Engine detailing

[Warpa]

With the outside of the boat machined and waxed, stern drive cleaned, sealed and waxed i plan on doing the engine after the service and winterisation.

I plan to do it the same as the truck, but will use a hose and not a pressure washer before sealing and dressing all the rubber and plastic. Now am i ok in filling the space below the engine with water and turning on the bilge pump to remove it? I have a manual pump also on the boat if needed, or should i avoid the flowing water and just degrease and use rags to wipe away?

 

[tinkicker0]

Don't you have a transom plug to drain the water out? The bilge pump will leave a substantial amount of water in the bilge which will have to be manually bailed out.

I too have a fetish for clean engines, but mine has had Waxoil sprayed all over it, probably since new, so I just content myself with cleaning the Rocker cover, K&N, wiring and distributor cap / leads.

Rather have a corrosion free engine than a shiny one. All new parts get a good spray of WD40 to protect them and the engine gets a good spray of WD40 once a year when she goes on the hard.

 

[PaulGooch]

My boat has some holes in the hull liner, beneath the engine. Any more than an inch or so of water and it gets between the hull and liner and is a pain to get out. I'd check to make sure yours doesn't have them too.

I recently cleaned my engine and engine bay again. Not that it had really got dirty since last year. Before doing it, i serviced the engine and fitted an additional bilge pump in the engine bay (didn't have one there from new). I kept the pump running to minimize water build up.

First, a small amount of degreaser, with the pump turned off. Then two or three bucket fulls of soapy water (washing powder, not fairy liquid, less foam). Then, on with the pump and gently rinse everywhere with a hose on low until all the soapy water has cleared. Let the pump clear most of the water and mop the last bit out with a cheapo Asda mop.

 

[maverickofpoole]

Paul that looks pristine well done. You have now inspired me to have a go at mine. Access to the bilge is a pig on mine but looks no worse than yours.

Damn another job I've talked myself into

 

[PaulGooch]

Paul that looks pristine well done. You have now inspired me to have a go at mine. Access to the bilge is a pig on mine but looks no worse than yours.

Damn another job I've talked myself into

Access is easier than it looks in the pic, but still not exactly comfortable.

 

[MarieK]

Lets have some before and after pics please warpa

 

[petem]

I've heard of peeps rigging up a windscreen washer pump to pump out the last few cms of water in the bilge.

Pete

 

[swifty]

I use my Pela Oil Extractor to clean the bilge out and it works perfectly.

 

[MarieK]

Throw a nappy in to get the last few drops of water left by the bilge pump

 

[Assassin]

My engines were fully detailed before installation, they were painted and everything made nice, this makes things much easier.

I do not have any oil leaks (touch wood) and all i do is apply a little water soluble cleaner and wash off with a garden sprayer, this limits the amount of water in the bilge and is easily removed with the bilge pump then the wet and dry vacuum cleaner.