Oil in bilge

Neicy · #1 11-14-2005

Need best way to clean up an oily bilge.
Mechanic pulled transmission and did not drain nor did he lay down an obsorber!
Went to check on boat and found bilge full of
oil. I have put an obsorber in that is supposed to obsorb 2 qts. But how do I get
the nasty leftover out?

VinceHosea · #2 12-04-2005

Have the mechanic come back and clean up his mess!

kimberlt · #3 12-04-2005

keep using the pads. then fill the bilge to just below the floorboards with warm water and some 409 or joy liquid. leave a padf or 2 in this water.
let it sit for a day or so. then use new oil pads again then pump the bilge.
fair winds,
eric

Neicy · #4 12-05-2005

Thanks for your suggestions, sounds like it will certainly work. Since I asked for help in Nov, one of the pumps stopped working and a mixture of oil and water rose just above the floorboards, so I now have to also clean the oil from the holly sole boards. As for having the mechanic come back, I am kinda afraid what he might destroy trying to clean up his mess! I have bought dawn to clean the
floor but had not considered adding to the bilge. Thanks!

paulmcquillan · #5 12-05-2005

I just helped someone with this problem. Fixed it with a
Craftsman $7 drill motor fluid pump,
two lengths of hose,
gallon of simple green
OSH 1 gallon lawn sprayer (fill w warm H2O + SGreen)
The sprayer let him reach up into the bilge corners.

Spray, rinse... repeat.
Pump out into
2x five gallon plasic jugs
We used the big oil absorbing pads to filter the wash-down water as he dumped it down his drain.

Seemed to work fairly well.

titan151 · #6 12-07-2005

I keep a small wet-vac on my boat and it is one of the most handy tools I have. Perfect for sucking up water that gets in those hard to reach locations. Can''t imagine being aboard without it.