Sparkle/dp/B000LP64FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430216143&sr=8-1&keywords=cillit+bang+grease+and+sparkle

I had a years worth (18000 miles) of chain oil splattered over the real wheel of my motorbike and grease and sparkle and a scourer had it all removed in less than five minutes.

 

[lw395]

Best thing I found is oven cleaner. It will take off the paint and needs a good rinse but works like a charm.
On an ongoing basis put some washing powder solution in the bilge at the start of each trip and pump out at the end. This will keep bilge clean and sweet smelling

You want to be careful what and where you pump out.

I found a drip tray to fit, wipe up the oil with a bit of kitchen roll.

The worst thing to do is spread the oil around the boat.
I once had a rough trip in a yacht with an oily bilge, some water got below, we rolled a lot, oil everywhere.

A degreaser such as Screwfix sell is pretty good, I use the Pela to suck up the dirty water. Then you can dispose of it properly.

 

[Jabs]

What is the best way to clean the bottom and sides of the engine bay, when I can barely reach it (or not, in some parts)? The paint is sound, but a few years of maintenance spills and a bit of blowing soot has left a mess of gooey black on top of the paint under the engine. The engine bay drains into the bilge. Would you spray engine cleaner in then swill it out with water into the bilge then pump out or is here a better way?. It is a 25 foot Harley semi displacement motor cruiser, 260HP Yanmar with an outdrive.

That's an awful lot of power!

Must go well.

Tony.

 

[spannerman]

Our workshop washes the engine room on every service, we use a garden spray pump with degreaser, and a long radiator brush to get under the engine, then rinse it off with a hose while sucking the oily water out with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, then a liberal spray over all the electrical connectors. The customers are very happy to see the engine room cleaner than when it came in.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I have a can of Gunk so I'm going to give that a go. Use a mini spray to apply, wait a bit and scrub where possible. Wash off with hose and pump out with bilge pump. I was advised to give the engine compartment a squirt with washing up liquid every day.

 

[blobby47]

Bilgex as always worked well for me over the years ;-)

 

[PetiteFleur]

I used Bilgex with hot water and an old dishwasher brush to clean the engine compartment and the bilge under the fuel tank(which leaked...) and it was excellent. This was before fitting the new engine.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I used Gunk in a sprayer and am regretting it. The whole boat stinks of it now. I'll maybe try some Cillit stuff next to get rid of the smell!

 

[salar]

That's an awful lot of power!

Must go well.

Tony.

It ticks along very nicely and can get there in a hurry if needed. The great thing about semi displacement boats is that you can go at any speed you like, from 3 knots at tickover to 30 knots if you don't care about the fuel bill. I will need to fit trim tabs if I do much at the higher end though, there is quite a bit of torque from 260 galloping horses.

Thanks for all the tips on cleaning. I will make sure I don't go for the smelly method!

 

[GTom]

Great source of ideas in this thread. What's the best for smoky soundproof foam? Pressure washer + detergent?

 

[RJJ]

I like white vinegar, or citrus degreaser, or a mixture, for almost everything on the boat. the mixture probably good in this case.

Both are so cheap you can use them liberally; both are firmly at the "greener" end, which is preferable given inevitably some of this stuff will reach the bilge pump, then the sea.

 

[cherod]

Dump some washing machine powder in there, or better still liquid. It smells nice and gentle emulsifies and breaks down the oil.

Yes , after Gunking ,