Oil on concrete

[lotzagoodstuff]

I have my own magic recipe that I think works ok, but I've got a pretty good spot to clean up on my concrete driveway from a recent oil change (yes, I was in a hurry and no I didn't put down my normal cardboard mat) and I am wondering what some of you guys with lots of experience (read past messes) do to remove oil spots from concrete. I put this under the IDI forum as I do believe that the oil that comes out of an IDI crankcase to be the darkest/most staining oil on the surface of the earth. I swear it looks like somebody blotted my driveway with India ink.

As always, any experienced input is appreciated

R. J.

 

[Bamfster]

I soak it w/ degreaser, scrub it in w/ a broom and let it sit for about 20 min. after that i hit it with my hotsy and it comes right up. I have found this to work very well as long as i get to it right away.

 

[FordGuy100]

Spray it down with starting fluid (ether, I dont know what brand we use buts its in a black can, and its rated for use for diesel's), let it soak in for a minute or two, and then wipe it up with whatever you want. It works fairly decent, though if the oil has been there for a long time, then it will leave a little bit of a brown spot, but it kinda blends in pretty good once you get enough of them . Thats what I do when I get oil on the concrete around here.

 

[SHIP4BRAINS]

Simple Green, Greased Lightning or similar harsh household cleaner/degreaser works well...depending how porus the concrete is.

 

[hheynow]

I use diatomaceous earth more commonly known as oil absorbent granuals sold at auto parts stores. I cover the oil stain with it then crush it in over the stain with my shoe. In a few days I just sweep it up and the stain is gone. Kitty litter works too but the kitty litter smell bothers me.

I run vegoil in my truck. I deal with staining all the friggin' time.

 

[RedTruck]

Items you need:

White gas
Floor dry (the white dusty stuff)
brick

Procedure:

Cover the spot with floor dry. Soak the floor dry with white gas. Get down on hands and knees and scrub the area with the brick. Sweep the floor dry into a dust pan.

If the spot is really stubborn let the soaked floor dry sit for a few days or you can use WD-40.

Some guys say the problem with doing this is when they get done with the spot it's so clean they feel they have to do it to the rest of the driveway.

Paul

 

[Diezel_Cowboy]

Just regular diesel fuel and some rags works for me.........simple and easy. It will leave a shinny spot but will eventually fade away as if nothing were there.

 

[sle2115]

Brake clean and oil dry, will make it look like new! Pretty cost effective as well. Wet the oil spot with brakeclean and throw oil dry (I use the kitty litter type - it's cheap) and up comes the stains. Really bad ones my need a couple of applications, but the spot gets much smaller after the first go around.

 

[oldmisterbill]

I'm lazy I just pour some Gasoline on my spills sweep it in and cover with Speedy dry-let it sit till the speedy dry looks dry then sweep it up and reuse it on bad spills to start soaking up the nasty messes.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

Thanks for all the input. Unfortunately I had to let it sit overnight as it was too late and too dark for me to deal with it last night. I used several of the methods mentioned here, but ended up using the old tried and trued muratic acid. The bottom line is it's far easier to clean up if you take a little time and don't make a mess in the first place.

The good news is I did manage to get the oil changed in my truck and put in the first treatment of Auto RX.

 

[fire & smoke]

have had good success on black oil stajns by spreading cat litter, cheap generic stuff, and working in with a brick, it pulverizes cat litter and makes it super absorbant. it does not take too much time/effort either.

 

[Optikalillushun]

Brake clean and oil dry, will make it look like new! Pretty cost effective as well. Wet the oil spot with brakeclean and throw oil dry (I use the kitty litter type - it's cheap) and up comes the stains. Really bad ones my need a couple of applications, but the spot gets much smaller after the first go around.

x2

 

[rubberfish]

Brake clean and kitty litter. Does this
work on the stains that have been there
on the exposed aggregate for like two years?

 

[poolguy]

I didn't think muriatic acid would even begin to remove the oil since it bacically reacts to the calcium in the concrete. Seems like the oil would insulate the calcium from the acid. Dunno.
I'd try TSP (tri sodium phosphate). It's worked for me before.

Chuck

 

[Russ]

I soak it all down with Simple Green then cover with kitty litter, let sit for a few days then sweep it up.