Oily Mess

Jul 8, 2011
704
Catalina 30 Sidney B.C.
Channged my diesel engine oil yesterday and did not notice that I had spilled some usec oil under the motor and now it has mixed with my bilge water ....what a mess
Any suggestions of what to use after I soak up what I can with pads
It has got all over my hoses and bilge pump
HELP
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,352
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
I use dishwashing soap. Safeway brand. Some swear that DAWN is better. :)
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,496
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
I was able to separate the oil from the water by using a coffee filter- the paper type.
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
get you a shop vac and suck it out ..then wash down every thing with a good dish soap and water ...then vac that out .....rinse with clean water and vac that out ...then spray on some metal protect-ant......

regards

woody
 
May 24, 2004
7,213
CC 30 South Florida
Traditionally Joy dishwashing liquid has been recognized as the only one which bubbles in salt water. Something about surface tension resulting from the bubbles helps dissolve grease....
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Traditionally Joy dishwashing liquid has been recognized as the only one which bubbles in salt water. Something about surface tension resulting from the bubbles helps dissolve grease....
+1 for Joy

Regards

Woody
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,215
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Simple Green is pretty good for cleaning up mess residuals like that and leaves a nice smell. Use fresh water from a hose and your bilge pump for the final rinse out (if legal) after most of the mess has been cleaned.
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
There are specific hydro-phobic absorbent pads and "hogs" made for just this purpose. They do not absorb water, only oil. And they float. If you have a wet bilge, you should have them under your engine. As they saturate with oil, you can pull them off and dispose of them as non-haz oil waste. Typically they are burned for BTU value. Adding detergent only disperses oil throughout your bilge water making it ALL subject to expensive waste water disposal.