Oil slick in the bilges

[silverseal]

I have just got round to looking at the bilges.. they are thick with an oily deposit which looks suspiciously like old engine oil. What does the forum recommend to emulsify the oil and then pump it into a container for disposal

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
I have just got round to looking at the bilges.. they are thick with an oily deposit which looks suspiciously like old engine oil. What does the forum recommend to emulsify the oil and then pump it into a container for disposal

[/ QUOTE ]

Gunk or other propriatory degreaser / emulisifier with hot water, allow to stand for a while until the oil emulsion floats to the top, skim off the oil emulsion for disposal and pump the rest with a good dose of detergent.

 

[gorb]

Add good quantity of Bilgex - it really is useful stuff, then mop up with disposable nappies (Pampers or whatever). I never sail without them. It's amazing just what a single one will absorb!

 

[penultimate]

I prefer Gunk to Bilgex. I solved the problem by removing the engine, cleaning the bilges with Gunk, and then replacing the engine with one from Nordlys (which doesn't leak oil). My original engine is now reconditioned: new bearings, seals, piston rings, top overhaul, etc. - and I am sure would be the answer to all your problems. Call me!

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
then mop up with disposable nappies (Pampers or whatever). I never sail without them. It's amazing just what a single one will absorb!

[/ QUOTE ] My local chandlery is selling material that claims to absorb oil but not water. According to the label, you can either dispose of the saturated 'cloth' ashore or wring it out into a container and re-use indefinately. Has anyone tried this stuff - opinions?

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
I prefer Gunk to Bilgex. I solved the problem by removing the engine, cleaning the bilges with Gunk, and then replacing the engine with one from Nordlys (which doesn't leak oil). My original engine is now reconditioned: new bearings, seals, piston rings, top overhaul, etc. - and I am sure would be the answer to all your problems. Call me!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hear hear - Gunk is the doggies do-dahs <font color="white"> (BOLLOCKS) </font>
for degreasing / emulsifying oily messes

 

[robind]

Try Truckwash from motor accessory shops comes in 25 ltrs if you need that much. Works for me and a lot cheaper than Bilgex.
Rob

 

[andrewbarker]

Yes - I bought some of these cos I had oily bilge syndrome after my gearbox broke. They seemed to me to hold a tiny amount of oil B4 saturating &, at the price, were a waste of money. The Pampers worked best with Persil liquid detergent (from anywhere).

 

[Evadne]

I'll second that, I keep one in the bilges to absorb any stray splashes through the season but they are usesless for mopping up a big spill. Safeway's Giant Junior disposable nappies and Fairy liquid followed by Bilgex. Mr Muscle is gret for getting it off floorboards etc. Don't leave the nappy in for too long or it will explode. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Guest]

My way is to take rags and wipe off excess / loose crud. Then spray with oven cleaner and let foam up .......

Wipe off foam after a reasonable period - eg 10 minutes. Then rinse of with water .... wiping dry. OR you could spray water on and then pump via bilge pump to bucket etc.

All you have to do is make sure that bilges are well rinsed after to remove the small amount of caustic contained in the cleaner.

I use the above method to clean up all sorts on boats - eg. to refit echo-sounder tube after castor oil leaks etc. Done well - the GRP is ready to glass to as the cleaner lifts all - even the paint if its well past its life etc.

 

[dulcibella]

Once you have got it clean, a good tip for keeping it that way is to tip in the odd bucket of warm water with a little washing-up liquid, then pump it out at the end of your next passage. Not good if you have a AWB with a bilge capacity of a couple of litres, but works well for boats with a real bilge space.

 

[bigjimi]

If you do a thorough job of washing the bilge I don't think you'll get it all into a container. This is a problem. You could go somewhere quiet and pump it. Both Poole Harbour and Southampton Water are quiet this time of year... but it'll need to be our secret! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Guest]

Ditto ..... I regularly squirt a few cc's of Washing-up liquid into the engine bilges ...... slopping around when sailing etc. - it may not keep everything pristine, but it stops a lot of it sticking to the bilge surface - making it easier to wipe out / keep clean ....

AND if you have a power washer ........ a quick squirt round with one under the engine can work wonders .... remember that a power-washer uses a lot less water than a standard hose for greater effect ..... that is of course if your engine area is suitable !!!