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[JohnM]

with old oil.

Had a bit of a to-do with the oil filter the other weekend - a weekend of showers and rain and soaked tools and aborted jobs and a wet back and a pain in the neck and a burnt arm - you get the idea.

In short, made a bit of a mess is an understatement. 

So, how to remove oil from an old tarmac driveway.  I've done two detergent cleans - the first seemed to get it all off (plenty of brown foam to wash away).  But days later could still see some, so a second clean and presure wash.  Lovely sunshine this weekend, oily spodges visible on the drive.

Are there any quick fixes?  If you were to drop some oil, what would you use (on tarmac)?  Nothing too strong, I don't want the drive any worse (old petrol spills seem quite caustic even if rinsed afterwards).

[Omega man 2]

Might be a bit extreme, but the best way I've gotten rid of oil is to pour a bit of petrol on it and light it. Serious.

[Andy B]

with old oil.

Had a bit of a to-do with the oil filter the other weekend - a weekend of showers and rain and soaked tools and aborted jobs and a wet back and a pain in the neck and a burnt arm - you get the idea.

In short, made a bit of a mess is an understatement. 

So, how to remove oil from an old tarmac driveway.  I've done two detergent cleans - the first seemed to get it all off (plenty of brown foam to wash away).  But days later could still see some, so a second clean and presure wash.  Lovely sunshine this weekend, oily spodges visible on the drive.

Are there any quick fixes?  If you were to drop some oil, what would you use (on tarmac)?  Nothing too strong, I don't want the drive any worse (old petrol spills seem quite caustic even if rinsed afterwards).

Gunk does a path clean not sure about the tarmac though  :-/   

[cem_devecioglu]

some thinner ,alcohol then hot detergent water..

[Ghost]

Coca Cola also gets rid of stubben stains belive it or not but only coca cola not the imitation stuff, it also cleans a lot of other stuff like jewelery.

[Jimbob]

Not just the stain I'd be worried about, oil softens tarmac

How much you spilt?

[JohnM]

Might be a bit extreme, but the best way I've gotten rid of oil is to pour a bit of petrol on it and light it. Serious.

NO, this is tarmac it's on.

JB Yes oil softens it further hence my keeness to remove it all - though not as fast as petrol.

How much; well put it this way, I had lots of space left in the 5L container I used to take all my recovered old oil.

I think I've removed a lot/most of it, but I'm left with a splodge/stain I'd be happier removed.

Cem what thinners?  I've real white spirit in the garage.  No real alcohol but meths, detergent okay (even if I have to use it from the kitchen).

No magic juice then.

[crazyjoetavola]

with old oil.

Had a bit of a to-do with the oil filter the other weekend - a weekend of showers and rain and soaked tools and aborted jobs and a wet back and a pain in the neck and a burnt arm - you get the idea.

In short, made a bit of a mess is an understatement. 

So, how to remove oil from an old tarmac driveway.  I've done two detergent cleans - the first seemed to get it all off (plenty of brown foam to wash away).  But days later could still see some, so a second clean and presure wash.  Lovely sunshine this weekend, oily spodges visible on the drive.

Are there any quick fixes?  If you were to drop some oil, what would you use (on tarmac)?  Nothing too strong, I don't want the drive any worse (old petrol spills seem quite caustic even if rinsed afterwards).

Providing the surface is dry John, any viscous liquid can by dealt with more readily by applying a dry medium on the stain.  In the absence of fullers earth cement powder has quite good qualities of absorbtion.

The surface must be dry however and after sweeping up, well rinsed with water

[Andy B]

....
 any viscous liquid can by dealt with more readily by applying a dry medium on the stain.  In the absence of fullers earth cement powder has quite good qualities of absorbtion.

 .....

or cat litter!       

[cem_devecioglu]

Might be a bit extreme, but the best way I've gotten rid of oil is to pour a bit of petrol on it and light it. Serious.

NO, this is tarmac it's on.

JB Yes oil softens it further hence my keeness to remove it all - though not as fast as petrol.

How much; well put it this way, I had lots of space left in the 5L container I used to take all my recovered old oil.

I think I've removed a lot/most of it, but I'm left with a splodge/stain I'd be happier removed.

Cem what thinners?  I've real white spirit in the garage.  No real alcohol but meths, detergent okay (even if I have to use it from the kitchen).

No magic juice then.

thinners that are used in paint or used to clean paint..

as I'm a petroleum engineer this was the original order that we used to clean crude oil in lab..

[crazyjoetavola]

....
 any viscous liquid can by dealt with more readily by applying a dry medium on the stain.  In the absence of fullers earth cement powder has quite good qualities of absorbtion.

 .....

or cat litter!       

Now you're cookin' Andy

[M0T0RVATE]

When I had an oil disaster, I threw washing powder on it, then scrubbed it, and rinsed it away...
Cleaned the spillage twice and it seemed to work OK...

 

[Andy B]

When I had an oil disaster, I threw washing powder on it,  .......

Can't do that in this house, our Ariel comes in tablets.       

[M0T0RVATE]

When I had an oil disaster, I threw washing powder on it,  .......

Can't do that in this house, our Ariel comes in tablets.       

 

[Ken T]

would Swarfega be any good ?. Its very good at getting oil of my hands, it seems to attach itself to the oil particles.

Ken