How to safely degunk the engine bay

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Aug 7, 2006
30
- - Grand Prairie, Tx. Joe Pool Lake
Ok... I have been trying to figure this out for awhile. My S299 is sitting at the dock so I cannot just dump cleaning chemicals into the lake! I asked the local svc center to give me a quote to powerwash it out and install my new motor and it came to $4k. Too rich for me. I am capable of installing the diesel however I really would like to powerwash the crap out of the engine compartment and repaint it. Make it easy to see oil leaks as well as getting rid of the smell. The boat wreaks of diesel!! It had a rotted tank that I am also replacing. So any ideas, is there anyway to filter the bad stuff out of the bilge and pump the rest overboard? Folks I am desperate!!
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,704
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Ok... I have been trying to figure this out for awhile. My S299 is sitting at the dock so I cannot just dump cleaning chemicals into the lake! I asked the local svc center to give me a quote to powerwash it out and install my new motor and it came to $4k. Too rich for me. I am capable of installing the diesel however I really would like to powerwash the crap out of the engine compartment and repaint it. Make it easy to see oil leaks as well as getting rid of the smell. The boat wreaks of diesel!! It had a rotted tank that I am also replacing. So any ideas, is there anyway to filter the bad stuff out of the bilge and pump the rest overboard? Folks I am desperate!!
Unfortunately you are going to have to do this the hard way... By hand, with lots of rags, cleaners & solvents..:doh:Pressure washers inside boats make MORE of a mess than they clean up!:eek:
 
Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Wet and dry vacumm cleaner

Rent an industrial strength wet and dry vacumm cleaner.

Use engine cleaner from automotive store to desolve the oil and grease. You then have to bottle the gunk and take to the municipal hazard disposal site. For really tough stuff, over cleaner will work as well. It won't hurt fibreglass.
 

Red

.
Oct 16, 2006
20
- - USA
Dave, the best tool is a "steam genny" but you won't find them except in farm country. If you can rent one from a tool or farm supply, that will let you wash down the compartment with live steam. Add a little Liquid Tide (detergent) and it will dissolve whatever you've got.

The old diesel stench from being absorbed in raw wood, etc., you can't get out by any easy means and I wouldn't suggest high end solvents because they make their own problems, so just wash well, dry, and then seal with a couple of coats of white epoxy paint. (Most impervious and durable material.)

If you can't get the steam genny rent a pressure washer, even the $100 (bought) electric ones will do for this, plus a wetvac to haul it all out again. Technically, the oily residue gets dumped with "waste oil" however you dump that legally there.
 
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