Anglefire Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 I've spilt some oil on my tarmac drive - not just the Spitfire, but my old Land Rover as well. I used cement to soak up the majority of it, but I do have a large stain and some smaller drops. Whats the current wisdom for getting most of it off - given that I don't want to damage the surface anymore than it already is. I have done a search as I thought I'd read something about it - but can't find it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Washing powder. Leave overnight and power wash next day. Oily Land Rover? Surely they are anyway? Like Triumphs, theyre designed that way! John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted June 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 The disco wasn’t as bad as the previous 110. I did get the drive relayed when I sold the 110 - and said to make sure it would stand the weight of a disco parked on it. It’s not as bad as the old drive - but the thick end of 3tonnes has left its mark. Or tramlines at least. Anyway thanks John I’ll give that a go. Any particular brand? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Jizer , / engine cleaner or even polyclenes brush cleaner dissolves the oil and wash off with water whether they dissolve tarmac ...dont know Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Non-bio washing powder... dampen, sprinkle, leave, rinse and scrub. OR Something like Screwfix water based de-greaser. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 3 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: Jizer , / engine cleaner or even polyclenes brush cleaner dissolves the oil and wash off with water whether they dissolve tarmac ...dont know Pete They do. Anything paraffin-based (or today's equivalent!) designed to break down oil quickly will eat tarmac. Washing up liquid or washing powder works, as does cat litter on wet oil patches. Drop it on oily patches, grind or work it in, leave for a while, and brush up. I'm amazed at how much it holds but then when I look at our largest cat... I shouldn't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 I generally squirt on some brake cleaner and wipe it off. Works on block paving anyway! Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 A paste made of washing powder will dissolve tarmac. And apart from acetone is about the only thing to clean a brush used for fibreglassing... But it is a really good detergent. Give it a whirl, mix some up with water, something resembling thin gravy is the target. Brush in, leave a while and wash off. But success on oil removal seems to depend on how long it has been soaking in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted June 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Too long probably. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 The nasty spill on tarmac is petrol. It dissolves the tar, and carries it downwards, leaving loose gravel and a pothole! There, wash the fuel out ASAP with water from a hose, before it can loosen the tar. JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 Believe it or not try coca cola I was advised to try this and it works. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 11 minutes ago, Andrew said: Believe it or not try coca cola I was advised to try this and it works. Andrew The "active ingredient" in Coca Cola is phosphoric acid. I believe. You may find you already have phosphoric acid in your garage supplies as it is a great de-ruster and is often used in proprietary rust removers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 Coke contains 17mgs of phosphorus/100mls. I can't (be bothered to) work out how much phosphoric acid that represents as H3PO4, but it's TINY. But yes, because the acid is considered an acceptable food additive (in Coke for a "tangy" taste) it's used in processing oils for food, by forming soluble esters. But vegetable oils. How it will do with mineral oils, I don't know, and in the tiny amounts in Coke, not a lot, I fear. Conc.H3PO4 perhaps, as used to treat rust, perhaps, and possibly safer than powerful detergents? JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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