Is it possible to "clean" engine oil off a driveway?

Answer 1

A big oil spot in the middle of your driveway can make the most meticulously maintained home look dingy. Whether a leak from your car or someone else's created that mark on your concrete driveway, garage floor or sidewalk, it can all be lightened enough as to be barely visible. Try the first suggestion, then work your way down the list as necessary. Whatever you do, don't procrastinate. Bare concrete floors are porous and permanently stain if oil, grease and dirt are not removed quickly. End each remedy by hosing down and air-drying the treated area.

Instructions
STEP 1: Pour cola on the oily or dry stained areas, and leave the cola on overnight. Squirt a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into a bucket until you have a good lather. Rinse with the soapy water, then with a garden hose.

STEP 2: Sprinkle baking soda or an absorbent powder such as cornmeal or sawdust on the oily spots. If the stain is dry, wet it first to make a scouring paste. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom.

STEP 3: Sprinkle automatic dishwasher detergent on the oily concrete. Leave it for several minutes, then pour boiling water on the stained area. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom, then rinse.

STEP 4: Try a commercial concrete cleaner such as Garage and Driveway Cleaner by Red Devil Co. or a grease solvent such as Benzine. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

STEP 5: Sprinkle trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the oily concrete. If the stain is dry, wet it first. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Scrub using a stiff broom. TSP is a dangerous product; if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing. Also, never wash a TSP product down storm drains.

STEP 6: As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer's directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Follow with a pressure washer set at 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch (psi), or 176 to 211 kg per square cm. Like TSP, muriatic acid is a dangerous product; likewise, if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash such a product down storm drains.

STEP 7: After trying any of the strategies above, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area to neutralize the solution you've used.

Overall Tips & Warnings
Place cardboard under an oil drop or lawn mower to catch stains before they happen.
Seal concrete to prevent staining. See How to Seal a Garage Floor.
Get that leaky car fixed!
Grease solvents are flammable, so make sure you have excellent ventilation and avoid spark and flame.

Answer 2

Try a local autoparts store like NAPA or PEPBOYS. They carry all sorts of car cleaning stuff including engine degreaser which should eat up those stains pretty easily. I would saturate the stained area and then work it in with a scrub brush or a stiff bristled broom, let it sit a bit and hose it off. If the spots are not too big or too old a can of brake cleaner works well too.

Answer 3

A couple of choices come to mind, some hot water with Dawn. Wash the area with a stiff brush and rinse. Another choice is spread some powdered Tide on the wet concrete and then scrub. Rinse and repeat as necessary. Finally, go to the parts store and get a couple cans of Brake Cleaner. Just spray on area and let dry. Cat litter will dry it up but will leave a stain.

Answer 4

Try using a heated power washer and some greased lightning. spray on the area very generously and scrub with a hard bristle brush for a few secs. then fire up the power washer. and let it rip. You can rent a heated power washer if you dont own one at your local home depot or where they rent out lawn equptment. Good luck.

Answer 5

There are products that say they work, but I have not found them to work, try to use powder tide and scrub into the stain or try to use dawn it works a little, remember to let it sit a while, concrete and asphalt are porous so the stain is deeper than you might think.

Answer 6

Yes .
use regular laundry detergent,mixed with water,soak the driveway in that water let it stay for 10 minute and hose out.

Answer 7

I will usually come off or at least lighten up if you use a high powered pressure washer