degreasers

[1956olds]

The po of my boat was not into cleaning his bilge.I spent three hours down there last saturday scrubbing with orange bilge cleaner.Op apperently layed down oilsorb cloths and just kept layering them.I originally removed 4-6 oilsorb booms from each side before the survey.I understand these are not clean engines to run if you over fill them constantly.And i have found the oil level stays about the same at 1/4" below the cold fill line on the sticks,once it blows down that far,so that will be my cold mark from now on.My question is what will clean this gunk up?I have used a gallon of bilge cleaner and let it soak then hot water rinse and a shop vac but its still got some slime/sludge down there.I dont pump any of the crap overboard just vac it up and dispose of it at work.I also want to degrease the plants so i can touch up the paint.I searched on boat diesel.com but no difinitive answers there yet.Trying to get it done before lift out for storage on the 25th.Glen

 

[JimG]

Purple Power cuts oil pretty good... I've used it on some Jeep engines. Just wear a mask and make sure your well ventilated when you use it.

 

[fwebster]

Try a 3 step process:Gunk spray degreaser, do it on a warm day and keep it wet and scrub the area with a stiff brush until you are ready to wash it off. Next, spray everything down with Purple Power, scrub and hose it off. Finally wash the bilge with a good dish washing detergent.

 

[magstang1]

Castrol super clean. It comes in a purple gallon jug like antifreeze.

Cheap and cuts everything.

 

[RollerCoastr]

If you're willing to spend some money, go to Harbor Freight and get a McCulloch steam cleaner. It looks like a vacuum, but it's not - it just produces steam. I just lightly "mist" a bilge area with Simple Green, and throw a wad of paper towels down. Apply steam to the surfaces using a variety of small brush attachments. The rising steam means that you'll work blind quite a bit of the time, but it works so well/fast/easily, so that's no big deal. When I'm done with a section, I use the tip of the nozzle to push the towel around to wipe up the oil. I can clean the entire ER without so much as crouching over. If you expel water from the hose before moving it into the bilge, there won't be any messy oily water to contend with. I don't even use that many paper towels.

It also works great on caulk without scrubbing or using chemical cleaners. The caulk in my cockpit looks like it was laid down yesterday.

 

[1956olds]

I love the castrol but cannot find it around here anymore,that is what i used on the old boat when i got it,6 yrs ago.We have a small steamcleaner for the house.i wonder if she"d miss it?

 

[magstang1]

I think I found it at the local auto parts store. Walmart might have had it too.

 

[RollerCoastr]

We have a small steamcleaner for the house.i wonder if she"d miss it?

It was one of those handheld models that convinced me to go big - the little ones make the "sloshing water and detergent" method look easy and clean in comparison!

 

[1956olds]

Which model did you get?I am thinking the one with 4 bar and 58 lbs pressure.Should be able to do the engines with it easy also.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I have the MC1275. It's only rated at 43 PSI. I have no complaints, but when is bigger not better? :grin:

 

[munko]

I have the MC1275

Roller, what is the quality of this model. Some of the reviews state the scrubbing pad broke. I am always a little weary of Harbor Freight.

 

[jason78]

I recently bought a bottle of Spray Nine Marine Grez-Off Degreaser. This is different than the regular Spray Nine. So far I am VERY impressed.

http://www.spraynine.com/product/marine-grez-off-665

 

[JimFromMD]

I recently bought a bottle of Spray Nine Marine Grez-Off Degreaser. This is different than the regular Spray Nine. So far I am VERY impressed.

http://www.spraynine.com/product/marine-grez-off-665

I have been very impressed when using the regular Spray 9 to clean my bilge. Admittedly mostly just oil drips and cleaning up after the mechanic etc, but still works great with a spray down and light sponging. Havent tried the marine version, but may keep an eye out for it in the spring. Havent had experience with diesel, but give spray 9 a go.

 

[ZZ13]

I recently bought a bottle of Spray Nine Marine Grez-Off Degreaser. This is different than the regular Spray Nine. So far I am VERY impressed.

http://www.spraynine.com/product/marine-grez-off-665

Jason from everything I researched they are exactly the same. Marine one has more colorful bottle and higher price. I have been using the regular for home, cars and boats since the late 1980s. Greatest cleaning product ever.

 

[saopm]

I love the castrol but cannot find it around here anymore,that is what i used on the old boat when i got it,6 yrs ago.We have a small steamcleaner for the house.i wonder if she"d miss it?

Home Depot sells heavy duty degreaser called Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreasers. It is on Par with Castrol Super Clean if not the same.

 

[jason78]

I have been very impressed when using the regular Spray 9 to clean my bilge. Admittedly mostly just oil drips and cleaning up after the mechanic etc, but still works great with a spray down and light sponging. Havent tried the marine version, but may keep an eye out for it in the spring. Havent had experience with diesel, but give spray 9 a go.

Jason from everything I researched they are exactly the same. Marine one has more colorful bottle and higher price. I have been using the regular for home, cars and boats since the late 1980s. Greatest cleaning product ever.

This product is different that traditional Spray Nine, (Marine designation or not). This product is called Spray Nine Grez-Off Degreaser. I have used Spray Nine for several years and it does work well for vinyl and other surfaces but this product breaks up grease and oil much better/faster.

 

[RollerCoastr]

Roller, what is the quality of this model. Some of the reviews state the scrubbing pad broke. I am always a little weary of Harbor Freight.

I've been impressed with the machine itself. The filler is a poor design - it cannot be filled without using a funnel (they include one), but the hose, tubes and the machine itself are more sturdy than I expect from anything from HF.

My scrubbing pad probably fell apart during the first use. I use the small brush attachments instead. They don't cover as much area, (<inch) as the pad would, but they're better at concentrating the steam and getting into corners anyway.

 

[ZZ13]

This product is different that traditional Spray Nine, (Marine designation or not). This product is called Spray Nine Grez-Off Degreaser. I have used Spray Nine for several years and it does work well for vinyl and other surfaces but this product breaks up grease and oil much better/faster.

Ahh. I missed that detail.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Home Depot sells heavy duty degreaser called Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreasers. It is on Par with Castrol Super Clean if not the same.

+1 :thumbsup:

 

[1956olds]

Well i have some purple power and a new mc1375 4bar 48psi steamer and i am headed up to clean my bilge today.I need my mom to come up from Corpus Christy and pin a note on my coat to remind me to take pictures.