Solvent/cleaner for old diesel gunge

[Forest Girl]

Taking up the floor of my Fulmar for the first time since purchase, I found a very old diesel spill that, when mopped up, left the surface of the paint/flow coat with a thick sticky nicotine coloured residue. I have tried paraffin and white spirit but to no avail. Any ideas? I thought about caustic soda, cellulose thinners, trichlorethylene but thought I'd check with you guys first.

 

[sarabande]

I suspect you may need a biological cleaner, which is also a lot friendlier to the fishes than trichloroethylene.


Try oiltechnics.com , they have a range of cleverly engineered biodetergents which will eat the gunge up in a night.

 

[VicS]

I suspect you may need a biological cleaner, which is also a lot friendlier to the fishes than trichloroethylene.


Try oiltechnics.com , they have a range of cleverly engineered biodetergents which will eat the gunge up in a night.

Avoid caustic soda if any surfaces are painted. It is an effective paint stripper.

I would avoid any inflammable solvents and chlorinated solvents like trichloroethylene.

Bilgex may be all that is required to make a reasonable job of cleaning up

 

[sailorman]

Avoid caustic soda if any surfaces are painted. It is an effective paint stripper.

I would avoid any inflammable solvents and chlorinated solvents like trichloroethylene.

Bilgex may be all that is required to make a reasonable job of cleaning up

or perhaps washing machine powder

 

[Skysail]

Daz and hot water works on bilges, not sure about diesel residue, but safe. What about Gunk; Bilgex as mentioned too.

 

[dylanwinter]

boiler suit detergent

or perhaps washing machine powder

go to a big supermarket and buy some detergent that says that is for greasy stains

the slug bilges never smelt so sweet

make a strong water mix

use hot water to help it get under way

sloosh it around

pump it out - hopefully into a bucket

pour it down the loo or into the sewage system which is supposed to be able to cope with it

best not straight into the sea unless actually at sea

if it is really horrible you might need to repeat

Dylan

and next week I will be telling you how to use boot polish in your cutlass gland

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Taking up the floor of my Fulmar for the first time since purchase, I found a very old diesel spill that, when mopped up, left the surface of the paint/flow coat with a thick sticky nicotine coloured residue. I have tried paraffin and white spirit but to no avail. Any ideas? I thought about caustic soda, cellulose thinners, trichlorethylene but thought I'd check with you guys first.

I will be very interested if you find a solution that works. We have a nice white tray under our engine and due to a small leak, some diesel dripped onto the tray and left a pool about the size of a dinner plate. No gunk, just liquid.

The liquid cleaned up easily, but the flow coat was stained.

I have tried Skippers Choice, Bilgex, washing up liquid, washing stain remover, washing up powder, mixing stuff with hot water, agitation and probably a few other things.

Nothing has made any difference. Of course it is all clean, but the stain remains.

 

[dylanwinter]

I agree

I will be very interested if you find a solution that works. We have a nice white tray under our engine and due to a small leak, some diesel dripped onto the tray and left a pool about the size of a dinner plate. No gunk, just liquid.

The liquid cleaned up easily, but the flow coat was stained.

I have tried Skippers Choice, Bilgex, washing up liquid, washing stain remover, washing up powder, mixing stuff with hot water, agitation and probably a few other things.

Nothing has made any difference. Of course it is all clean, but the stain remains.

there are few things in life more annoying than a dirty drip tray

I feel your pain solent boy



Dylan

 

[maxi77]

I find dishwasher tablets disolved in boiling water shift a lot of things with a ittle encouragement

 

[Hostage]

When I was looking for a cleaner to remove the sticky mess on an inflatable dingy caused by UV light degradation I discovered on another thread that Fairy Power Spray was the only thing that would remove it.

All the other methods you mention had failed. I tried the Fairy Power Spray and it worked. It is intended for cleaning ovens.

Good luck

 

[davo]

try a bottle of coke a cola it good for cleaning engines and bilges

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

there are few things in life more annoying than a dirty drip tray

I feel your pain solent boy



Dylan

Thanks for the sympathy. Just wanted to save the poor bloke wasting his time with supermarket detergent and hot water.

Is now the time to point out that without a centre board your duck punt is going to have an effective tacking angle in excess of 180 degrees?

 

[Yantlet]

Re the Duck Punt's tacking angle - You are wrong and you are confused!

 

[Nostrodamus]

Ishould imagine there are a few on here who could lend you a couple of their sterydent tablets. Well they apparently get rid of stains.

 

[Latestarter1]

Taking up the floor of my Fulmar for the first time since purchase, I found a very old diesel spill that, when mopped up, left the surface of the paint/flow coat with a thick sticky nicotine coloured residue. I have tried paraffin and white spirit but to no avail. Any ideas? I thought about caustic soda, cellulose thinners, trichlorethylene but thought I'd check with you guys first.

When performing repowers always specify cleaning bilges TFR (Traffic Film Remover) available from most commercial vehicle factors, you require the premium TFR used for cleaning oil and grease from commercial vehicle chassis prior to MOT testing, Do not go for budget or envionmental formulations, just the premium stuff in 25 liter tubs which will render tomcats sterile and take the skin off your hands if undiluted. Costs around £25 a tub. Also leaves bilges degreased and ready to paint after rinsing.

Another tip is to use grey commercial workshop floor paint instead of International Damboline bilge paint, my supplier confirms that formulation is identical at a quarter of the cost.

 

[ostell]

or perhaps washing machine powder

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