OT-Engine oil remover from a garage concrete floor-About as far OT as I have been

lousubcap

Looking to Buy (or learn of) something that will get a few years of engine motor oil out of a concrete garage floor-recognizing that time and the porous nature are working against me. Was gonna bury it in the "What are you buying right now" thread but thought it may never surface. Any insights appreciated as this forum does have quite an expansive range of knowledge and talents well beyond BBQ.

pgprescott

I would get some oil dry and cover the area. After a couple days I would grind it in with my boots and leave it sit. Rinse and repeat. I am sure the pros have a secret recipe. Good luck.

78 T140E

Have you tried Dawn dish-washing soap?

https://www.floorjackshop.com/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-your-driveway-or-garage/

bgebrent

Just sell Frank.

Carolina Q

Kitty Litter works a bit, but better for a fresh spill. Old oil, not so sure. Cheap enough to try though. Spread it on and let it sit for a few days, then scrub with a stiff brush. Not optimistic.

Legume

weedburner?

or maybe better handled as a chemistry problem for @nolaegghead

YukonRon

You may also try corn starch. It will still absorb after all the oil dry has been used up.

After that, try some sort of floor sealer and then paint it with an epoxy.

Other than digging it out and resurfacing, the options are limited for getting oil out of a concrete floor, without burning down a couple of structures in the process.

Keeping a wary eye on my old ford expedition, once it starts, game over for the old girl.

ColtsFan

Muratic acid is your friend.

lousubcap

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2426622#Comment_2426622

I have tossed that idea around-shag carpet on the garage floor and some velvet paintings on the walls-deal closer for sure. BTW- given my previous life I assure you I could down-size quite quickly but for the accumulated holdings from now family members it would be devastating but nothing near a sugar glider adventure. 😎

northGAcock

Frank, torpedos. Let um rip.

JohnInCarolina

Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

lousubcap

Dang- at least there are some useful suggestions. And this is only Tuesday. I no longer have the pink slip for any torpedoes or the world's best firecrackers. And if I recall correctly such an undertaking would be considered a CTM. (Career Termination Maneuver). 😎⚓️ But thanks for the thoughts/ideas. I will now raise the LEO flight path orbit and give serious consideration to escape velocity-the benefit of the "every day is Saturday" life style but the landing and recovery are not quite as sharp as they once were. Fortunately neither is Weds.

DoubleEgger

I’m sure Home Depot sells something to take care of it.

WeberWho

Edit: Just saw Carolina Q mention it above

I use kitty litter from the dollar store for newer stains. It also might work for older stains. It takes a couple rounds but does a nice job

SemolinaPilchard

As mentioned above, muriatic acid is probably your best bet. Gunk engine degreaser spray works fairly well on fresh oil stains, not sure it would work on old stains. If nothing works, there is always garage floor tiles.

FlyOverCountry

Asians. Find some an put em to work.

Mattman3969

Mix mineral spirits and cornstarch to a pancake batter consistency, spread over stain and cover with plastic. Wait 24hrs and remove plastic and let poultice dry out. This may take a couple applications depending on age and depth of said oil spots.

RRP

2 years ago I hard a large dead tree and it had to come down. The reputable tree service came in with a huge truck. The lift leaked oil about the size of 2'x4'.

anyway I asked a radio home problem host how to clean it up. The answer which I now wholeheartedly recommend is ACT Asphalt cleaner which also works on concrete . It is safe and it works!

Their email is actcleaner@comcast.net

bgebrent

You can’t get it all out. You may be able to leech a good bit out. Then you have to cover with epoxy. Will be a good med-term fix. @Legume, chemistry 1984. Probably not @Nola worthy 😉

bubbajack

When I was a younger fellow, I worked for a service station. We used to use oil dry to get up oil. Once every week we would treat the floor with Tide detergent and and mix it with liquid bleach. Scrub it down with a heavy broom, let it sit for a while and wash it up with water....

nolaegghead

Make a paste from 1 part TSP and 2 parts diatomaceous earth. Remove any standing oil with rags then spread the paste on the oil stain.

Let it sit a few days, stir it up now and then.

Remove the paste and reapply if necessary.

Wash off the TSP with water.

You are welcome.

nolaegghead

The diatomaceous earth has a greater affinity for the oil than the concrete and massive surface area. The TSP water is a chemical transport, like the liquid phase in GC and LC separations.

nolaegghead

That's what my mom said, so FWIW...

milesvdustin

I use cat litter and mineral spirits. Grind the litter into the stain, I use my boots in a twisting motion. Do that s couple times and let it sit, then do it again with fresh litter ground in and pour the spirits on heavy.

nolaegghead

Or just buy a few cans of carb cleaner. Soak the stain and soak the mess up with rags. You will have a massive headache from the volatile solvents. Get to fresh air immediately and take a couple analgesics for the pain.

Legume

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2426660#Comment_2426660

Cover up is your best move doc? Why not just vigorously deny the stain exists, or claim “I have the very best stains”

dstearn

Clorox Professional Garage Floor Cleaner at Home Depot works for me.

thetrim

I heard an equal parts mix of pool shock and brake fluid will do the trick.

northGAcock

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2426672#Comment_2426672

Let me say I have some most excellent stains.

fishlessman

i might try pouring on and working it in, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda then spraying it all down with white vinegar. bubbles like crazy, might lift it out of the surface atleast. best bet though would be to stop into a few garages and ask, last thing they want is an insurance inspector seeing oil stains all over the place. the hydrogen peroxide vinegar cleans/lifts skunk and rotted fish guts/oil off the dog, it should lift the oil off the floor in a similar fashion. garage will smell like a salad for days though

1voyager

I've used three methods and they all work to a certain degree.

If the oil is still moist or tacky, sweep/scrub floor with a paste made with Tide powder. 2-3 passes gets the oil out but there will still be a shadow. The paste will work well enough so you can walk on the oil stain and not track anything into your house.

Another trick is to make a paste and scrub using Quickcrete. It works to about the same result as Tide.

If the oil has dried, I use Clorox bleach.