oil change

[Nicolina]

Wes,
The difference is of course that your bilge is clean and mine isn't - a fact that Mac may have guessed right. However, point taken: the whole point of teh exercise is of course to get the smelly mess out of the belly of the boat and bilge cleaning is part of it.

[MacGyver]

Actually, that was my thought, (No offense) and the typical job when we do it, makes for a better outcome as the bilge typically looks cleaner as well, which surprises the customer with a added bonus.

I have cleaned engines up with some brake cleaner on a rag, but it doesnt get the crevices very well.

There is so little to diesels (especially Yanmars) that I am not really sure that getting em a little wet for this would be a issue.

Only thing I could see is maybe the starter, but that is why you tape some of that off.

The 27 had so much room in the engine housing, that I was really surprised when I looked at Wes' newest venture, I literally told my wife that I could have hugged the engine.
Compared to J29s, you guys have nothing to complain about in the space department..... trust me.

A good cleaning every 10 years sure doesnt hurt.
Do what you think is best, my ideas arent always the best, just what has worked for me.

Mac

[Salty19]

I don't know, I would never  use any type of automotive engine degreasers, brake cleaner, or any high volatile solvents in such a tight confinement as the inside of a boat.  They are noxious and can be overwhelming on small cleanup jobs (like a carburator) in a big garage, let alone the small space of a boat and a larger object to clean.   Sure, the strong engine cleaner will be fast, but whew...really bad for your health, IMHO.

What they might do microscopically to fiberglass that could have long term effects is another question, I'm not sure how resistant our boats are so prefer to keep the strong chemicals off it, that way there is no question if something may or or may hurt it.

I've been using a spray bottle of Dawn mixed with water to do degreasing, wax removal, quick cleanup, etc for years. Not on boats, but all the motorized or greasy items in the household.   That's would I would use, safe and effective, albeit not as strong or fast as the organic cleaners, but a little scrubbing and brushing beats the fumes any day. As Mac states cover all the electronics/starter/alternator/vents/intake. Spray down and with plenty of shop towels and old toothbrushes, mop up and scrub down what you can.    Vinegar is a great smell remover and cleaner, you might try spraying 50/50 vinegar/water after the dawn spray and let it sit. Also place maybe 3 small open containers of vinegar for a day or two, then come back remove the vinegar and open all the hatches for a day.  Maybe one in the bilge and two in the cabin.

[Nicolina]

Is a strong chemical degreaser potentially damaging to boat components? It could attack fibreglass, bilge paint, or the bilge pump and hoses. There are also marine degreasers available, and presumably they should be safe for use on a boat and in contact with materials found on boats. But are they materially different from other, e.g., automotive, degreasers? The most obvious difference is that the marine degrreasers are more expensive by a factor of four. I am not competent to judge if they are chemically really all that different.

[wes]

I heartily second Salty's suggestion. Start mild, and work your way stronger only if necessary. Dawn is amazing stuff - it was the tool of choice during the Gulf oil spill disaster; they used thousands of gallons of it including to rescue sea birds covered in oil. My next step up would be a household spray cleaner like 409. Avoid solvent based degreasers at all costs in enclosed areas. MacGyver is a boat tech so his blood is 50% toluene already; the rest of us could get killed if we aren't careful.

Wes

[Tim Gardner]

I use this:http://www.greenterpene.com/d_Limonene_Orange_Terpenes_Food_Grade_p/001005527.htm..

I clean the bilges and motors of all my various vessels (9 of'em) with d-Limonene.  You may relate more to orange hand cleaner.  Anyway it's a natural emulsifier that allows oils to be water soluble.  Works great, I just put a little in the bilge, go for a cruise or sail, and rinse it out (being careful not to discharge into the water of the lake I live on).

Just a suggestion.