Transmission fluid on driveway

[Greenlawnracing]

Googled a few ideas, but thought I would check here to see if anybody had any proven techniques. Yet another gasket went bad on my truck, and I spilled some transmission fluid on the driveway. Any top-secret ways to clean it up?

 

[The Cobbler]

concrete or asphalt?
I blew a PS hose on my van and oil dry ground into the asphalt worked a bit on lifting the oil

 

[Greenlawnracing]

Concrete

 

[bri_man57]

Kitty litter has always worked wonders for me. Let it sit, scoop it up, and use a brush to work it into the concrete. Always had good results.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[JRC3]

On concrete...Never asphalt.

 

[rockettgpw]

x2 on kitty litter, be patient, walk over it to grind it down to coarse dust, sweep up.

 

[MushCreek]

I've been trying to get up ATF from a concrete floor indoors. Nothing has worked so far. I had kitty litter on it, but it sat for years. I've hit it with mineral spirits, solvents such as acetone, brake cleaner, even Lime-Away. I even hit it with a propane torch. All helped somewhat, but it keeps oozing up out of the slab. It's a smooth steel trowel finish, which probably doesn't help. I'd like to finish the floor, but the dark stains will show if I use a concrete stain, and I'm afraid paint won't bond well in those areas.

I'm convinced the automatic transmissions manufacture fluid as they sit. I tilted the culprit all different ways and let it drain, but it still oozed a puddle. Now I moved it into my shop, and fluid is still coming out of it!

 

[Burmashave]

I pour some lacquer thinner over the stain, let it penetrate a couple minutes then cover with clean floor dry. Allow to dry, then remove. For me it's never taken more than one or two applications.

 

[Metallitubby]

One of my race team sponsors is a biodegradable cleaner that works wonders on this sort of thing. For some reason, their website is kaput today, so here's an Amazon link instead:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WMPNFH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Old Man Roger]

Ive had good luck with simple green, but that's if I catch it right away. Don't know how well it would work if the stain was old.

 

[cdestuck]

After the fluid is cleaned up and if it has left a stain on concrete, I keep a gallon of Pour N Restore in the garage. Lifts stains rt out of concrete.

 

[wood02]

I have use newspapers to get the "worst of it lifted" from the floor (concrete). Then sprinkled saw dust over the spill and ground the saw dust into the concrete with the balls of my feet much like a twisting motion from the hip down. I do this until I say to myself "enough of this". Clean up the saw dust and in about a week or so the floor looks pretty decent. I think the saw grinding into the concrete helps to draw the oils out instead of in. This has worked well for me.

 

[nutjob]

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D3G8I0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Spill Magic All-Purpose Spill Clean Up

I have had good luck using it.

Kevin

 

[yeldogt]

Spray nine ....

let it sit ... house off.

Repeat -- let sit

 

[gayler]

When I worked at the dealership we used floor dry for the most of it and them sprinkled tide laundy detergent on it and wet it down and scrubbed it with a stiff broom. Rinse it away with a water hose.

 

[nadogail]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[RPH]

Powdered laundry soap, pour it over the spill and Grind it in. Let it sit. The soap will help break down the oil and soak it up. After a few days wash off. Repeat if needed.

 

[Backroad Joe]

For concrete, kitty litter/oil dry and many other materials are too course. You need something really fine, like ash.

I've been using ash with success for years. I even keep a jar of ash from the wood stove in the garage, ready for any spills. It is extremely fine and absorbent.

 

[Kevin54]

Go to TSC in the auto section and pick up a jug of Oil Eater. Works great.

 

[Toxictom]

I've been trying to get up ATF from a concrete floor indoors. Nothing has worked so far. I had kitty litter on it, but it sat for years. I've hit it with mineral spirits, solvents such as acetone, brake cleaner, even Lime-Away. I even hit it with a propane torch. All helped somewhat, but it keeps oozing up out of the slab. It's a smooth steel trowel finish, which probably doesn't help. I'd like to finish the floor, but the dark stains will show if I use a concrete stain, and I'm afraid paint won't bond well in those areas.

I'm convinced the automatic transmissions manufacture fluid as they sit. I tilted the culprit all different ways and let it drain, but it still oozed a puddle. Now I moved it into my shop, and fluid is still coming out of it!

I've heard Portland cement will draw petroleum oils out of concrete. Never tried it though.

 

[Leevon]

After a $1mil plus study, McDonald's determined that the best method to lift oil out of their drive thru is mineral spirits and terrycloth. I have done this with success. Using a diaper or thick terrycloth towel with mineral spirits "lifts" the oil out.

If there is anything left buy "Bacrete" oil eating enzyme powder, sweep a very layer on and leave it. It eats the oil away and makes concrete look new, that's what we use at my shop in the parking lot. It's hard to find but lasts forever.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Greased Lightening, straight. Spray it on, brush it in with a broom. Wait overnight. Rinse with garden hose.

It might take TWO applications, but wait until the water has thoroughly dried before doing the second one.

 

[Hank11]

Oil-Eater, available at most auto parts stores.

 

[Greenlawnracing]

Apparently the pandemic has made all of these chemicals harder to find locally. I grabbed some Oil Eater on Amazon, and followed the Google instructions last night. Let it sit for fiveish minutes, scrubbed with a wire brush, and sprayed off. Meh. Its not horrible, but a light stain is still present. I read that it may take additional applications, but did want to see if my technique is flawed.


I did try powdered laundry soap mixed with Dawn first, which was flawless when prepping my garage floor for epoxy. No dice, but I have a two foot circle in my driveway that is REALLY clean!

 

[Hank11]

Give it another go. But its not going to be perfect like new again. Nothing does that, but it will get better.

 

[SALIV8]

On concrete...Never asphalt.

Thats what I use. I spray so much it puddles and then I soak up the puddle with old shirts/rags/etc

 

[bad_idea]

My wife has cats. We always have litter around. I cover the spill with kitty litter about 3/8" thick and let it sit. Blow the kitty litter into the lawn when I cut the grass. Stain is pretty well gone then. Pressure wash the driveway (just water) once a year and it looks like new again.

 

[egdede]

Old PS/trans fluid is way harder to clean up.

 

[bbmach]

I've always had good luck with kitty litter... and a 2x4. Get on your knees and grind the kitty litter into the stain until it's just dust. Add more as needed.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Position the rear wheels of your vehicle on the oily spot and do a big smoky burnout. It won't clean anything up but it'll look cool as hell.

 

[captmoto]

My neighbor had a big trans fail on his concrete driveway. He got right on it oil dry and did the monster mash for a while but it looks like he got it all up.