Cleaning outboards

[smiley_doobinator]

Howdy

Just wondering how boaties cleans their outboards under he cowl. Can you just degrease and use a high water pressure cleaner to wash it down? I am use to cleaning car engines this way but not sure if you can clean outboards the same way. It is a second hand mercury that is a little oily and such and could really use a clean. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Kleyny]

my suggestion would be to leave it oily.
this will protect the engine and surrounds from any water that enters the engine.
if you were to pressure clean it i would stay away from electrical items and plugs.

i personally use inox every second time i go out to keep the engine in good nick and to keep that nasty salt deposits at bay.

neil

[PADDLES]

i just use an oily rag, it takes a bit of elbow grease but it cleans it all up and also leaves enough oil to prevent corrosion.

[Rodman]

My dealer told me to lightly wash the motor ensuring I keep the water away from the air cleaner then let it dry then spray with inox

Ken

[Seahorse]

i had mine serviced last week and i asked the question and was told not to spray anything on anything under the cowl.


cheers
greg

[disorderly]

Might be better to use lanox.
Inox can cause degradation of rubber.

Scott

[Blackened]

Inox can cause degradation of rubber.

Scott

G'day

I thought it was WD40 that did?

Dave

[disorderly]

G'day

I thought it was WD40 that did?

Dave

Dave,

Lifted from the inox website..."Caution:Inox may effect some natural rubber products with continual long term use.(refer to Lanox)".

Scott

[bluefin59]

Mine gets sprayed with quicksilver anticorrosive spray at service...matt

[smiley_doobinator]

cool thx guys i think i might leave it be for the moment. Its going for a service soon so I'l see what the mchanic says. hanks again for the quick replies and info.

[artesian]

keep water away from bearings in things like alternators on cars, dunno about boats