How to clean engine and bilge?

diggin2day1

     Just wondering what products and how everyone cleans their engines and bilges? When I purchased my boat 2 years ago the bilge/engine was spotless and now she's getting a little grimy. Can I use a regular degreaser/engine cleaner and then rinse off with water? What else (other than the intake) do I need to protect from the rinsing water? After cleaning should I protect it with anything(WD40, etc ?) 
     Also what products should I use to clean bilge area, water/waste tanks, vent hoses, etc? 

Need her her to look like this once again: 

Black_Diamond

Don't power wash the engine. I use a citrus based cleaner. 

randy56

diggin, I use purple power, lots of rags, easy on squiring eng, looks good. 

bry1429

It's good practice to keep a healthy clean engine compartment.  If you can access engine/bilge area without snapping your spine in 3 pieces you should wipe it down every 2 or 3 weeks. All smells from bilge/engine areas will stink up the cabin space so it's good to keep it clean and dry. I use simple green or a good smelling citrus cleaner.

diggin2day1

Thank you guys... Going to give Purple Power a try. 

Dream_Inn

Yes, purple power is what I use as well.  Great stuff for the engine room.  How did you make out Diggin?

diggin2day1

Dream_Inn said:

Yes, purple power is what I use as well.  Great stuff for the engine room.  How did you make out Diggin?

I was too busy burning fuel and having fun this weekend to clean the engine room!!! I'll tackle it sometime this week and report back with results. Thank you again!

youstolemybeer

dump 2 bags of ice in the bilge and go for a ride. when the ice melts pump out the water and gunk that the ice scraped off as you drove

diggin2day1

youstolemybeer said:

dump 2 bags of ice in the bilge and go for a ride. when the ice melts pump out the water and gunk that the ice scraped off as you drove

That's how I used to clean the waste tank of my camper... Worked like a champ!

diggin2day1

Still haven't gotten around to cleaning the engine/bilge, but I did just buy 2 gallons of Purple Power from Walmart for $4.88 each... Was surprised at how cheap yet highly recommended it was. 

Dream_Inn

Diggin, just don't let them know it's used for marine use.  Price will skyrocket!

MDboater

I used Purple Power in the bilge area this past weekend.  It worked quite well.  Let me suggest however that you wait for a day that's cooler than 93 F.

Mercury2005

Is using a pressure washer not recommended to clean the bilge? If not, why? Also would simple green work?

Danish_FV270

I use at hot water pressure washer with a steam nozzle. Then har do´nt get that much water in the bilge and the high temperatur removes all the dirt.

Cableguy Greg

I like the idea of using ice and purple power. I will have to try it this spring.

Handymans342

Why are these motors so dirty?

diggin2day1

The Purple Power worked excellent... and was cheap too!!!

rasbury

Looks alot better dirty than mine does but I learned on an old Z I had, do not spray down a motor...and you can't really get in there and wipe anything on either...wish there was a good way to clean it...I guess you can spray down and rinse off the lower part of the motor, starter is fairly sealed up but ones you start getting the injectors wet and the other electrical stuff I think your asking for big problems...

laureniac1

I use foamy engine bright and spay it off with hose LIGHT water and never have had any issues. Wal mart or any part store carries Foamy Engine Bright 

rasbury

I would like to clean it up, very dirty/ dusty...