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[JamesV6CDX]

I’ll keep this brief because it is what it is … I have made a balls up and kicked over a bucket of used engine oil from my 3.2 project, all over my concrete driveway. Up to three litres spilled. Covered in compost (all I had nearby) to stop the spread, I later removed this and went and got some cat litter which soaked it all up, but (obviously) has left a big (big!) black stain. Let’s say half a meter square - significant.

Someone on OOF must have been in this position before  Any tips on removing the stain, please? It’s grey concrete, not tarmac.

Cheers 👍🏻

[Mr Skrunts]

From Google.  Not sure if it works.

Oven cleaner can be a very effective treatment for oil stains on concrete. Simply spray the target area with oven cleaner and let it settle for ten minutes. Use a hard bristle brush to scrub it clean and rinse with a hose. Repeat the process until the stain is removed

[Mr Skrunts]

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=remove+dirty+car+oil+stain+from+concrete

[Mr Skrunts]

Oven cleaner
baking soda
dish soap

I reckon its a womans department as all the materiials are in her section of the house.

[STEMO]

Sorry to hear James has kicked the bucket, he was such a nice, helpful lad 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Nothing will remove it all as Concrete is porous and it soaks in, cement may pull a lot of it out

[Andy B]

I've had reasonable results in the past with Gunk driveway cleaner .... but it was only small stains ... not a bucket full of oil.

[Jimbob]

I inherited some triplewax jet wash driveway cleaner that took the oily residue of a small spill off a black driveway very easily.

I reckon your best bet is to cover the rest of the drive the same, then it will all match.

[Viral_Jim]

Maybe better pulling the majority of it out with the above methods then treating the whole driveway with something so it all matches...


Have you got any more used engine oil? 

[JamesV6CDX]

I didn’t expect any serious responses 

I doubt it will clean out. I’ll try but I doubt it.

How big a deal - or costly is it, to have it concreted over or similar to rectify it? Cheers

[Doctor Gollum]

I didn’t expect any serious responses 

I doubt it will clean out. I’ll try but I doubt it.

How big a deal - or costly is it, to have it concreted over or similar to rectify it? Cheers

You mean once you've dug it out and relaid it?

A screed will never stick to it. Nor will any other coating.

Detergent, steam and time will mitigate it, but the only way to actually remove it is with a chisel.

[JamesV6CDX]

I didn’t expect any serious responses 

I doubt it will clean out. I’ll try but I doubt it.

How big a deal - or costly is it, to have it concreted over or similar to rectify it? Cheers

You mean once you've dug it out and relaid it?

A screed will never stick to it. Nor will any other coating.

Detergent, steam and time will mitigate it, but the only way to actually remove it is with a chisel.

If that’s what it takes then fine … just after an idea about what’s involved and what it’s likely to cost. It’s not my bag and I am totally fine with that. I will need a man who can

[Doctor Gollum]

Cost will depend entirely on depth, area and type (density/composition/reinforcement). That said, if you're only talking a couple of square feet, it should be pretty diyable

Sounds like you have a 'make good' lease

[johnnydog]

Cost will depend entirely on depth, area and type (density/composition/reinforcement). That said, if you're only talking a couple of square feet, it should be pretty diyable

F*ck me, you're a builder now as well....?

[Andy B]

Cost will depend entirely on depth, area and type (density/composition/reinforcement). That said, if you're only talking a couple of square feet, it should be pretty diyable

F*ck me, you're a builder now as well....?

[Sir Tigger KC]

There must be some caravan dwellers with some tarmac 'left over' from a big job they were doing up the road James?     

That will last for ages.... Honest! 

[JamesV6CDX]

Sounds like you have a 'make good' lease

No, I just don’t want the place looking like steptoes yard!

It’s just an area I have almost zero knowledge of, so thought I’d gather some opinions

[Doctor Gollum]

Cost will depend entirely on depth, area and type (density/composition/reinforcement). That said, if you're only talking a couple of square feet, it should be pretty diyable

F*ck me, you're a builder now as well....?

Do you have a better suggestion then

[STEMO]

You will never get a patch to perfectly match the rest of the drive. Even cutting a section out and relaying will look slightly (or even vastly) different due to the different mix.

[Doctor Gollum]

You will never get a patch to perfectly match the rest of the drive. Even cutting a section out and relaying will look slightly (or even vastly) different due to the different mix.

Once done could the whole surface be sealed? Might that help visually?

Obviously how you deal with it depends on inside or out as you need a rougher surface outside otherwise it will be lethal in the rain/snow/ice.

[dave the builder]

Detergent (washing up liquid ) neat on the stain, scrub with a good stiff brush , then pour boiling water over ,scrub again , repeat several times

fullers earth* cat litter absorbs well ,ground into a fine powder(like cement)  if chunky, an excellent emergency "spill kit" 

NOTE *
fullers earth cat litter is not a brand name , cheap, heavy "smart price" ,"no frills" cat litter is often fullers earth or contains it
" always read the label" 

cat litter will obviously need cleaning up after ,dust pan n brush, hoover (other brands of vacuum suction device available  ) then rinse the whole area with a pressure washer ,

 replacing concrete is VERY expensive ,

 concrete and block paving sealers are "OK" before spills , but can make it slippy ,and "hold" puddles ,

best to NOT spill oil in the first place ,but we are all human ,make mistakes
hands up , i've done it loads of times ,and the above info is based on experience of cleaning up my mess and other's mess