Oil/Grease in bilge

• Jun 25, 2020

• #1

R

Ralph vaughn

Member

Nov 14, 2018

259

Atlanta Ga

Boat Info

2007 Sea Ray 290 radar & GPS, triple axle trailer. 2006 Sea Ray 280 radar & GPS & triple axle tlr

Engines

5.0 MPI closed cooling Sea Core engines & Bravo III outdrives
4.3 MPI with alpha outdrives

My New,to me, 2008 sea ray 290 has oil scum in the engine bilge. Any suggestions how I can clean this up.

thanks in advance for your suggestions.

ralph

 

• Jun 26, 2020

• #2

DWABoat

Well-Known Member

Aug 13, 2019

1,012

S Louisiana

Boat Info

2001 280 Sundancer
1989 220CC Cuddy Cabin

Engines

Twin 4.3 w/Alpha Ones
5.7 Mercruiser Alpha One

Did you find the source of the oil?

I zip-tied a spring clamp (large one) to a mop handle then used shop towels clamped with Dawn/water mix to scrub and “mop” my bilge. After scrubbing, I shop vac’d the dirty water out. Lather-rinse-repeat as needed. Came out clean as new.

 

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• Jun 26, 2020

• #3

S

scoflaw

Well-Known Member

Aug 10, 2011

6,395

cape cod mass, cape coral fl

Boat Info

1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496

Engines

502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1

Spray it good with Simple Green, hook up your garden hose to a hot water supply and have at it.

 

• Jun 26, 2020

• #4

Almightys

Super Moderator

Staff member

Jun 15, 2015

666

Warren, MI

Boat Info

1995 500 DA with diesel loving Detroit’s
(SOLD)1992 Sundancer 330

Engines

6v92 Detroit Diesel

Dawn or simple green is good. You probably need to agitate a bit to loosen, dollar store mop and toilet brush are your friends. Throw away when done

 

• Jun 26, 2020

• #5

Creekwood

Well-Known Member

GOLD Sponsor

Apr 26, 2009

5,816

Oakville and Georgian Bay, Ontario

Boat Info

'97 330 Sundancer, Raymarine C80 suite with radar, Mercury 310 Hypalon w/8hp Yammie 2stk

Engines

2X 454 carbs w/ vDrives

It’s important not to let your bulge pump dump the oily water overboard. It’s illegal and ends up on your boat scum line and others in your marina. So get it as clean as possible with simple green and shop rags that can be tossed away. Then some hosing and brushing with dawn. Access is a pain. A small bruss that screw on a broomstick works. Rags can be tied on for the first stage. It’s tedious.

 

• Jun 26, 2020

• #6

yobub

Well-Known Member

Jul 29, 2016

952

Northern Illinois

Boat Info

1998 400 Sundancer

Engines

Cat 3116's

Creekwood said:

It’s important not to let your bulge pump dump the oily water overboard.

Click to expand...

For the OP, you can either pull the outlet hose off the bilge pump or pull the float switch up and out of the way so it doesnt activate while you are cleaning.

Also, Dawn makes a heavy duty spray degreaser that works well.

 

• Jun 26, 2020

• #7

Henry Boyd

Well-Known Member

Apr 24, 2007

6,014

Newburyport, on the peaceful and serene Merrimack

Boat Info

‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”

Engines

Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods

Rags are good, but using the white oil absorbent mats is better. You can fill up the bige with water and toss the mats onto the water. They will float and only absorb oil (the charcoal grey/black ones do both water and oil). Any loose oil will float to the top and not go out the bilge system. Bag and properly dispose of the mats, and if you have extras use them as oil cleaning pads.