Atf stains never coming out

[tbirkey214]

I'm going to try to make this not a super long post so here's the story...

Atf fluid from power steering leak everywhere-old driveway and newer asphalt in street

Didn't notice for like 3 weeks because I was working a factory shutdown, working crazy hours and only home at night going straight to sleep. Power steering pump was leaking only when cranked all the way which is what I have to do when I get in and out of the driveway

Used numerous products and got some of it out but mostly gave the very old concrete a lot of stains so now part of it is beige part of it is gray

I used a Cold power washer and some degreaser and it didn't really work, so I hired a professional power washer with a hot tank and they use some kind of acid chemical and it came out pretty good but not totally great, since I think I essentially stained the concrete with the different chemicals I tried( purple power, clr, pour and restore, kitty litter, commercial power washers used a product called groundskeeper)

In the picture below you can see the old sidewalk, all the driveways and concrete around here has like this black dirt mold kind of concoction on them and they all look like **** so I'm seeing if I could speed that up and kind of cover up some of the blotches and even everything out in the driveway. And then for the street I'm kind of stumped because they use some kind of acid and degreaser and a hot pressure washer and it only just kind of lightened everything. How can I both speed up the moldy blackness in the driveway and what can I do to further try to treat the street?

*** I've been so careful not to damage these guys property and I feel absolutely terrible. It doesn't help that I have industrial Machinery outside every now and then and always loading stuff in and out trying to wheel and deal for tools, but I've never done any damage to the property or have dripped any oil from tools or cleaning them or anything this one power steering pump thing was just such a gusher that it makes it look like I am running an automotive shop out of my house

 

[theoldwizard1]

For concrete, pour Greased Lightning, full strength, on the stain. (Do this out of direct sunlight.) Brush in lightly with a broom. Let it sit overnight. Hose off in the AM. Let dry.

It may require a second application, but I have never had to do it more than twice.

 

[mm08822]

Graffiti is a good distraction.

(You did all of the things I would have tried. 3 weeks of soak time is difficult. )

 

[PoorUB]

I have always had good results with soaking the spot with mineral spirits, or paint thinner, brush it in well, then pour some clay type floor dry or kitty litter and work it in with a broom.

 

[BurtEggley]

what I have learned is that to get oil out once it has penetrated, one has to lift it out. Over time water will lift oil out. What I have done to accelerate the process is use something that dissolves oil in it, then five minutes later hit it with soap and water, keeping it wet. That floats the oil out as the soap and water etc., sink in. Then rinse well. When we were racing the track crew used to throw concrete powder on it and that seemed to help too. Why, not a clue. That said, washing it removes the oil that the soap, water and heat can get to. It does not remove that which has sunk in. You have to put something into the concrete that floats the oil out. Over time rain and sunshine will do that if you get the majority of it off, which you seem to have done.

 

[wolfhawk73]

I had a transmission lose all its fluid on a brand spanking new concrete driveway. I soaked it up with rags and doused the entire area with a full bottle of regular Dawn and let it sit for a couple of days. Then I hosed it off. The stain disappeared when the concrete was dry, but you could see a slight darkening over the next few months when it rained. There would be a slight oil sheen on top of any puddled water. It was eventually unnoticeable.

I think the Greased Lightning would do the trick as well as long as it's still made of the good stuff (potassium hydroxide).

 

[mikegt4]

My goto process for small oil spills on concrete is hose it down with brake cleaner then immediately cover it with high clay content kitty litter. I then rub it into the concrete like stepping out a cigarette **** to crush the litter into a fine dust. I let it sit overnight then sweep up the dust. For larger spills I try to get up as much as possible with rags or newspaper first.

Long ago I use to wet the concrete then spread out Tide with enzymes (laundry powder) then scrub it with a broom. Let it sit for awhile then hose it off. It left the concrete as clean as a Marine base on inspection day. As with all good things it was banned and plan B came into effect.

 

[CGT80]

There is only so much you can do. I have the same problem on some old concrete (40 years) and have used extra strong pro alkaline degreaser (mixed for pro use only) and hit it with 8gpm of 200 degree water at 3500psi with a surfacer cleaner. I used to be a pro at this and still borrow the equipment occasionally to do my place. Concrete is porous, so without a good product to seal it, stains happen.

 

[yhprum]

I had a bad stain on a concrete driveway from a leaking torque converter seal. I used pour n restore on the spot over and over until it eventually disappeared.

 

[tbirkey214]

I had a bad stain on a concrete driveway from a leaking torque converter seal. I used pour n restore on the spot over and over until it eventually disappeared.

I think **** restore is what gave me all these gray stains

 

[PCustoms]

I think **** restore is what gave me all these gray stains

Uummmm....


Oil eater worked pretty well on the mystery petroleum based stain in my basement.

 

[c39er]

Replace the slab...

 

[tbirkey214]

I think **** restore is what gave me all these gray stains

Lol pour n restore! Damn **** stains though, that's for another day

 

[Max78]

I poured some kitty litter onto the stain and worked it with my shoe grinding it into a fine powder and working it into the concrete, I was surprised at how many of my oil stains it removed.

 

[tbirkey214]

I poured some kitty litter onto the stain and worked it with my shoe grinding it into a fine powder and working it into the concrete, I was surprised at how many of my oil stains it removed.

I tried that and it did not work, and I was even using Blended kitty litter

 

[tbirkey214]

Also I want to say that I think with a little time the driveway will look fairly decent cuz I'm going to throw some organic soil on it and just keep it damp and I think kind of the Blackness that everybody else has is going to come back, whatever kind of mold it is and then the driveway will look all right. But the asphalt in the street is a totally different story, when I put Degreaser on it it's like some kind of hazy Brown something lifts out from underneath or inside of the asphalt and it doesn't take my stain out it just like it's eating the asphalt or something

 

[Shadowdog500]

I’ve had luck getting stains out with trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Back in the day people would get stains out of their concrete driveway using Comet kitchen cleaner powder. You wet the spot dump a bunch of comet on and scrub it with a brush, then let it sit for hours.

 

[Codyboy]

Replace the slab...

Yeah I think the stains are the least of the issue.

Also, oil or ATF on asphalt in the street will wash away . Plus asphalt is "oil" based.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I used some type of detergent (may have been purple power or simple green) then covered with a powder for lifting oil stains from concrete. Worked much better than either method alone.

 

[tbirkey214]

Yeah I think the stains are the least of the issue.

Also, oil or ATF on asphalt in the street will wash away . Plus asphalt is "oil" based.

Wash away?
It has been quite a while now

 

[CJM8515]

typically ive gotten out some touch stuff by buying a gallon jug of acetone or paint thinner and soaking it well several times. then using a degreaser like simple green or purple power at full strength and brushing with a broom.

 

[racecougar]

But the asphalt in the street is a totally different story, when I put Degreaser on it it's like some kind of hazy Brown something lifts out from underneath or inside of the asphalt and it doesn't take my stain out it just like it's eating the asphalt or something

Yeah, you're likely pulling the oils out of the asphalt. I wouldn't continue to do that.

 

[N_Jay]

Might be easier just to paint the driveway with ATF and it will all match.

 

[Thorold]

Might be easier just to paint the driveway with ATF and it will all match.

And that would probably seal it from further spills. Genius !

I've had some luck with Tide Powder mixed as a paste for these type of stains.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My go to has always been Simple Green and/or Dawn. Scrub it in let it soak in or set and wash with hot water. Rinse repeat a few times.

If it's still there I might dump some Chlorox and try to bleach it out.

 

[tbirkey214]

what I have learned is that to get oil out once it has penetrated, one has to lift it out. Over time water will lift oil out. What I have done to accelerate the process is use something that dissolves oil in it, then five minutes later hit it with soap and water, keeping it wet. That floats the oil out as the soap and water etc., sink in. Then rinse well. When we were racing the track crew used to throw concrete powder on it and that seemed to help too. Why, not a clue. That said, washing it removes the oil that the soap, water and heat can get to. It does not remove that which has sunk in. You have to put something into the concrete that floats the oil out. Over time rain and sunshine will do that if you get the majority of it off, which you seem to have done.

On asphalt too?

 

[chubby one]

I'm going to try to make this not a super long post so here's the story...

Atf fluid from power steering leak everywhere-old driveway and newer asphalt in street

Didn't notice for like 3 weeks because I was working a factory shutdown, working crazy hours and only home at night going straight to sleep. Power steering pump was leaking only when cranked all the way which is what I have to do when I get in and out of the driveway

Used numerous products and got some of it out but mostly gave the very old concrete a lot of stains so now part of it is beige part of it is gray

I used a Cold power washer and some degreaser and it didn't really work, so I hired a professional power washer with a hot tank and they use some kind of acid chemical and it came out pretty good but not totally great, since I think I essentially stained the concrete with the different chemicals I tried( purple power, clr, pour and restore, kitty litter, commercial power washers used a product called groundskeeper)

In the picture below you can see the old sidewalk, all the driveways and concrete around here has like this black dirt mold kind of concoction on them and they all look like **** so I'm seeing if I could speed that up and kind of cover up some of the blotches and even everything out in the driveway. And then for the street I'm kind of stumped because they use some kind of acid and degreaser and a hot pressure washer and it only just kind of lightened everything. How can I both speed up the moldy blackness in the driveway and what can I do to further try to treat the street?

*** I've been so careful not to damage these guys property and I feel absolutely terrible. It doesn't help that I have industrial Machinery outside every now and then and always loading stuff in and out trying to wheel and deal for tools, but I've never done any damage to the property or have dripped any oil from tools or cleaning them or anything this one power steering pump thing was just such a gusher that it makes it look like I am running an automotive shop out of my house

Try some toilet bowl cleaner with bleach . l have had success with it.

 

[bbxlr8]

Unfortunately, I have dumped a lot of atf over the years. From trans changes to blown coooler lines to PS leak from box on older car (use ATF as it is cheaper). Had it both in the garage (concrete) and on the driveway (asphalt).

My MO is to soak up and take a stepped approach with full-strength purple (whichever brand I happen to have). Soak & wash, then full-strength Simple Green, same process. I think it actually works pretty well, but don't get hung up on it. As others have said, weather over time does a pretty decent job outside.

 

[tbirkey214]

Try some toilet bowl cleaner with bleach . l have had success with it.

On asphalt or concretw?

 

[tbirkey214]

Unfortunately, I have dumped a lot of atf over the years. From trans changes to blown coooler lines to PS leak from box on older car (use ATF as it is cheaper). Had it both in the garage (concrete) and on the driveway (asphalt).

My MO is to soak up and take a stepped approach with full-strength purple (whichever brand I happen to have). Soak & wash, then full-strength Simple Green, same process. I think it actually works pretty well, but don't get hung up on it. As others have said, weather over time does a pretty decent job outside.

The problem im having on the asphalt is that the degreaser bri gs something out of the asphalt and creates a brown haze i can o ly get up.with hot powerwqshing... which i dont have yet