Engine cleaner suggestions

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Hi all, this past fall I had a new place do my winterizing on my I/O. They were very messy and my engine has a lot of what must be fogging oil all over it. When I clean my suv engines, I simply take a can of foamy engine cleaner, remove any plastic shrouds, liberally apply the cleaner while avoiding any getting on exterior painted surfaces, let it sit and then pressure wash it. For some reason I don't want to do the same with my boat. It just doesn't look like it can take the same cleaning process given the location of the electronics and connections not being off to the side or covered at all. I also don't want any engine cleaner getting into the lake as it is stored on a lift. Can anybody recommend an effective but gentle method or product for this? Thanks.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,082
There is another substance called corrosion guard, that looks like fogging oil. That could be what you see. That stuff is very good at sticking on engine parts and controlling corrosion, and is sprayed on exterior surfaces of engines. It looks like crap, but is effective.

It is most important that the engine does not corrode, from the inside. I would recommend you figure out what is messy versus what is corrosion.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Simple green is biodegradable. Just spray some on and then rinse off with a low pressure hose, or use wet paper towels if you don't want to spray water.
 

batman99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
393
Simple green is biodegradable. Just spray some on and then rinse off with a low pressure hose, or use wet paper towels if you don't want to spray water.

This method works for my OB engine cleaning as well. Never was a fan of taking high pressure sprayer to engine.
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Simple green is biodegradable. Just spray some on and then rinse off with a low pressure hose, or use wet paper towels if you don't want to spray water.

It's funny, I hear the name Simple Green and my mind automatically puts it in the ineffective category even though I know it's been around before 'green' was trendy. Does it actually degrease effectively?

Further then to Chris1956...interesting point. It literally looks like they took a can of stuff and sprayed the top of engine...maybe they are not too messy and actually more preventative than I gave them credit for.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
It's funny, I hear the name Simple Green and my mind automatically puts it in the ineffective category even though I know it's been around before 'green' was trendy. Does it actually degrease effectively?

Further then to Chris1956...interesting point. It literally looks like they took a can of stuff and sprayed the top of engine...maybe they are not too messy and actually more preventative than I gave them credit for.

Yup, been using the stuff forever to decrease engines and transmissions. Never really thought of it as "green" in the hippie way, it is green in color ;)
 
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