transom soot- cleaning
 

Whats the best cleaner to use to get rid of transom soot?:D

Elbow Grease and quit running Premium!! If all else fail's,, I use Acetone!!-{spell Check}

stop running premium??
Does Premium gas actually give more Soot??

I would think it would burn cleaner :(

Maybe that is why mine is so dirty, because all I run is 90+

Try Simple Green, the stuff works GREAT on transom soot!!!

Lowest octane you can run without pinging and Simple Green. Also, assuming you have an EFI, as the season warms up a bit, your soot will decrease.

!Black streak remover! Starbrite. Works great

If you keep the transom waxed, it helpes too.

Premium will make the computer / engine run rich which increase soot.

Keeping the transom waxed definitely makes clean up much easier. For the really tough soot go to West Marine and get a bottle of Black Streak Remover that Ray mentioned. ;)

After you remove the "soot". I highly recommend that you apply Frenzy. This will aid in removal the next time around. You will literally just have to wipe it off. I have seen this with some of my race clients.

Julie

formula 505 from home depot, works great

Another vote for Simple Green. Mine runs rich at startup and just covers the transom with black soot. I usually just wash it off when I get home but heck I think I'll start carrying a bottle with me.

Straight "Top Job" cheaper.

Throttle-up - whats " frenzy"
 

Throttle-up- What is the product you mentioned- "frenzy"? Is this some kind of wax? Who sells it?:crazy:

Waxing Frenzy. Check the OSO Sponsor/Links above. I have not used it, but others are speaking well of it.

Tune your engine(s) correctly.

LOL...Good Stuff:D

I keep mine waxed and use a mild soap. I some times have to use Simple Green, but it will strip your wax.

Spay some windex on it!
(Advise from Big Fat Greek Wedding!)

This may be true for other motors, but not the 496's. We many of them in our club and they all develop soot. Even after having merc replace the ECM's under warranty. :rolleyes:

had the same problem with my last boat. carburated.
turned out choke was bad.

keep it waxed....easier to clean

it's a choke prob on mine....weber carb.....don't have a clue how to adjust it or anything.

I've been told to disconnect and remove choke. I am going to try.

I use tried Frenzy on mine and works great! The soot wipes right off.

Zep toilet bowl cleaner..mix it 50/50..spray on..wait 2 minutes and rise it off..soot gone..then wax... Sno-bowl works well too.

I use a product called Sled Brite Belly Pan Cleaner. It is actually for my snowmobile belly pan. The first time I used it, the black just ran off of my transom. I use the stuff for cleaning anything greasy or exhaust carbon. It works great and it doesn't screw up the gel coat.

www.sledbrite.com/snowmobile.cfm

I use Castrol Superclean mixed 50/50 with water and it seems to work well. Some other folks have had the ECM's reprogrammed (on 496's) which supposedly helps with the soot build-up.

I noticed that many of you say waxing helps. My transom seems to get more soot build-up right after I wax it. Maybe it's the wax or maybe I'm just not getting it all buffed off??

Try Roll Off. Spray it on, wait a couple minutes, then wash off.

I'd like to remove the choke...just don't know how.

Spray with "Fantastik" let sit 5 min and wash with a soapy sponge..works great!

Run the lowest octane recommended. Higher octanes ignite at higher temperatures. This keeps them from igniting and causing preignition and detonation due to high temps in the cylinders.
A higher octane fuel will not burn as completely as a lower octane fuel. You will actually lose power running higher octanes than needed.

As for cleaning any exhaust residue. Simple Green!!!

Simple Green will strip any wax right off. That only makes it harder to clean each time. It's a very strong cleaner that doesn't belong on a boat. You really want to stay away from harsh chemical cleaners.

Whats a choke?:crazy: :crazy: :D

Even dish soaps will strip wax pretty quickly. I don't ever wax my transom anyway, so I'll stick with the Simple Green.

I use Turtle Wax "Zip Wax". I have tried simple green and pro 409 and they do not compare to zip wax.

Do you wax the rest of your boat?

You're right; dish soaps are terrible for boats (and cars). Not only does it stip the wax, but dulls the finish.

:eek: Funny Kim. BTW, I got a chance to use your wax on both the cars. Great stuff! I have never seen a wax that comes off so easy. Even after getting very slightly misted with rain. :mad: I have had a chance to wax the cockpit of the boat, but that's it. Can't wait to use it on the rest of the boat.

Thanks, Mack! Thought you'd like it.