What do you use to clean the engine and bilge?

[papogator24]

Like the topic says, what do you use to clean the engine to have that shiny look and what do you use to clean the bilge?

 

[Dave S]

I use Simple Green on everything. You can either use a spray bottle or put it in a tank sprayer (which is what I do). It's bidgradeable and does a good job.

 

[papogator24]

Thanks, I'll go by and pick one up.

 

[Hampton]

Use caution. Water on the electronics on top of the engine is not ideal. Additionally, the dipstick on my engines doesn't seat really well at the top - not a good place to spray water. It would be a good idea to cover the dipsticks with a baggie and rubber band.

 

[Nehalennia]

Along with Dave's Simple Green advice, I also have sprayed the Engine down with WD-40. It has done a great job on my previous engines eliminating surface rust from condensation and I occaisionally can wipe down any dust that accumulates on the engine and give it another spray down.

 

[Weave]

might want to cover alternator aned starter as well....

 

[H2ONUT]

I also use WD-40.

Before launch, I use Krud Kutter. It works really good breaking up any fluids that were spilled. I find it in the paint dept of Home Depot. I also have a toilet bowl brush, it looks like a big cotton ball on the end, that I have taped to a small handle, it lets you get into really tight spaces.

Works good on cleaning the scum line, vinyl stains, etc...

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Simple green and West Marine EZ ON/OFF (when at home).

 

[MXer478]

Hey, good topic! I was wondering this myself. So, for the wiring issues. What are you guys doing exactly to cover them up and are you just spraying the motor with a hose???

 

[Asureyez]

Cleaning Engine: West Marine EZ On/Off degreaser properly diluted, I use a long handled type bottle brush to scrub as needed and the a very light rinse down with fresh water. I use compressed air to blow out the recesses and then add degreaser straight to the bilge water and scrub around. Then manually pump out the retention bilge get it all into the main bilge sump and pump out what I can wet vac up the rest.

Close the ER hatch and go for a ride to heat up the bilge and dry things out. Now I'm ready for touch up paint.

On diesels you won't see many owners use that auto detail "Slick'em" stuff so no advise here on that.

Getter Dun!

 

[sbw1]

Fresh water is different than salt. A damp rag on the engine keeps the engines clean. Fantastic in the bilge does a good job. No need to use WD-40 in fresh water boats because components do not rust if well cared for.

 

[Weave]

Fresh water is different than salt. A damp rag on the engine keeps the engines clean. Fantastic in the bilge does a good job. No need to use WD-40 in fresh water boats because components do not rust if well cared for.

Thanks.....I was getting worried that I was missing something

 

[sbw1]

The guys who boat in salt water have lots of challenges related to salt air and hull leaks. Count yourself lucky if you boat in fresh water.

 

[Four Suns]

Yeah... that saltwater causes a lot more leaks than freshwater.

I would have thought Tiara engine rooms wouldn't need to be washed as they would never get dirty because of their new "Engine Stay Clean" (ESC) technology.

 

[sbw1]

Yeah... that saltwater causes a lot more leaks than freshwater.

I would have thought Tiara engine rooms wouldn't need to be washed as they would never get dirty because of their new "Engine Stay Clean" (ESC) technology.

And your point is.............?

 

[brimanst]

Tiaras in the bed? Tiaras in the bilge. Is there a West Marine part no. for a Tiara?

briman

 

[barryg]

another great product to use after you've cleaned to keep things corrosion free is corrosionX. My mechanic uses it and recommends it to protect electrical connections, metal parts etc.

 

[wreckless123]

Just as a heads up to you guys spraying your motors with WD-40. I am an engineer and in our testing lab we did some pretty intense testing on WD-40. We found over time WD-40 robs plastics and rubbers of their moisture and causes them to shrink and become brittle. Just for an example, take a piece of flexible rubber 6"x6"x.25" and spray it weekly and wipe it down with WD-40. After 6 months it will have shrunk over a 1/4" in length and width and will no longer be as flexible. If you are doing this once a year it may not have too much effect, but I am not sure I would take that gamble. I would maybe use the simple green idea and then spray the motor down with armorall if you want the shinny look.

 

[sbw1]

Another thing about WD-40 is that it makes it very difficult to repaint. Paint will not stick to it and it's hard to get off.

 

[JVM225]

I regularly squirt the original formula (blue) Dawn Dishwashing Liquid into my bilge. It keeps the bilge pretty clean and is biodegradable.
I use Spray 9 when I need to do a little heavier cleaning.