Do you clean your engines? If so how?

[PaulGooch]

Paul where were you today?? Arthur my Starboard engine shed his exhaust pipe at the elbow, but carried on running at reduced revs for about 1.1/2 hours. Lots of black smoke both outside and inside the engine box and the transom. Cleaned it up with fairy liquid and hot water.

You should h ave emailed John, i'd have loved to come clean it up for you.

























OK, i lied

 

[GrahamHR]

Black smoke? Don't seem to get that (or any type of smoke) with my petrol engined boat. Probably would do if it caught fire, but then I wouldn't be that worried about how clean the engine looked.

The engine exterior needs very little cleaning, only a bit of dust and no oil film.

 

[Divemaster1]

Cleaning engines ... No ... why would I want to remove a rust protecting layer of oil sheen ??

Wipe over ..yes
Clean Bilges .... need to do that and will do again this year
Degrease engines ... No.

 

[RIN]

Cleaning engines ... No ... why would I want to remove a rust protecting layer of oil sheen ??

Wipe over ..yes
Clean Bilges .... need to do that and will do again this year
Degrease engines ... No.

It is important to be able to spot any oil leaks as soon as possible. So cleaning the engines so that such leaks stand out is a good thing.

After cleaning and repainting where necessary, I'll spray some protective oil over the engines

 

[omega2]

Black smoke? Don't seem to get that (or any type of smoke) with my petrol engined boat. Probably would do if it caught fire, but then I wouldn't be that worried about how clean the engine looked.

The engine exterior needs very little cleaning, only a bit of dust and no oil film.

Do you have sails as well??

 

[Divemaster1]

It is important to be able to spot any oil leaks as soon as possible. So cleaning the engines so that such leaks stand out is a good thing.......

... have 20 year old Detroits onboard ... and I have plenty of rags onboard keeping them wiped clean(ish)... also got cameras down there pointing at fuel and lube system, so will see if something drastic happens underway. Engines are about 2M long, 1.2M tall and 1.2M wide each, so visual inspections means walking / crawling around then and look at all parts..

Always go down with a rag and a couple of spanners to touch the odd one "just in case"... during oil checks etc.

 

[Assassin]

I use a water soluble degreaser, Jizer is one of many in the market, and hose down, if the bilge pumps are up to it pump out with them, if not and you have 240V available then buy a small submersible pump.

Many can be pumped out into the river/sea if they are of the biodegradable type which many now are.

 

[tinkicker0]

WD40 and a rag for the painted bits. Silicone spray for the hoses and wiring. Once a year.

 

[litterfisher]

would a salvage yard engine one be less$?