Oil in bilge on top of a lot of water. Best way to remove?

[Bob Quinn]

Does anyone have any tricks on how to get oil out of the bilge when it is floating on a bunch of water?

I have heard of using a shop vac and skimming the oil off the top as one option - hate the idea of trashing a shop vac though.

Just wondering if there are any better ways.

I don't want the bilge pump to kick on and pump any of this outside the boat!

Thanks!

 

[rustybucket]

How much oil we talking? 1gal? 20gals?
Oil absorb pads (that do not absorb water) is pretty easy but kinda slow. Just spread them on the top til they become saturated, trash and replace with new until your oil is gone.

I'd keep the bilge pumps off til you get it cleaned up.

Old fashioned dipping cup poured into a bucket is probably the fastest way.

 

[Pascal]

Oil absorbing pads is the best way to handle this.

A thin layer of oil is unlikely to be pumped by the bilge pump as the pump will start sucking air before the oil layer can reach it

 

[Bob Quinn]

How much oil we talking? 1gal? 20gals?
Oil absorb pads (that do not absorb water) is pretty easy but kinda slow. Just spread them on the top til they become saturated, trash and replace with new until your oil is gone.

I'd keep the bilge pumps off til you get it cleaned up.

Old fashioned dipping cup poured into a bucket is probably the fastest way.

I don't think it's a lot, hard to tell without sticking my hand in it which I don't want to do.

I think it's only a quart or so I'm guessing.

I ordered the bucket pump, I'll give that a shot or the scoop method you mentioned and see what happens. I have some of the pig blankets, maybe try that too.

Yuck! Better than working on a plugged head I suppose!

 

[Bob Quinn]

Oil absorbing pads is the best way to handle this.

A thin layer of oil is unlikely to be pumped by the bilge pump as the pump will start sucking air before the oil layer can reach it

I will try that too. That should help too when trying to get the last bits of it out.
Thanks

 

[rustybucket]

I don't think it's a lot, hard to tell without sticking my hand in it which I don't want to do.

I think it's only a quart or so I'm guessing.

I ordered the bucket pump, I'll give that a shot or the scoop method you mentioned and see what happens. I have some of the pig blankets, maybe try that too.

Yuck! Better than working on a plugged head I suppose!

Most pig blankets absorb water too, so they won't help you too much. You need the white square pads available at most hydraulic shops. The problem with draining the water from underneath is it leaves a thick oil coating on everything as the levels drop. Easier to get it out when it's floating on water.

 

[Bob Quinn]

o.k. I think I found the easiest way.
I used my oil change bucket/pump. It came with a small 1/4" plastic hose that is meant to go down the dipstick hole.

By placing the tip of the hose right at the surface of the oil I was able to suck out the top layer and it worked very well. It was a little tricky keeping it at just the top layer but worked good.

Turns out it was just a thin layer of oil. I pulled out about 5 gallons of water/oil total and maybe a couple quarts give or take was actually oil.

When I was done I had nothing but clear water left.
It wasn't fast, I think I sat there for probably an hour or more and had to drain my bucket once into another 5 gallon storage container.

I'm going to let it settle and do a final clean up next weekend and see if I can get the last bits of oil out.

I feel much better about the situation now with little to no oil in the bilge.
Still some other areas to tackle but now at least I have the bulk of it out and know it wasn't near as much oil as it could have been.

 

[johnjen50]

Another trick I have used is taking 2 layers of paper towels folded over and laying it on top. The trick is to take the paper towel off when it has absorbed the oil but before it takes in too much of the water. Pretty quick and catches most if not all of the floating oil.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

On the 2000 horsepower tug I run (!) I use an oil skimmer. You can buy them or make one.https://www.vevor.com/belt-oil-skim...MItpXAnOD9-gIVAhitBh2Y9gNtEAYYBCABEgIUhfD_BwE

 

[Bob Quinn]

On the 2000 horsepower tug I run (!) I use an oil skimmer. You can buy them or make one.https://www.vevor.com/belt-oil-skim...MItpXAnOD9-gIVAhitBh2Y9gNtEAYYBCABEgIUhfD_BwE

Nice!

 

[krush]

I ordered the bucket pump, I'll give that a shot or the scoop method you mentioned and see what happens. I have some of the pig blankets, maybe try that too.
!

A bucket shop vac is the fastest and cleanest way. Every boat should have one. It's probably the most used tool on my boat, I like dry/clean bilges (don't put any filter or foam on it).

Inflation, it used to be $20. Find a longer hose and rob a 3 foot stiff pipe extension from momma and you don't even have to bend over.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-...ible-with-5-Gal-Homer-Bucket-BH0100/202017218