Oil cleanup

[polo2k]

Hi All,

I do not yet have the garage of my dreams. at the moment I work mainly outside my garage in shared ownership private land. Where I have been working there have been some oil stains on the tarmac so I bought some GUNK driveway cleaner and did my best not to let it sit. unfortunaley I have not gotten all the oil and where the water sits in the communal area there is a film of oil around the edges of the water.
How does anyone deal with oil film on water.

I have tried sand but it didnt get all the oil. I have some alkaline based chain cleaner that I thought might break the oil down sufficently to let it be swept away when on the water.

A friend of mine sells a system designed to break down catering oils and fats in the drainage, it uses enzymes to achive this. does anyone think its worth trying the enzyme on automotive oil residue?

LONG story short: how do you treat oil film on water?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Are you talking about an oil film on a run off pond area or just in a low spot on the driveway while water is there? You also mentioned "tarmac". Is this driveway asphalt or concrete?

 

[Ray-CA]

I would try some of the clay cat litter. Let it absorb as much water as possible and dispose of it. Keep repeating until you've got the oil soaked out. You can also put down on the dry pavement and it will absorb oil out of the pavement. On concrete I rub it in with a clay brick and leave the powder down for a few days.

Good luck,

Ray

 

[polo2k]

This is the area befoe I started to clean it up

the pooling is just below the bottom of the pic. I have been using noral sand until now, will cat litter be better?

There isnt a lot of oil but I would rather appease the neighbours before they get stressed rather than dealing with them kicking off.

 

[darkone]

I would try some of the clay cat litter. Let it absorb as much water as possible and dispose of it. Keep repeating until you've got the oil soaked out. You can also put down on the dry pavement and it will absorb oil out of the pavement. On concrete I rub it in with a clay brick and leave the powder down for a few days.

Good luck,

Ray

+1

The brick rub in will help a lot too.

 

[ZRX61]

It's asphalt, it's made from oil, any water sitting there is ALWAYS going to show an oil film on the surface.
Short of digging it up & replacing it with concrete there isn't anything you can do about it.

 

[polo2k]

Where can I get a clay brick? in the uk please

And good point about it being made of oil

 

[TheGrooveking]

Just use a regular large brick, a smooth one, without the holes in it, it will work fine.

TheGrooveking

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

It's asphalt, it's made from oil, any water sitting there is ALWAYS going to show an oil film on the surface.
Short of digging it up & replacing it with concrete there isn't anything you can do about it.

+1....That was the reason for asking if it was asphalt. If you have a spill, cat litter will work well at cleaning it up.

 

[polo2k]

thank you all very much, ill get some down next time im out there

 

[Crash913]

I find that spreading the cat litter, putting on a pair of boots, and grinding down the cat litter into the stain will remove it very quickly. That is assuming that you have cleaned up the puddle beforehand

 

[bgott]

Tide clothes washing detergent, push broom and a water hose.

 

[venom50svt]

Ok Here is the deal..I have used all sorts of stuff to soak up oil from a spill like oil changes in my garage or drive way...

I use Pool filter powder.."DE".. This stuff is the nuts.. no dirt/mud etc.

I see that nascar uses something like this because of all the fine dust the cars kick up as they pass...

This stuff is fast.. Pour some of this on the oil, don't be stingee. Just keep pushing it around back and forth. The next thing you know its all gone.... No thats on my painted garage floor,,, On the drive way I brush it back and forth and brush it in hard to get into all the crackles, let it stand and soak more than do your clean up..

The filter powder is cheap at your local pool dealer... TRY IT

 

[fireguy]

kitty Litter clumps up , getting tracked everywhere. Like the above poster suggested, g et some floor dry, made from diatamaceous earth. It does not clump, will get worked into hte cement. However, you may never get the oil stain out. Concrete is pourus, the oil has worked into the concrete.

If it is asphalt, a hot water pressure washer may work. DO NOT use a 0° tip or turbo tip. Use no more than 2,000 PSI, or less if possible. Start at least 18" away from the spot.

Best solution, hire a contractor who is experienced at the problem. Ask for references, ask about disposal of the water, chemical and the oil residue.

 

[venom50svt]

Speaking of clumping up... My wife made the mistake of using kitty litter on the front walk when we had ice. OMG.. .. man o man it tracked it every where!!!! I had to use my power washer to get the "mud" away from the front door and in the drive way...