Excessive Oil/Grease by Alternator area.

[Grub54891]

I’ve always hated to work on customers boats that were an oily mess myself. I would clean them up before I touched anything. Sure it adds time to the process but when you clean it and fix the issues, the customer is overjoyed that it’s clean. Usually only takes an hour but yours is pretty bad. When clean it’s a whole lot easier to find the issue!

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Put some rags in the bilge as mentioned engine cleaner, I would also recommend some spray cans of either brake or carb cleaner, to spray the oil out of hard to reach places. Poly propylene pads will abosorb the oil that accumulates in the bilge.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

Well, I drained well over 5 quarts of engine oil today on the Merc using an electric oil pump that I purchased on Amazon, it came with several hoses and it worked out flawlessly and effortlessly. I definitely had put too much oil in originally and I'm sure this is why I had some oil leak issues, as my engine only calls for 4 quarts. Hopefully I didn't screw anything up. . I put in some AT205 RE for the oil leak issues and added 4 quarts of Rotella 15w-40 and a new oil filter. I also cleaned up most of the oily areas.

This wednesday I'll due diligence and take the advice from the members here who posted about cleaning the engine and bilge area thoroughly, I'll use some large wee wee pads in the bilge to catch most of the oil and grease that comes off the engine.

I truly appreciate the input. Hopefully the leak subsides a little, who knows.

@ESGWheel , the boat is already in the driveway. I trailer it all the time as I don't have a slip.

 

[airshot]

Put some rags in the bilge as mentioned engine cleaner, I would also recommend some spray cans of either brake or carb cleaner, to spray the oil out of hard to reach places. Poly propylene pads will abosorb the oil that accumulates in the bilge.

My old 3.0 had an oil leak from the front seal as well. Was not a bad leak, about 1 qt. thru the season. I bought a case of motor oil absorbing diapers to lay in the bilge. They absorbed all the oil so it did not get discharged into water from the bilge pump. Actually worked great and far less costly than paying for the seal repair. In our area, they pull you over for inspections every so often, often just to have you turn on your bilge pump for a minute.
They are looking for any oil sheen on the discharge....if so you can get a pollution ticket, not cheap. The diapers keep that oil absorbed.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

My old 3.0 had an oil leak from the front seal as well. Was not a bad leak, about 1 qt. thru the season. I bought a case of motor oil absorbing diapers to lay in the bilge. They absorbed all the oil so it did not get discharged into water from the bilge pump. Actually worked great and far less costly than paying for the seal repair. In our area, they pull you over for inspections every so often, often just to have you turn on your bilge pump for a minute.
They are looking for any oil sheen on the discharge....if so you can get a pollution ticket, not cheap. The diapers keep that oil absorbed.

Thanks, that's a great idea, I thought the wee wee pads was a good idea, the diapers probably much better.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

So in what reviews I looked at The (AT 205 RE Seal) is getting a lot of positive reviews. I'll advise my findings and report back to you all. Maybe next year I'll redoe the crankshaft seal if it's totally necessary.

 

[airshot]

Thanks, that's a great idea, I thought the wee wee pads was a good idea, the diapers probably much better.

You do realize that I mean " oil absorbing pads" and not actual diapers ?? Just checking, ......

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

You do realize that I mean " oil absorbing pads" and not actual diapers ?? Just checking, ......

LOL Yes. But heck the diapers ain't a bad idea either.

 

[ESGWheel]

Mustang,
I appreciate your positive attitude towards the cleanup. I know as we get older all that bending and twisting can be well, an issue. So here are some of my tips on doing this:

• Perhaps the most difficult but not so bad is the protection of items. I use plastic bags (like sandwich and grocery bags) and electrical plastic tape. I cover the oil dipstick with a sandwich bag and wrap the tape around the bag / tube to seal it up. Same for Power Steering Pump cap, distributor and over the spark arrestor. I take lots of turns on the tape and pull it tight making a good seal. I also fold over the bitter end on itself to create a pull tab to unwind it all when done.
• Start your cleaning at the top and work your way into the bilge.
• I use the spray foam engine cleaner and Simple Green. Be wary of using Brake Cleaner > its great stuff but will strip off paint and degrade some plastic items.
• Buy a couple of kitchen sink scrub brushes with the handles. Spay down and use these to help loosen the oil, grit, etc. Again, top to bottom. Rinse gently with a “shower’ spray on low volume.
• When doing the above I have the drain plug out and have ‘diapers’ (ie Pig Mats) under it to capture the oil.
• As a last step I put back in the drain plug, and dump in a couple of cups of Simple Green into the bilge and fill it with some water. Then I use a long handled brush (similar to this one link) to scrub down the bilge and sides. Pull drain plug and rinse it all down again using a light shower.
• Then pull the bags and let dry for a bit. If have a compressor use that to help, especially the electrical connectors.
• Put on muffs and start it up and let it warm up.

Done.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

Mustang,
I appreciate your positive attitude towards the cleanup. I know as we get older all that bending and twisting can be well, an issue. So here are some of my tips on doing this:

• Perhaps the most difficult but not so bad is the protection of items. I use plastic bags (like sandwich and grocery bags) and electrical plastic tape. I cover the oil dipstick with a sandwich bag and wrap the tape around the bag / tube to seal it up. Same for Power Steering Pump cap, distributor and over the spark arrestor. I take lots of turns on the tape and pull it tight making a good seal. I also fold over the bitter end on itself to create a pull tab to unwind it all when done.
• Start your cleaning at the top and work your way into the bilge.
• I use the spray foam engine cleaner and Simple Green. Be wary of using Brake Cleaner > its great stuff but will strip off paint and degrade some plastic items.
• Buy a couple of kitchen sink scrub brushes with the handles. Spay down and use these to help loosen the oil, grit, etc. Again, top to bottom. Rinse gently with a “shower’ spray on low volume.
• When doing the above I have the drain plug out and have ‘diapers’ (ie Pig Mats) under it to capture the oil.
• As a last step I put back in the drain plug, and dump in a couple of cups of Simple Green into the bilge and fill it with some water. Then I use a long handled brush (similar to this one link) to scrub down the bilge and sides. Pull drain plug and rinse it all down again using a light shower.
• Then pull the bags and let dry for a bit. If have a compressor use that to help, especially the electrical connectors.
• Put on muffs and start it up and let it warm up.

Done.

That's an excellent cleaning technique.Thanks for sharing that with us.