oil spots on the driveway, well, my friends moms driveway... Options

[mattillac]

before i moved it, my car was sitting in my friends moms driveway(she's soo nice.)
so, some oil dripped on the driveway! i don't know how that happened (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif) but i would like to clean it up for her. some other cars donated some oil also, not just mine.

tell rentals has heated pressure washers for $48.95 for a couple of hours. i thought that and some kind of detergent and a BIG scrubber would do the job. anybody else have any good ideas on oil slick removal from driveways?

peace! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

edit: sorry, forgot the OT. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[ws91420]

Is it concrete and is it a lot of oil. Sometimes brake cleaner will work on small spots.

[skline]

Common pool acid scrub for a minute and hose off. Stain will be gone.

Oh, wear a mask

[Eric Taylor]

That's extremly nice! Great to see you wiping up your babie (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) If it were me I would just try and use a spray nozzle on a regular garden hose. Put down some soap, or use a brush of some sort. That's what I would do . $50.00 is a lot for a pressure washer, sounds like they are trying to rape you.
Eric

[mattillac]

its some large spots and some smaller ones. they've been sitting there for a while so i don't think the brake cleaner will work.

pool acid scrub, huh? i work right down the street from home depot, so i'll go look there after work. if they don't have it i guess i'll have to find a pool place.

thanks for tips. i'll post my results later. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)

[skline]

Dont leave it on too long, it will bleach the driveway and you will have white spots instead of black spots. Just pour it on, scrub it a minute or so and then hose it off.

[mattillac]

QUOTE (skline @ Mar 16 2005, 04:19 PM)

Dont leave it on too long, it will bleach the driveway and you will have white spots instead of black spots. Just pour it on, scrub it a minute or so and then hose it off.

thanks for warning me. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)

[TheCabinetmaker]

Scott, you might want to reconsider the pool acids for repeated use. Pool acid(hydrochloric,or muratic) will not only bleach the driveway if left too long, It will remove a bit of the portand cement in the concrete that rises to the top during trowling and finishing of the driveway, and that is what I use. Raw portland cement! sprinkle some on the oil spots, let it sit for a few, wet slightly, brush with a stiff broom, rinse. Muratic acid is what brick layers use to remove the excess mortar from the brick. It eats cement, and will eventually leave the sand underneath exposed leading to an early demise of your driveway.

[BMartin914]

Gint had mentioned to me that an auto parts store brand (Coastal Corp) of hand cleaner works miracles. I wish I could remember which chain it was. If you can figure out which chain is owned by coastal, you're on your way. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[mattillac]

QUOTE (vsg914 @ Mar 16 2005, 05:00 PM)

that is what I use. Raw portland cement! sprinkle some on the oil spots, let it sit for a few, wet slightly, brush with a stiff broom, rinse.

you use dry portland cement? is that something i can get at the depot or should i go to the cement supply place?

i like the idea of using the acid (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/happy11.gif) to get the oil off, but if something will work that does not eat away the concrete i guess that would be better. especially since it's not my driveway. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[TheCabinetmaker]

The depot, Lowes, or any old time lumberyard/hardware store. Take a big coffee can and ask them if they have a broken bag you could get some from. They will most likely give you half the bag since they can't sell it anyway.

[machina]

I don't have a driveway, I basically just have oil spots.

[mattillac]

QUOTE (BMartin914 @ Mar 16 2005, 05:20 PM)

Gint had mentioned to me that an auto parts store brand (Coastal Corp) of hand cleaner works miracles. I wish I could remember which chain it was. If you can figure out which chain is owned by coastal, you're on your way. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

i thought about using the lanolin stuff before, but i wasn't really sure about it. it works awesome on my hands. hmmm. a nice bunch of ideas is popping up so far. keep 'em comming. i'm sure someone besides me has some pesky oil slicks growing on their driveway/sidewalk/street/carpet (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

[anthony]

See if you can borrow a pressure washer from someone. Just the regular 1600psi home model will work pretty good on oil spots. Scrubbing them with some Tide might help too.

[Steve Thacker]

The portland cement solution is good.....great suggestion BTDT

Another awesome one is to use MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) We call it Methyl Ethyl Badshit.
You MUST use chemical gloves as there is nothing on the planet that will dissolve petrolum products on contact as this shit does. Looks like a watercolor when you apply it. You do not want to get this stuff on you. As your skin will take it in like lightning and you will be very sick in a short time. Especially avoid breathing it, etc, etc.

Since most driveways have a slight slope. I usually put some kitty litter or other absorbant below the stains. I hit them with the MEK, very lightly use a brush and the stuff runs into the absorbant and I just sweep it away, no mo earl stains. It won't discolor or eat the cement either. Don't throw the absorbant and MEK in a water bourne area. As this is bad for the environment, this shit will stay in the soil for like 30 years. Seriously this is the stuff to use. You ought to see what it does to a nasty dirty engine block.

I sound just like a infomercial. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) UMMM Pine cones,..they taste just like nuts. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

You can get it at Depot in the home paint section. Autozone also carries it.

[TheCabinetmaker]

TSP (tri-sodium-phosphate) is another good enviornmental friendly cleaning product available at your local paint store.

[iamchappy]

Ive been told that Costco heavy duty laundry detergent that comes in a 5 gallon pail for 15 bucks, sprinkled on over the area and left for a few days than brushed off works.

[Rand]

For smallish spots I use dish soap, a stiff bristled brush, and some elbow grease. Rinses off quick for an easy cleanup. Not exactly a high tech industrial strength solution, but easy to try since it's usually on hand.

[914fan]

I used some Gojo orange. It worked good. I just squirted it on and used a tiny bit of water. i scrubber back and forth with my shop broom. Let it set. Scrubbed (actually just moved it around) let it set scrubber and rinsed. it looked beter than the other side whee I used industrial concrete cleaner (home depot stih.) it would have worked better on a hot day I think. A couple days later it rained and the driveway looked new.

Perhaps simple green as well?

[mattillac]

thanks guys for all the awesome suggestions! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)