Removing oil from driveway?

[VladTepes]

So, I have a aggregate concrete driveway and its been liberally dosed with diff oil over a few months.

I've tried degreaser (2 x spray tins), detergent and pressure washer but its still there.

Has anyone got suggestions as to the best way to address?

[POD]

I've never tried it but I've heard that 'liquid magnet' works. My dad used to swear by it.

[windsock]

Watching with interest. Same problem but also the black engine oil and used oil from gearbox drippings and a mix of new from servicing 110 on the driveway. I leave a sheet of plywood under the truck to catch as much oil dripping as I can but I turn the truck 90 deg to get to the park and sometimes when running over the ply it twists and ends up elsewhere under the truck and oil stains happen... [bigwhistle]

I see a newish product (new to me anyway) on the market from CRC called Oil Eater. CRC Oil Eater - Remove Oil Stains From Concrete - CRC NZ (https://www.crc.co.nz/Oil-Eater/6895-9490c424-d950-436a-becc-14085a6b0184/)

Going to give that a go so will report back.

[101RRS]

There are lots of Youtube videos on this with mixed results - the most effective does seem to be dishwashing liquid that is left in for quite a while before removing.

I have found plain sunlight and 12 months time seems to work the best - the sunlight encourages the oil eating bacteria and they do their work but takes a long time.

[VladTepes]

I should add I need a shorter term "impatient missus" solution :)

[RHS58]

Good soaking with petrol, then throw a lit match at it.

[Homestar]

When you own Land Rovers it’s just easier to live with the oil stains or park it on the grass. [emoji16][emoji106]

[NavyDiver]

So, I have a aggregate concrete driveway and its been liberally dosed with diff oil over a few months.

I've tried degreaser (2 x spray tins), detergent and pressure washer but its still there.

Has anyone got suggestions as to the best way to address?

The concrete sealer I used is Ausseal Curite sealer. The guy doing my aggregate concrete driveway which is a used it. My 40 year old garage floor concrete got it after using Xylene and a stiff brush. It looks like new now.

Suspect the acid might do the trick for you. adding the Curite or similar may allow you to just hose it off next time.

[350RRC]

The concrete sealer I used is Ausseal Curite sealer. The guy doing my aggregate concrete driveway which is a used it. My 40 year old garage floor concrete got it after using Xylene and a stiff brush. It looks like new now.

Suspect the acid might do the trick for you. adding the Curite or similar may allow you to just hose it off next time.

I use something very similar and it's fine.......... know its limitations though.

DON'T spill acetone or xylene on it.

DL

[SpudHeadTed]

...time is all you need. Oil stains from Landies marking their territory just become part of the patina of the driveway [bigwhistle][thumbsupbig]

[DiscoMick]

Sand soaked with dishwashing liquid?

[350RRC]

Question has been posted before............... someone suggested something from SC that worked really well. Have a search.

DL

[p38arover]

I use cement dust well brushed in. Let it soak up the oil for a while, then brush it again. Keep working it into the oil.

I have a bucket of cement (with a scoop from one of my wife's laundry detergent packs) sitting in the garage ready for dropping onto any oil spills.

[AK83]

bunnings sell a builders strength hydrochloric acid reasonably cheaply. 1lt bottle will probably do, but 5lt may be handier to have. brand is Bondall.

Seriously potent stuff, not domestic grade domestos stuff! If you choose to try it(recommend you do) you really should wear a mask, it's vapours are crazy strong!

Pour a little over the oil stain, rub in a a little with a brush broom to soak it around and hose down. It may wear out the concrete if the concrete is old or not so well made. No problem if the cement is in good condition.
The broom brush may end up toast too, eaten away by the chlorine.

[spudfan]

Buy some sand in bags and scatter sand on it and leave it. Every so often brush up the sand and rescatter it over the oil. If you are in no rush just put the sand over it and leave it. Every time you brush it there will be less. it will eventually clear it all away. Talking from experience here.

[cjc_td5]

I have had success with degreaser but using boiling water to initially rinse it off. The hot water dislodges the more stubborn oily bits.

[Markf]

BP Comprox works well as does NappySan and hot water. Both need a bit of work with a stiff broom though.

[ramblingboy42]

G'day Vlad , good to see you popping in again........[bigsmile]

[windsock]

CRC Oil Eater - Remove Oil Stains From Concrete - CRC NZ (https://www.crc.co.nz/Oil-Eater/6895-9490c424-d950-436a-becc-14085a6b0184/)

Going to give that a go so will report back.

Gave it a go yesterday afternoon.

Didn't shake the can well enough perhaps. Halfway through the application I realised the can was a rattle can and had a ball bearing stirrer inside. I think what I applied to the drive wasn't mixed enough. Moved some of the recent oil but none of the old oil and left all the concrete around the stain looking brighter.

Smelled strongly of citrus.

Still have some more left in the can and will try again and hope there is still enough of the right proportions in the can to work better next time.

Goes on as a liquid and dried to a white powder that was supposed to 'pull' the stain out. Reminded me of carpet cleaner... [bighmmm]

[roverrescue]

Oil stain on unsealed concrete has been explained to me like an iceberg

You can pull a little of the top layer and lighten it up but will never completely “fix” it

On unsealed exposed aggregate

Read super porous unable to grind

If just go straight to hydrochloric acid
Work the stain hard but I imagine you’ll end up freshening the whole drive

Follow the acid etch with a good pressure washing and re-assess


Pool acid is easy enough to buy
Run it 1:4 with water
(Always add acid to water not water to acid)


And seal it afterwards !!!
It seems to me that every concretor has their preferred brand - which says to me they all work pretty much the same just depends on who you have an account with or gives you the best rate !!!!

Either way - you will never get it all out but can likely improve the status quo.


A sealed bucket with a blend of dry cement and fine sand 50:50 is great to have handy to throw on fresh oil before it has a chance to soak into the crete

Steve

[windsock]

Would you expect there to be any difference in oil cleaner response between mineral and synthetic oils? Intuition says no but a small question mark is rattling around... would the chemistry be different in any key parts of the synthetic oils response to a cleaner ?

[Don 130]

A liberal dose of mineral turps thins the oil and allows it to soak down into the concrete. Does leave a slight carbon stain from diesel engine oil.
Caustic soda, (sodium hydroxide) solution will turn oil to soap allowing it to be washed away with water. There are some degreasers that work this way.
Don.

[Dorian]

I use hydrated lime on our pavers, it's not a quick solution but it doesn't stain or set.
Same reaction as cement powder, fine powder draws the oil out and the PH of the lime will make a form of soap.

Cheers Glen

[VladTepes]

OK a few responses since I last checked.

What I've done so far.

A bottle of CLR grease etc remover (what used to be called liquid magnet).
Left on for 5 minutes then scrubbed for 5-10 minutes then hot water applied, then hosed off.

Then detergent in hot water - left on for a while, scrubbed, hosed away.

Same again using car detergent.

Same again using 1/2 box of laundry detergent.


Effect so far evidently nil.


The driveway was sealed with something (no idea what) when built but I don;t have any confidence it actually did seal anything properly.

As far as cement powder is concerned - that'll harden into a lump if it gets wet so surely not a good idea?

[350RRC]

OK a few responses since I last checked.

What I've done so far.

A bottle of CLR grease etc remover (what used to be called liquid magnet).
Left on for 5 minutes then scrubbed for 5-10 minutes then hot water applied, then hosed off.

Then detergent in hot water - left on for a while, scrubbed, hosed away.

Same again using car detergent.

Same again using 1/2 box of laundry detergent.


Effect so far evidently nil.


The driveway was sealed with something (no idea what) when built but I don;t have any confidence it actually did seal anything properly.

As far as cement powder is concerned - that'll harden into a lump if it gets wet so surely not a good idea?

You're looking for a bit of instant gratification with those timelines.

Try again with plastic over the top to stop evaporation and leave whatever for a couple of days.

DL

[SpudHeadTed]

You're looking for a bit of instant gratification with those timelines.

Try again with plastic over the top to stop evaporation and leave whatever for a couple of days.

DL

…or just enjoy the natural oil patina [bigwhistle]

[VladTepes]

@350RRC - was just following directions.

@SpudHeadTed - it's the cheese'n'kisses I need to keep happy !

[DoubleChevron]

…or just enjoy the natural oil patina [bigwhistle]

he needs some nice old hydraulic Citroens scattered about the land rovers. The nice green puddles of hydraulic fluid everywhere blend in nicely with the puddle of gearbox/steering box/engine/diff oil from the land rovers [bighmmm] [bighmmm]

It also trains wives they will NEVER have a nice clean bit of concrete anywhere .... well ever .... So its simply not worth worrying about [bigrolf]

[VladTepes]

Mate I'd love a DS Citroen but the missus thinks they are the ugliest car ever made. :no2:

[d2dave]

When I spill oil on my shed floor I soak with petrol then put lots of newspaper to soak it up. Sort of works like blotting paper.

Many years ago I used white king on a driveway with good results.

You could also try this CRC Oil Eater - Oil Stain Remover for Driveways, Paving, Timber and More! - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYz68u8W5U)