Engine Cleaning Question

[purplehayes]

Hello Guru's

Just a quick one. I had a thought the other day when washing my truck and doing the tires. I was using a spray and leave cleaner. (No Touch) I am sure many of you are familiar with it. Anyway this led me to google as I was thinking about all of the belt residue that I have all over my engine in the back and I would like to clean it up but it is sticky and grimy and it is very hard to get in there to do the work.... so I was wondering if anyone has used any of the engine cleaning products on their boats. What would be the additional considerations.... I was thinking about the electrics, various different materials as well as the fiberglass and stuff in the engine bay.

I have also seen online people using the NO TOUCH tire cleaner's on the engine itself and surprisingly it looks quite good but as far as what it would do to the engine in the long run.... ??? not sure.

Anyway, thought please.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I like to do an annual degreaser and rinse on mine.... My bilge isn't as clean as Todd's but I do try to keep it up to snuff. So, degrease, scrub, rinse, dry and recoat with Boeshield.....

 

[Lazy Daze]

My "guess" is that No Touch (which I have used on tires in the past) is probably silicone-based, which is what gives it the shine, although it dissipates rather quickly. As long as you're careful around electrical connections, I don't see the harm in it. Other than that, any sort of degreaser will work fine (Simple Green, for example). Myself, I like to keep the engine clean (it's actually pretty shiny in it's natural, clean state) and not use anything that's going to attract dirt/dust. But, if I was going to put anything on it, Boeshield would be my choice as it's one of the best protectants out there.

However, cleaning off belt dust really shouldn't be a normal thing to have to do. You might have a pulley that's wobbling or maybe something isn't aligned correctly. Take a good look and see how straight everything looks, then remove the belt and spin any of the pulleys that you can - listen and feel for any grumbling or odd noises - they should spin smooth and quiet. Get this part figured out and then replace the belt with a new one and relegate the old belt to a spare that you keep onboard.

 

[purplehayes]

Hey,

Thanks for the posts and the good info about sourcing the cause of the belt dust. I should of mentioned that I have had the boat now for about 4 years and in the first three I went through about two belts on the starboard engine. I had checked all the pulleys and stuff and changed out the tightening mechanism as I think there must of been history on this engine. Anyway, I also had a water issue and by mistake last year found out that the actual raw water pump on that engine was toast.

I assume that the pump was jamming up inside at times or something causing the belts to wear down as the pulleys were fine..... strange really but anyway. Also with the bits of water coming out over time I think it was also getting water on the belts causing them to deteriorate quicker. But that is fixed as is the belt and the belt squeaking at power and all that. We changed out the water pump and all is well on that engine. I have not tightened the belt in over 100hrs of engine running. I have checked it (well not in a few months.... but today ) and they are holding good. So that is the source of the dust.

I might try to find a product that does the same but is not silicone based. I think that I recall that Meguires tire foam is not but I will check into it.

Cheers


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Lazy Daze]

Check out some of the auto-detailing websites (maybe something like Auto Geek). While I've never used them, I've come across products that seem to leave a nice, satiny shine, but they don't stay "wet" or "sticky" - they will dry. That would be a good type of product to have if you're looking for aesthetics. BUT, you still need to clean it up real good, first! Plus, once it's cleaned, you'll know for sure if the belt issue is gone since it will be easy to see if more dust is accumulating.

 

[Nehalennia]

I don't have a lot of grime on the engine, but once and a while spray the engine down with coat of WD-40 and wipe it down. I sounds like your boat's pulleys may be out of alignment.
If your engine is dirty I wouldn't spray water all around, but bottle spray the engine with Simple Green and let it sit for awhile, Then come back with a microfiber towel and the hottest water/Simple Green solution your hands (wear kitchen gloves) can handle and get after it.

 

[Bob & Sue]

I shredded a belt last year had the same problem trying to clean it up I used a scrub brush and tooth brush to loosen it with Orange citrus cleaner then sprayed some water in the bilge with a spray bottle, used a shop vac to suck it up then wiped it down, let it dry, then sprayed with Boeshield. Don't forget to look at your pulleys for any debris in them they will keep throwing dust and pieces if there's anything stuck on them.

 

[northern]

I have used my electric high pressure water wasker for many years on my car and truck engines. I do it when the engines are cold. First I spray the entire engine and comparment with very soapy water with grease cuter in it. Let it sit for 10 minutes then wash off with pressure washer. I hold the nozzle back about 2 feet and a wide spray pattern, but if grease and dirt do not come off in one area I get close in. So far I have never had any problems starting the engines. After washing I go for a long drive. Works OK on boat engines also. I go lightly around the wires.
This may not be the recommended way butit sure is less work than hand cleaning.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

I do the simple green wash down and rinse in the fall. Once dry I also wipe it down with WD40 and do the WD40 ocassionally throughout the following season.
No salt water here so the Boeshield is not a necessity.

 

[purplehayes]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the posts. I got in there as best as I could today to get at it. I think I have a good start to it.... I have more to do tomorrow. Nehalennia... seriously nice and clean bilge. If you saw mine you would likely puke. I have issues as my twin inboards with water mufflers make it really hard to get in there at all. To get to the bottom of the bilge I can only reach a few areas and basically have to invert myself down the forward hatch to get in there. Do you use Simple Green in the bilge as well to keep it so clean?

I ended up using some CRC Marine degreaser/cleaner it sure took of the crud but now I was thinking on the way home of what it might do if that stuff gets into the bilge pumps. I sprayed and then after it was mostly dry went with the hose to gently rinse the sprayed part of the engine while making sure to over spray to get as much of it into the bilge as possible. I then pumped it out with my hand bilge pump... then added more water and bilge cleaner. Dont want to damage my fiberglass in the bilge so hopefully have done what is needed to keep it good. Anyway, I am planning to touch some RustCheck Rust Converter on certain parts and areas in need which are showing rust and then after that is dry then I will go back with my Quicksilver black to touch it up and give it a covering. More than anyone needed to know...

Cheers

 

[Nehalennia]

Yes. Simple Green, really hot water and a kitchen brush for he small areas and a tire brush for the larger ones. Last year I had a small coolant leak and oil leak so I had to clean it more often. Ive fixed both leaks since. Knock on wood I haven't had to clean the bilge since September and it's staying that way.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The CRC, or anything else you mentioned, won't harm your bilge, the pumps or the engine. Worst case, the CRC makes the floor slippery.

A tire brush, like Todd mentioned, is good to reach areas. Duct tape a longer handle onto it (old broom stick or similar) if you need.