www.iFourWinns.com

Another newbie question....just picked up my new boat yesterday ane dealer have completed a service and I see some oil resudie in the bottom of the engine bay. Can i wash it out with the hose and let the dirty water run out of the transome plug?

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RICK|2009 H200 5.0L MERC|2010 RAM 1500 LARAMIE
Beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Yes you can. I use Starbrite bilge cleaner and scrub it if its real bad then rinse with hose and let dry. Good as new. If its a lot of oil may want to wipe up with a rag first.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Just like 07H200SS said, but i'll add that simple green does a good job too, if you can't find the starbrite stuff.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

For the sake of avoiding water pollution, clean it up with a rag first. Use a bit of cleaner to break it up but try to mop up as much of it as possible. When you enjoy the water it's the least you can do to avoid polluting it.

And make note of where the stains were. Watch carefully to see that they don't return.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Reviving an old thread.....

I picked up my new raw water pump and the parts guy recommends that I wash the engine down with a hose (not in the carb obviously) but he said hose it all down and let it dry and hit it with some corrosionx spray. When the pump starts to leak a little, he said it sprays alot of water in the engine compartment at WOT. He claims they do it all the time.

Can anyone comment on that being safe? I usually wipe the engine down with some old rags to keep it all clean, but hosing it off sounds like a recipe for new problems.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

This will probably get as many opinions as what type of oil to use.

I'd say that if you do it carefully, avoid the carb/throttle body and distributor, and don't blast it with high pressure you would be ok. When I had older, oil leaking cars, I'd clean them with Gunk engine cleaner several times a year. But you can't just blast it like crazy.

When you drive down the road in your car or truck there can be lots of water splash on the engine. All the automakers have wading tests that require an engine to function while driven through a certain depth of water. So engines are made to handle some water spray.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

You are probably right about the oil brand!

I had a feeling it could handle some water (your car example) and it is mounted in a boat and the bilge will get water in it and splashing around hitting the engine.

I will be very careful. The parts guy was so matter of fact about hosing it off. I just said oh good to know and moved on, but the thought of spraying salt water out of the failing pump just had me concerned and wanting to clean it. It might take me some more elbow grease and scuffed knuckles, but a little water and damp rags might be the way to go.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4