I've spilt some engine oil in the bilge

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I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

I've rather carelessly, whilst doing an oil change, dropped about a cupful of oil in the bilge! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It's a very deep bilge (about 3' deep!) which also had a couple of inches of water in it at the time. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting it out? The bilge pump pickup is at the bottom of all this but can never get the last inch of water out. Also, I assume the oil will attack the rubber of the pump seals and diaphragm?

I was wondering about putting some detergent in there and mixing it all up before discharging it. Would that still damage the pump seals? Would some engine degreaser like "Jizer" be any better?

The only good news is that the boat isn't in the water so catching what comes out and preventing marine pollution won't be a problem.

Reaching down into the bilge to scoop it out with a bucket or scrub anything isn't really an option (well, not without taking the engine out) but I could probably get a pressure washer lance down in there.!
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

I use incontinence pads in my bilge! They mop up oil and water nicely and can be disposed of in the refuse as ordinary waste. Nappies would do too. You just need a supplier...
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

Buy some of those pads that soak it up and use them - or use a roll of genuine "Bounty" kitchen roll (this does not fall to bits when wet)
Then put some geniuine bilgex solution in and pump out
Then leave some bilgex solution to soak for a few days ( or better go on a trip) and pump out
If you still have a pong use some Tide or similar scented detergent solution
cheers
Martin
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

Use a pela oil extractor to suck up as much as possible.
Then use a detergent to mix the remaining oil with hot water and suck that up with the pela too. Then rinse with a bit more detergent.
Take the mess ashore to settle out and dispose of the oil properly.
Do not dump it in the sea.
I don't take it to extremes, but a cup full of oil is a lot when its all over a swan or your boot top.
I collect a few 2 pint milk bottles to let the oil settle out over a day or two. Anything but clear water ends up in the used sump oil container.
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

An oil absorbing pad or pillow would be a better bet than nappies or incontinence pads as it will absorb the oil in preference to the water. The othes will tend to absorb the water in preference to the oil.
Get rid of as much oil as possble with the oil absorbing pad , add more water even if it makes the oil more accessible. Then pump out and mop up as much water as possible and scrub it around with an emulsifying solvent such as Bilgex, add water mix it all up and pump out again. Repeat the Bilgex treatment if necessary.

Leave an oil absorbing pad in there afterwards to soak of any future minor oil leaks or spills
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

Maybe a little oil in the bilge is a good thing. I have a theory that because the oil floats on top of the water then the humidity in the enginespace will be lower hence the engines will not rust so quickly. Or maybe I'm just lazy.
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

You can get some super-absorbant bunds (look like draft excluders) from Industrial Suppliers like Arco or Slingsby. They are used to contain / soak up spillages in warehouses but they work great in the bilges.

I also use a kitchen baster in combination with a litre plastics drink bottle to get the last bit out of the corner.
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

That has my vote too. My Pela is very useful

I found that using specialised oil absorbent pads left me with a soggy dripping mass; it was difficult to mop up all the oil and I couldn't cleanse the pad for reuse properly either. I've now chucked them out
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

I've found Pampers Bed Mats (or change mats) great. Spread them out before you get to work on the engine and they absorb oil or diesel if you are doing filter changing - £4.60 from Boots
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

When I had a similar problem on my dutch steel boat which was out of the water, admittedly motor not sail but an ex fishing boat, so deep draft, I simply drilled a hole in the bottom, flushed through and bunged the hole up again afterwards. And no, this is not a wind up or a troll, it is the absolute truth! It might sound a bit radical but a 6 or 8mm hole is dead easy to fill up again and who is to see down there - cod or crabs only! I was able to clean out years of filth with Jizer and just let it drain down after pumping out what I could. I had a nice clean and dry bilge which for that boat was probably a first since first launch!
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

G'day Ian,

Have you considered adding more water to get the oil to the top of the sump for easy removal?

Having removed the bulk of the oil you could then pump the sump, refill adding some decreasing product and pump clean with a couple of rinses with washing up liquid.

I suspect a small amount of oil will not harm a bilge pump as they are designed to operate in this environment and so would be 'fit for perpose'.

Avagoodweekend......
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

[ QUOTE ]
I collect a few 2 pint milk bottles to let the oil settle out over a day or two. Anything but clear water ends up in the used sump oil container.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good idea.
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

I can recommend Stuart's Oil Absorbers (no connection) which only cost about £1 each from http://www.oilpads.co.uk. These are flat sheets rather than pillows but should be enough for a small spill. They can probably be wrung out and reused but I have never bothered. I keep one in each section of the engine bilges and change them each year if necessary.
 
Re: I\'ve spilt some engine oil in the bilge

Thanks all.

I've added as much water as I can and have left it for a day to settle out (pity it's been raining ever since)! Hopefully, if Mrs. A goes out shopping tomorrow I'll be able to get my hands on the turkey baster - if I'm quick, she'll never know!!!
 
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