Extreme degreasing of engine bilges.

[alan_fincher]

We have just exposed a lot of Flamingo's engine room bilge for what may well be the first time since 1968.

 

In the first instance we were literally digging out layers of grease ridden silt, but have now got things to the state where we are looking at plates and rivets still black with grease.

 

Gunk has had only a minimal impact on it, and the only other thing available, white spirit, has fared little better. Unfortunately a nearby chandlers stocked no degreasers at all.

 

Whatever we use will need to be as industrial strength as we can find.

 

What have people used, please, and with what success.

 

To be clear, we are not in the territory of sawdust or disposable nappies. We have moved all the easy stuff, but are failing to win against what remains on the surfaces.

[David Mack]

Petrol?

[WotEver]

Petrol?

And a match?

[David Mack]

Fat finger edit

Edited October 11, 2016 by David Mack

[cuthound]

Steam Cleaner?

[Sea Dog]

Nothing quite like petrol fumes in your bilges to clear up a few issues. I'd go with the steam cleaner idea myself, however!

 

 

Edited to remove a spurious word.

Edited October 11, 2016 by Sea Dog

[Chalky]

I use paraffin to clean parts on the MG. Degreases and cleans very well.

 

A friend of mine put a cylinder head in the dishwasher (when his wife was away) and it came up really clean. It took 4 days to get the oil off the dishwasher! Suggests hot water and dishwasher tablets / powder may work.

 

Machine mart sell a parts washer detergent. Not tried it, but it may be worth a go.

Edited October 11, 2016 by Chalky

[ChimneyChain]

Piccies please Alan

 

Darren

[RLWP]

Steam Cleaner?

 

Steam cleaner

 

Richard

 

MORE: I suppose you could just cut the bottom out

Edited October 11, 2016 by RLWP

[ChimneyChain]

Hot soapy water is just as good and a stiff brush.

 

Darren

[GUMPY]

Jizer has always worked well for me.

[RLWP]

Hot soapy water is just as good and a stiff brush.

 

Darren

 

No it isn't! a steam cleaner is a fabulous tool for the job

 

Richard

[Barry]

When I were a lad I had a saturday job in a scrapyard and one of my jobs was to clean car parts, particularly engine parts, from all the old oil, accumulated detritus that collects on old engines.

 

The solution was a bath in paraffin followed by a good stiff brushing. It worked very well.

 

So I would go with the paraffin idea as far less volatile than petrol and then go in with a good stiff brush - one of the ones that have a columnar profile if you know what I mean. Something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lisle-14000-Parts-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B0009OMYDS

 

Failing paraffin I reckon diesel might do it with adequate ventilation for a week or two afterwards

[ChimneyChain]

No it isn't! a steam cleaner is a fabulous tool for the job

 

Richard

Yep and completely cover ever thing else in an oily greasey watery mixture, lovely

[RLWP]

Yep and completely cover ever thing else in an oily greasey watery mixture, lovely

 

Can't say I've ever cleaned anything with a stiff brush without doing the same - only slower

 

Seriously, a steam cleaner has made a massive difference to my work. It cleans an engine down in very short order, stripping off paint an d leaving primer if you want. And it doesn't use a massive amount of water either. Using it in a cabin would take a bit more planning, it will certainly do the job though, and quickly too

 

You'll need an industrial vacuum to shift the oily water. many boat yards have one

 

Richard

[ChimneyChain]

No your right a steam cleaner is a great asset in an outside environment but in a 8 ft room IMO you will unnecessarily cover everything in shit

[RLWP]

No your right a steam cleaner is a great asset in an outside environment but in a 8 ft room IMO you will unnecessarily cover everything in shit

 

On the other hand, it's already covered in...

 

Either way, I'm glad I'm not doing the job

 

Richard

Edited October 11, 2016 by RLWP

[mark99]

Acetone?. Probably very dangerous as it's volatile/flammable - try a bit of acetone nail varnish remover as a sample I'm sure you have some. <well your wife>. Do research the COSHH sheets!

Edited October 11, 2016 by mark99

[Dalslandia]

dry ice blaster

Edited October 11, 2016 by Dalslandia

[Ray T]

May sound silly but won't the gunge that is there act as a protective layer?

 

Then put some boards over it.

[BWM]

Jizer worked well for us after we'd finished using a shovel.

[bizzard]

Electric toothbrush to disturb it and cotton buds to soak it up.

Paraffin is excellent. I use it a lot for flushing out things, soaking seized up rusty things, cleaning, glossing dull paintwork. In Eastern Europe its still used extensively for many things including domestically, cleaning indoors, furniture ect. Years ago paraffin and 3 in one oil was about all there was. Soaking and cleaning bike chains and tools, Heaters, blowlamps, cooking stoves, Primus stoves, navigation lamps, Tilley lamps, ect ect. Its uses are endless. Boom, boom, boom, boooooooom!

Edited October 11, 2016 by bizzard

[WotEver]

Machine mart sell a parts washer detergent. Not tried it, but it may be worth a go.

It's not as good as paraffin. It's basically a strong detergent that's non-flammable to suit modern HSE requirements.

 

Back in the early 70's I knew a chap who worked in a factory which made cantilever toolboxes. His job was to wash the toolboxes in a huge bath of trichloroethylene prior to them going to the paint shop. It certainly did the job but I don't believe you can buy it any more can you?

 

Citrus degreasers are supposed to replace it but I don't believe they work very well

 

Tony

Edited October 11, 2016 by WotEver

[cereal tiller]

It's not as good as paraffin. It's basically a strong detergent that's non-flammable to suit modern HSE requirements.

 

Back in the early 70's I knew a chap who worked in a factory which made cantilever toolboxes. His job was to wash the toolboxes in a huge bath of trichloroethane prior to them going to the paint shop. It certainly did the job but I don't believe you can buy it any more can you?

Yep it got recognised as Carcenogenic.

 

Used to clean our hands with it as Apprentices!

 

CT

[Bloomsberry]

I used fairy liquid with hot water to clean my bilge of oil & diesel , worked a treat.