Oil stain in driveway

kwoody51 · Oct 20, 2015

Had a service guy over last night for ~15 min and their truck left a nice oil stain in my ~12 month old "perfect" driveway. Any recommendations on removal?

I put down some oil eater remover but it didn't really appear to do anything and as an aside it appears to have discolored the area where it was poured thus creating a whole other issue. http://oileater.com/household/cleaner-degreaser/

I can't begin to explain how frustrating it is to have someone ruin the appearance of my good driveway. Yes I realize it's a driveway, but it's mine, it was perfect before hand and now it's like their a giant turd sitting in it that can't be gotten rid of. I take care of my things so this doesn't happen....

Oil stain after treatment with oil eater and you can also see the darker outline the oil eater has caused. This area is still damp but the outline form the product is clear visible and it's been rinsed well.

Shea · Oct 20, 2015

http://www.pour-n-restore.com/

It works well.

Shiftless · Oct 20, 2015

There is a powdered product containing microbes that digest oil. Takes a few weeks but I have seen before and after pics. Seems to work well, but manufacturers say don't use other products first. Might be too late to use it. I will look around for the name of the stuff.

kwoody51 · Oct 20, 2015

Shea said:
http://www.pour-n-restore.com/

It works well.

Thanks I'll give that a try. I saw that but my research on amazon reviews seemed to rate the product I bought as "better". Perhaps they were wrong.

This stain just happen last night thus I wanted to get after it quickly before it had more time to soak in.

kwoody51 · Oct 20, 2015

Shiftless said:
There is a powdered product containing microbes that digest oil. Takes a few weeks but I have seen before and after pics. Seems to work well, but manufacturers say don't use other products first. Might be too late to use it. I will look around for the name of the stuff.

is it this stuff?
http://sealgreen.com/Waterless_Oil_Cleaner.aspx

James-W · Oct 20, 2015

A long time ago I tried using an engine degreaser (Gunk) and it worked a little bit, but not anywhere near as well as I had hoped. Actually, after I did it I wished I had never used it. But after about 6-8 months of the rain and the sun beating down on it, I hardly notice the spot because it faded out and blended in pretty well.

kwoody51 · Oct 20, 2015

Looks like the local hardware store has the pour-n-restore. Thinking I'll give that a shot. Their videos look compelling and a vote by a member that does floor coating is better than hundreds of "yahoo's" on amazon.

Should have known to come her 1st and ask for advice...

Unfortunately this stain is on the north side, near the garage, thus it doesn't see much/ any sun.

Shiftless · Oct 21, 2015

kwoody51 said:
is it this stuff?
http://sealgreen.com/Waterless_Oil_Cleaner.aspx

No, the stuff I was talking about was mentioned in a magazine I was reading a couple of months ago. Auto Restorer
It was really expensive... like $100 for a can.

sayoda · Oct 21, 2015

Simple green, the purple one (for grease and oil).

You mix it in a squirt bottle with water. Spray the spot, let it sit for awhile, and then hose it off. Has always worked for me...

Ratchet Guy · Oct 21, 2015

wet the floor then put laundry detergent power on it and scrub it, it seems to work for me

Shiftless · Oct 21, 2015

This is the one.
Price has gone down and is now available in much smaller sizes.

http://www.terminator-hsd.net/

TonkaJoe · Oct 21, 2015

I've personally heard of using Dawn liquid dish soap... a few times now in fact, it's the main product of cleaning products that
they use to remove oil from wildlife like birds etc which get caught in the spills.. it may take a little elbow grease but I'd certainly look it up! .

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1970W-30 · Oct 21, 2015

Ratchet Guy said:
wet the floor then put laundry detergent power on it and scrub it, it seems to work for me

This /\ /\ /\

TonkaJoe · Oct 21, 2015

1970W-30 said:
This /\ /\ /\

I'll have to put this to the test tomorrow as I've got a couple decent sized spots on my new driveway from visiting vehicles... *sigh*
I'll post a before and after picture.

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Marc Benjamin · Oct 21, 2015

A couple of kettles full of boiling hot water
Dawn
a real good scrub brushing like really put your back into it!

Then if so inclined, rinse it off with a power washer or a hose.

Jsf721 · Oct 21, 2015

Ki have gotten the bulk out with kitty litter the clay type and grinding it into the pavers in my case until it powder. Let it sit over night and pressure wash it off. Did that 2 nights and it was gone.

Evilunclegrimace · Oct 21, 2015

Pour a 2 liter of real Coke on it. I've done this in my drive when my work truck left a oil stain and it worked surprisingly well.

Armorpoxy · Oct 21, 2015

Hi
We carry an oil/grease emulsifier which works well at removing oil residue. Our customers have reported excellent results. Very deep stains unfortunately are 'in' the concrete and may not be able to be removed completely.

https://store.armorpoxy.com/mm5/mer...e_Code=A&Product_Code=AI-OGE1G&Category_Code=

Garage Flooring · Oct 21, 2015

Simple Green, scrub it, rinse it then use the Pour N Restore. That way you get the dirt layer off and the PNR can do its job.

theoldwizard1 · Oct 21, 2015

Greased Lightening. Pour it on full strength. Scrub in lightly. Let sit overnight. Rinse.

If it does not come clean, wait until dry and repeat.

lugnut71 · Oct 21, 2015

I have cleaned a few off my new pad also. I spray them with citrol, and it just lifts off the oil. rinse and repeat also used a scrub brush about the third soaking.

Jaguar Fan · Oct 21, 2015

I feel your pain. I tried everything in this thread without success in my last house. I sealed the concrete in my new house, and it is a good thing I did.

404 · Oct 21, 2015

Paint the whole driveway with used motor oil.

Problem not only solved, but prevented. :beer:

kwoody51 · Oct 21, 2015

Jaguar Fan said:
I feel your pain. I tried everything in this thread without success in my last house. I sealed the concrete in my new house, and it is a good thing I did.

That's the bummer of the deal, I was just about ready to start the research phase for what to use to seal the driveway.

Unrelated the outline from from the oil eater solution is gone. Thus I now just need to contend with the stain which is maybe 10% lighter than the start...

Carbonblk46 · Oct 21, 2015

I've had great success with CRC Hydroforce Degreaser and a hot pressure washer before. There's no businesses around that can take care of that for you?

kwoody51 · Oct 21, 2015

Carbonblk46 said:
I've had great success with CRC Hydroforce Degreaser and a hot pressure washer before. There's no businesses around that can take care of that for you?

There probably is but I'm cheap and distrusting it will get done right. Plus I like to learn new skills even if I hope I never have to use them again.

larry_g · Oct 21, 2015

I use cheap paint thinner on the stain, scrub it with a brush, cover it with floor dry of some kind. The thinner lifts and thins the oil and allows the floor dry to absorb it easier. Leave the floor dry alone for a time to allow it to work, overnight if you can. It works for me.

lg
no neat sig line

kwoody51 · Oct 21, 2015

I put down another round of the oil eater (because I have it) and then put some floor dry over it. Leaving it sit out overnight through tomorrow. We'll see if it makes a dent.

Stopped at a place to get pour n restore but they didn't sell it despite being listed as a reseller via the website.

padroo · Oct 21, 2015

I usually start with choke and carb cleaner. After removal I would suggest a commercial sealer be applied and would make clean up a non issue next time.

2CRUZ · Oct 22, 2015

larry_g said:
I use cheap paint thinner on the stain, scrub it with a brush, cover it with floor dry of some kind. The thinner lifts and thins the oil and allows the floor dry to absorb it easier. Leave the floor dry alone for a time to allow it to work, overnight if you can. It works for me.

lg
no neat sig line

I have found this is the best method for me. That Pour and Restore isn't worth .10 Cents. let alone the $12.00 bucks a bottle you have to pay for it. You just as well throw your money away using that stuff. Paint thinner and a brush and then oil absorber.

camd64 · Oct 22, 2015

I always start with brake clean. If that doesn't do it my next step is a good TSP soak. If that doesn't work my last resort is diluted Muratic acid. If it comes to using the acid be very careful, not only is it nasty stuff for you and anything living but leave it on too long and you will discolor the concrete.

JKady · Oct 22, 2015

Ratchet Guy said:
wet the floor then put laundry detergent power on it and scrub it, it seems to work for me

Yup, I've worked in lots of shops where we had white painted floors or light colored concrete, and the go to for cleaning was Tide with Bleach and a deck brush + a little elbow grease.

Shea · Oct 22, 2015

One other type of product that can get good results if you give it time are micro-bacteria oil eating enzymes. These products do work, but you don't get instant results. It can take a few days to a couple of weeks. Here is an example below available from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OAVXPAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

erty67 · Oct 22, 2015

I'm not saying I recommend this, but I have seen an oil stain on a paved driveway sprayed down with brake cleaner, then hosed down. it cleaned that stain right up! I was surprised. Not what i'd do though.

kwoody51 · Oct 22, 2015

Shea said:
One other type of product that can get good results if you give it time are micro-bacteria oil eating enzymes. These products do work, but you don't get instant results. It can take a few days to a couple of weeks. Here is an example below available from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OAVXPAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks Shea! I'm a few steps away from getting something like this.

I'm ~3 rounds into my current treatment method with limited change. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow.

Appreciate all the help!

yhprum · Oct 23, 2015

I tried the oil eating microbe thing, it does work, but it wont remove carbon, so if the oil is dirty, the carbon will still be left behind, leaving a stain.
I have had good luck with pour and restore on the driveway with a long term ATF leak, and clean oil stains.

awdblazer · Oct 23, 2015

brake cleaner

DonPowers · Oct 23, 2015

404 said:
Paint the whole driveway with used motor oil.

Problem not only solved, but prevented.

You beat me to it :beer:

Jinks · Oct 23, 2015

erty67 said:
I'm not saying I recommend this, but I have seen an oil stain on a paved driveway sprayed down with brake cleaner, then hosed down. it cleaned that stain right up! I was surprised. Not what i'd do though.

I don't see why you shouldn't, I do it all the time. I hose down a stain with CRC Brakleen, scrub it with a broom or scrub brush & hose it off. No stains in my eight year old drive....... :dunno:

Notgrownup · Oct 23, 2015

As long as it's a degreaser... I like the citrus base because them my car tires smell like oranges as I am driving down the road... It's good feng shui...We need more of that **** on the road these days...LOL

Oil stain in driveway

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