"Gunk" engine degreaser

BoatDr

Seaman
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
64
Is this stuff safe to use for degreasing an aluminum hull? It says it's safe to use with aluminum, but I just want to double check.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Yes, but every time I've used it I wasn't satisfied with the results, I found waterless hand cleaner worked much better.

I was cleaning the bilge in my aluminum jet boat with engine degreaser and was getting nowhere. I went in the house for lunch and the waterless hand cleaner did wonders on my hands, so I headed right back out and cleaned the bilge with it. The hand cleaner was much faster and better at cutting through all the build up.
 

danond

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
1,118
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Use Dawn hand soap and a scrub brush. Gunk stinks and works like crap.
 

drewpster

Commander
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
2,059
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Years ago Gunk was a great product. Through the years the formula must have changed because it does not work as well anymore. Are you de-greasing a bilge or de-greasing to prep for paint?
 

Yacht Dr.

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
5,581
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Is this stuff safe to use for degreasing an aluminum hull? It says it's safe to use with aluminum, but I just want to double check.

Hello BoatDr

Just so everyone knows..this is not my alt :)

1. Why do you need to degrease a hull ? What boat ?

2. Id try "joy" myself .. little bit at a time ..( Ive sudz up a whole harbor back in the day .. salt water no less lol ).

Yd. ( not Boat DR )
 

drewpster

Commander
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
2,059
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

What were you guys thee-sees on, The importance of duct tape in fiberglass removal from the skin? Or proper shop vac care. Maybe resin mixing 1-0-1?
 

Yacht Dr.

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
5,581
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

What were you guys thee-sees on, The importance of duct tape in fiberglass removal from the skin? Or proper shop vac care. Maybe resin mixing 1-0-1?

Ok..got me there..

Drewpsters... can you ..urm.. aw forget it.. Im gonna get me and ol' drewp some beer :)
 

coolguy147

Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

i used some purple degreaser before on my engine worked like a charm. just wash off after sprayed on. its now nice a shiney cover
 

Rickairmedic

Commander
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
2,576
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Castrol purple power works great as a degreaser just make sure and rinse completely and try not to get it on you the stuff is somewhat caustic and will burn your skin :D. wallyworld or any autoparts store will stock it .


Rick
 

coolguy147

Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

i think it was called royal purple it didnt stink. washes right off with little water. doesnt sting. good stuff
 

drewpster

Commander
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
2,059
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Just kidding YD. You know I think you are the MAN.
 

BoatDr

Seaman
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
64
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

I'm in the process of doing a starcraft restoration...much more to come on that later. I'll start a new thread when I get some time. I'm prepping the inside of the hull for an application of gluvit to seal her up. Here's what I'm dealing with:

P6150347.JPG


P6150348.JPG


P6150352.JPG


Now I found a couple loose rivets as well. What's the best way to tighten them up? Two guys, a mini sledge and a hammer? Or will the gluvit and new paint take care of it? I have many many more questions for you guys as this is my first time attempting a project like this.
 

BoatDr

Seaman
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
64
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

Well, I ended up going the dishsoap route. Joy and then Palmolive once I ran out. Scrubbed all day long, but she looks pretty good. Green apple Palmolive smells a hell of a lot better than Gunk!
 

WizeOne

Commander
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Messages
2,097
Re: "Gunk" engine degreaser

With whatever cleaner you use, a pressure washer goes a long way to really blast off anything you do not want.

I would shy away from any high caustic (alkaline) cleaners, like Oil Eaters, etc. They are nothing more than variations on Oven Cleaner. Whereas they do cut grease, they will oxidize the surface of aluminum and turn it white.

I do like Gunk. Wallyworld has a variation of it which is much cheaper. It is nothing more that hydrogenated kerosene that is made to foam up and stick on the surface longer. (incidently, it's great for getting tar off of your rocker panels) You can always do a little scrubbing, with a bristled wash brush, after you apply it, then pressure wash it off. There is not much you can hurt with Gunk and it's variations.

Before applying anykind of finish, I would still wash things down with detergent.
 
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