Removing fuel/water from bilge

single

single

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A sponge or j-cloth on a stick is cheaper.
I use a Pela, because I already have one.
The oil needs rubbing off the flat surfaes after the water has been (mostly) sucked up.

I would not use the wet vac, this sort of thing makes them pong a long time.
Maybe use it when you're down to washing away the last traces with lots of soapy water?
 
Cheap sanitary towels from Tesco will soak up most of it. If a permanent problem then you can get absorbent sausages to lay in the bilge. Force 4 have a choice - see p77 of their catalogue.
 
single said:
My bilge under the engine has too many inaccessible areas so the main bilge pump won't remove everything. Would something like in the link be any good to sort of manually 'vacuum up' the various annoying pools? Or ideally something cheaper? There isn't really space to be pumping a handle and holding a pipe in the right place.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRANSFER-PUMP-Change-scavenge-pump-OIL-Fluid-CE-12V-12V-DC-CAR-60W-Siphon-car-/221632795256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item339a581278
Click to expand...

The punp in the link is probably not a suitable type. It says in the description never use for water, although I guess it would be OK on a clean mixture of oil and water but any solid debris would damage it

A flexible vane pump would perhaps be more suitable but again liable to wear by solid debris

A vacuum oil extractor better still and finish off with a swab of some sort.

A proper oil absorbent mat will absorb oil and leave clean water which is then easy to dispose of. Nappies and san. towels will absorb water and once wet not be efficient oil absorbers.
 
Last edited:
single said:
My bilge under the engine has too many inaccessible areas so the main bilge pump won't remove everything. Would something like in the link be any good to sort of manually 'vacuum up' the various annoying pools? Or ideally something cheaper? There isn't really space to be pumping a handle and holding a pipe in the right place.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRANSFER-PUMP-Change-scavenge-pump-OIL-Fluid-CE-12V-12V-DC-CAR-60W-Siphon-car-/221632795256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item339a581278
Click to expand...

I found the largest size of disposable nappy the simplest and most cost-effective
 
Capillary syphons sort higher nooks and crannies. (Think of the wicks people water plants with) Short lengths of Kitchen towel or cloth route water over a high spot into the pumped bilge. It isn't fast, but satisfying-
 
I have found 'maternity pads' to be very effective. At my age I cannot muster up enough poise to ask for them myself so I have to ask others to buy them for me. ;)
 
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