A good De- Greaser

[drewpster]

I am finally in the beginning stages of replacing the stringers in my old tug. I need to use a good degreasing cleaner to do the initial cleaning of the bilge. Everything down there is rough roving. As far as I can tell no mat was used on the top coat of glass so I am cleaning a very rough surface. It has also had allot of engine oil and no telling what else contaminating the surface. Can anyone recommend a good de-greaser to do the initial cleaning? Whatever I end up using will be followed with a good chemical wipe down before any sanding begins.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: A good De- Greaser

I really like Simple Green, its good to you and the environment. It does take some time to get through the grease. Try to get the concentrated gallons if you can.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: A good De- Greaser

The best thing I've found is waterless hand cleaner. I was trying to get the bilge cleaned so I could modify a hull and had used just about everything I could find and nothing worked well. I went inside to eat lunch and needed to get all gunk off my hands, as soon as the hand cleaner hit my hands it cleaned the grime of instantly. I went straight back out with the hand cleaner and a brush and cleaned the whole thing up pretty fast.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: A good De- Greaser

Go to Costco and get a gallon of Oil Eater. It is a concentrated high alkaline cleaner similar to oven cleaner, but it is more liquid.(for that matter, I have used oven cleaner many times) Things like simple green just won't cut heavy oil/grease build up. Just don't get it on any anodized aluminum, it will turn it white.

Also a pressure washer would be excellent after you apply the cleaner and let it soak for a while. Do it a couple of times and you will be squeaky clean. Maybe only a light solvent bath before you do any work.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: A good De- Greaser

After you get the grease off, you neeed to get the water out of it. Use some alcohol liberly to absorbe th ewater, then wipe well with acetone to ge any additional oil and water residue. Make sure you have some ventilation, or consider yourself "huffing".

 

[J. Mark]

Re: A good De- Greaser

powdered washing detergent sprinkled liberally over the area and rubbed in with a brush will absorb lots of the oil. Cheap and washes out with water. Sweep or vacuum up all you can before you wash it out to minimize the amount of polluted water you create. Simple green works well as do some of the citrus based cleaners.

 

[kandil]

Re: A good De- Greaser

A pressure washer is what you need

 

[erikgreen]

Re: A good De- Greaser

I've found for the most part pressure washers just push the grease around, and they can even push it into the glass and in the case of loosely applied fibers (like from a chopper gun with not enough resin) they can tear fibers out.

I've used a couple things for degreasing.. oven cleaner works well, because it's basically an alkaline spray. Once neutralized it's not too bad for the environment, although its propellant may be.

Simple green is good to the environment, but isn't as effective as other degreasers... if you're ok with taking a little more time, it's a good choice.

It's worth noting that unless you're willing to take an extraordinary amount of time to clean the surface that you won't get all the grease, so painting over it will be tough.. I had to grind off a layer of glass.

Erik

 

[109jb]

Re: A good De- Greaser

Castrol Super Clean works great. Wear a mask as inhallation of this stuff is no fun. I have heard that in some states it can't be sold to the general public because it is so strong. It comes in a pump spray bottle or in jugs. Test a small area first because it will lift some paints. I've used it to clean aluminum engine parts, but you don't want to soak them too long as the aluminum disappears.

 

[mthieme]

Re: A good De- Greaser

I've always used Gunk.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: A good De- Greaser

I've always used Gunk.

I like Gunk Foamy Engine Brite on surfaces that aren't hot. I tried Gunk Gel once and wasn't too impressed.

Castrol Super Clean works great. Wear a mask as inhallation of this stuff is no fun. I have heard that in some states it can't be sold to the general public because it is so strong. It comes in a pump spray bottle or in jugs. Test a small area first because it will lift some paints. I've used it to clean aluminum engine parts, but you don't want to soak them too long as the aluminum disappears.

I usually use Purple Power which seems to work just like Castrol Super Clean but costs less. I buy it in 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon jugs at Wal Mart. The Purple Power is also nasty to breath. I recommend disposable gloves because it likes to eat you skin. It will ruin the anodized finish on aluminum so be carefull.

 

[mthieme]

Re: A good De- Greaser

Never tried the Gel.
The foam will work better on a warmed up engine.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: A good De- Greaser

I've never found that any of the engine degreaser type products did much at all to remove grease and oil, at least compared many other products.