The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Oil Stain

Anybody got any ideas how to get oil up off an asphalt driveway? Had a BAD oil leak and got a couple quatrs of oil on the driveway. Cleaned it up with oilsorb, but would like to get more of it up.

Sounds like you might have to get some sort of solvent or soap? I also think that a nice stiff brush would be a useful tool to scrub that crap off your driveway. I hope that someone else is more helpful than me, good luck.

Kyle

Muriatic acid. It's nasty stuff, the same chemical used in pools to keep 'em clean, but undiluted it'll take everything but the concrete up. Should be available through just about any hardware or home improvement store.

Be careful when you use it! Like I said, it's really nasty stuff. Always keep something between you, your clothes, and it; like heavy rubber gloves, safety goggles, etc.

If your state doesn't allow the purchase of it without a hazardous material license, then go for a good quality engine degreaser and a stiff brush.

I like the oil eater they sell at costco, just make sure you wash your hands good, it tends to suck all the oils out of your hands and dry em up.

Ive used this stuff on old railroad ties used as steps and actually got a lot of the creasote out with just a few soakings.

Also when used on an engine and hosed off it just knocks the oil off in clumps, sweep it up and throw it away.

Jeff

Is the driveway asphalt or concrete? Muriatic acid will probably take up the asphalt as well as the oil. I've always had good luck with dawn dishwashing liquid on oil stains, but if it's soaked too far into the asphalt you will probably have to recoat.

WD40 is supposed to work well

Bill

I can't add anything to the above except that if you are successful in getting the stain out let us know what you used and how you did it.

I' ve had great success using Castrol Super Cleaner for oil and grease remover. Ok to use on concrete but would try a small spot if the driveway is asphalt. Powerful stuff too and will eat your skin so use with care. Probably not environmentaly friendly either.

Don't know about asphalt, but Simple Green works well on concrete. And it IS supposed to be environmentally friendly. I know it cleans up with plain water.

Simple green

Scrub the area down with minerals spirits and hose it off right away. Use a firm bristle brush and it should be all but gone, but try a small area to see how it will act with the asphalt,
Scott

You could try spic/span powder soap and a stiff brush.gojo hand cleaner may work for you.

Simple Green or liquid laundry detergent and a stiff brush or broom. I dropped a gallon of oil in my 2 car garage once and was amazed at how much surface area it covered.

Had a 3000HP stationary diesel pop a coupling once. Amazing how fast a 200GPM pump can empty a 150 gal sump.

WD40 will break down the oil-based tar in the asphalt...ask me how I know.

you wont believe this,,,,,,,,,,,,but take some crushed sheet rock, put it on, let it set, then sweep away...........................I will give you my address later for the check

TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) will do the job and it's cheap like borscht.

I don't have any sugestions but good luck at getting it up off your driveway

Joker,

Never thought of using gypsum. Makes a lot of sense though. I always drys me out. Thanks for the tip.

TSP has been banned in a lot of places and I haven't tried "TSP substitute" yet. I remember reading that Wisk is mainly TSP. We used TSP in boiler water treatment. Cleanest tanks in the plant!

darn it joker,i tried the crushed sheetrock,now i have a $#@!%^& hole in the wall to fix !! LOL !!!

I have had good luck with kitty litter the cheapest you can find. Pour it out and then grind it in with your feet.
Good Luck
Steve

Yup that cheap clay based stuff. The safety clean guy used to sell us speedy dry at several times the cost and then one day I was cleaning the cat box and...........

kitty litter is good,use your work boots and grind it in the mess.sweep it up !!!

Many years ago when I worked in a gas station we used battery acid out of old batteries. It worked real good on concrete. As for asphalt, it is made of oil so I dont think you can seperate the unwanted oil from the good stuff.

I use liquid dish soap, brush it in and let it sit till it rains! Concrete powder will also work!

I use kitty litter (oil soak), grind it in with my boot, sweep it up, then throw on another scoop and grind it in.. let it sit for a while..

brake cleaner works good on concrete too.

Sorry, but that oil won't come out, so you'll have to move.

Since your driveway is asphalt, I would recommend against using the muriatic acid. The kitty litter idea sounds best. Another idea, and I don't know if this would be effective, is to work some waterless hand cleaner into the area to loosen up and combine with the oil, then hose it off. Follow that up with the dish washing liquid.

If none of the ideas work, consider installing sheet linoleum over your driveway.

special kitty from walmart $2.22 a bag !!! Good kitty !!!!!

A peice of 2x4 work very well for grinding in kitty litter. Sure beats getting it on your boots and tracking it all over.