Ever noticed how a can of lithium spray grease looks very like a can of fogging oil?

[Pedrode]

So I'm winterising the boat / trailer etc. Spraying the carbs and cylinders with what I thought was fogging oil and to my horror, discovered I had picked up a can of lithium spray grease instead....red straw and everything....after I had sprayed all three carbs...and all three cylinders. Went back round and sprayed all carbs (in WOT position) and cylinders with fogging oil in the hope that this will thin the grease... Where the boat is kept (Arran) facilities are limited so re-winterising would be a PITA - very weather dependent - and I can't see that the spray grease will do any harm, apart from to the environment when I re-start in the Spring! Any opinions?

[Nos4r2]

I think you might have fun getting it started if you leave that in there all winter.

[Pedrode]

Yes, I have a funny / terrible feeling you are right. It's going to be a few weeks before I am back at the boat (I don't live on Arran) so I guess I can have the fun then (weather permitting) or in a few months time...The concern would be if anything would actually damage any components in which case I would make a special trip but seeing as few, if any, people will have been as stupid as I have, I suspect I am in uncharted territory so I am just going to have to wait and see. My hypothesis is that once petrol gets flowing through the carbs, it will thin and remove any grease deposits. Oh please let me be right!!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pedrode

My hypothesis is that once petrol gets flowing through the carbs, it will thin and remove any grease deposits. Oh please let me be right!!

Your hypothesis is reasonable - but it strikes me that there are a couple of important points:

(1) It will only flow through the carbs is you can get the engine running, if the carbs are clogged at all you won't get a flow,
(2) Not sure about Li grease but some greases seem to set a bit once they are exposed to air (or perhaps when some volatile component evaporates) - if it sets it will be harder to clean off.

[Pedrode]

Nos and Poly, as two of the most esteemed ribnetters, I would be a fool to ignore your, much appreciated, advice. The boat is going to lie for at least a week so I'll have a go at starting it but I fear I am screwed - a carb stripping and cleaning session looms. Nightmare.

[m chappelow]

Not used the spray stuff but as was said earlier in the thread i have found that lithium grease when left tends to get a crust or skin when left exposed to air for long periods.

[PeterM]

It's not like you've a plastic bag stuck in there.....

I'll get my coat....

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by PeterM

It's not like you've a plastic bag stuck in there.....

I'll get my coat....

^^ lol ..

aye .. just do it again ... and get it running now .. and save yourself some work

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pedrode

Nos and Poly, as two of the most esteemed ribnetters, I would be a fool to ignore your, much appreciated, advice. The boat is going to lie for at least a week so I'll have a go at starting it but I fear I am screwed - a carb stripping and cleaning session looms. Nightmare.

Well Nos is quite technically competent whereas I'm the sort of idiot that would spray grease in the carbs!

I don't think its going to be a disaster - but the quicker you can get them rinsed the better. I wonder if others think it might be worth spraying something like break disk cleaner in there and then rinsing with fresh fuel, before you try to crank it up again?

[Peter_C]

I would spray carb cleaner onto a rag and try to wipe out as much as possible, utilizing a screw driver to gently push the rag in deeper. Then spray pretty heavy into the carbs, and again wipe it out. Start the engine and let it run for a couple of minutes, then spray the carb cleaner in with it running, but only a little at a time in each carb. You don't want to wash the rings, nor cause it to stall.

Fog the motor and call it a day. I doubt the grease will harm anything at all.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Well Nos is quite technically competent whereas I'm the sort of idiot that would spray grease in the carbs!

I don't think its going to be a disaster - but the quicker you can get them rinsed the better. I wonder if others think it might be worth spraying something like break disk cleaner in there and then rinsing with fresh fuel, before you try to crank it up again?

I'd soak the carbs with brake cleaner sooner rather than later. No worries about grease in the cylinders. It'll smoke momentarily. Disconnect the fuel supply and run the engine dry, then winterise with fogging oil.

[Pedrode]

As always, great advice and a few laughs. The plastic bag thing sounds interesting! Thanks all. Will let you know how I get on.

[Bobsyournob]

If i was you i`d remove plugs,turn the engine over off the key get it turning freely,replace plugs fire up with fresh petrol, have an attomiser bottle with fresh petrol in ready to squirt straight into carb intakes be a bit smokey for a start,but soon clear leav ticking over a while,more than likely done more good than harm,

[Pedrode]

Thanks Bob, I did turn the engine over on the key with the plugs out as you suggested to try and eject some of the grease from the cylinders - didn't actually re-start it - but I suspect it's the carbs which will be the issue rather than the cylinders. I've just about stopped kicking myself. The funny thing is the guy where I store the boat was looking at what I was doing and said to me 'I wouldn't spray that in there'. I, of course replied confidently - 'no no this is DEFINITELY what you do, I've read the manual and watched a variety of videos on the subject....' He just walked away shaking his head. Think I need to go and kick myself some more...

[Bobsyournob]

Just a point to remember Pedrode,keep that atomiser with fresh petrol handy no kidding it works wonders,ie clearing carbureters of spiders and cobwebs,yes we all been there, engines that refuse to start when you have a spark,do it outside you dont want to blow your garage roof off.

[Pedrode]

Originally Posted by Bobsyournob

Just a point to remember Pedrode,keep that atomiser with fresh petrol handy no kidding it works wonders,ie clearing carbureters of spiders and cobwebs,yes we all been there, engines that refuse to start when you have a spark,do it outside you dont want to blow your garage roof off.

Thanks Bob - I'm just away to empty out the wife's Chanel. Although with my luck, my next thread will be 'how long does it take to grow back eyebrows'!

[HughN]

If you spray anything like brake-cleaner into the carbs you risk removing oil from key components - such as the cylinder wall and piston.

[John Kennett]

Spraying petrol around isn't something to be taken lightly. Be very careful if you do decide to do this.

[paddlers]

What about getting a spray can of carb cleaner & giving it a good dousing when it's running ?

[yam man]

Just run it up like normal , worst case your to change a set of plugs. . It will burn the spray grease of rapidly.