Engine Cleaner on Diesel Engine

[Parrot Adventure]

A great although often a dirty topic in these boating forums. My personal experience indicates the severity of the boat owner's OCD dictates the cleanliness of the engine room. I too naively started out by simply merrily cleaning my engine with Simple Green and spraying and wiping as I went. A dab of Rust-O-Leum Regal Red here and there on the engine...next thing I knew I was next incessantly scrubbing the forward and main bilges with hot soapy water. Once dry, I primed these areas with two coats of Kilz Original primer and then two coats of high gloss white enamel. I found by painting the bilges bright white that I could quickly identify any fluids in the event of either a diesel, coolant, raw water, our kids' sodas, or a transmission fluid leak if they ever occur. And the white paint adds to the brightness of the engine room in performing necessary maintenance and repairs. Here are a couple photos. The forward bilge is accessed through the sole under the steps leading down to the forward vee-berth. I call it the forward bilge, but it is indeed a continuation of the deepest part of the main bilge. Thanks, Mark