Oil Cleanup

RussT · 03-14-2004, 06:37 AM

Oil leaked out of my Mercruiser, and into the bilges of my boat. I fixed the oil leak, but now I'm left with a real mess to clean out of the bottom of the boat. Any suggestions as to type of cleaner and a way to get it cleaned up?
TIA
RussT

Silver Eagle · 03-14-2004, 06:56 AM

Mix dawn soap with some warm water wash it down and catch in a bucket at drain hole. Should take care of the problems.

Smj · 03-14-2004, 06:56 AM

I was going to tell you to go to Fishermans...but then saw you're in central OR.

Go to a marine supply store, thay should carry a type of pad made expressly for absorbing oil from bilges. After that all I would think you could do would be to pour small amounts of some kind of solvent(maybe wipe it around with a rag on the end of a stick) to disolve the remaining oil and keep soaking it up.

Smj

Water Ready · 03-14-2004, 07:01 AM

Baking Soda and Lemon Joy dish soap. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

drhall99 · 03-14-2004, 08:52 AM

The pads that SMJ is talking about only soak up oil and gas but not water. Great for bilge cleanups.

Doug

[ 03-14-2004, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: drhall99 ]

1pump · 03-14-2004, 08:05 PM

Another vote for Dawn. I used it on my boat and it cuts grease.

We use the treated pads (diapers) at work to clean up spills, but I don't think they would do you much good unless you can get directly to the mess you need to clean up. If the oil is floating on the bilge water they'll work for that, but it sounds like you're gonna have oil in every nook and cranny. :depressed: