The oil pump gasket on my F150 decided to fail, and before I realized it I got a pretty good stain on my groovy broom-finish parking slab. Can’t see it when I park over it, but I know it’s there and it’s bugging me. Any way to remove or reduce it?
Fixed the pump gasket, by the way. Ford wants you to buy a timing cover along with the new gasket… those fockers… but my mechanic found a way to get a gasket kit that worked.
From work boots to power tools, these favorite picks make perfect gifts for moms and women who build.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
You'll find grease removers at the auto parts stores. Ask them for their strongest. Then buy that and the competitor's that seems to use a different chemical approach. So you'll be getting two.
Then apply as directed. Come back and power wash the whole floor with a spinner, concentrating upon that stain. Repeat using the other type.
Then repeat.
And repeat again.
If'n the stain is still there, repeat untill it's gone. But really, unless you've let it stay there for years and years, letting the oil drip new on it constantly, you really shouldn't have a problem.
The power washer makes easy work of it.
Pete, what's a spinner?
http://www.surfacecleanersonline.com/
Eliminates zebra strips.
Very cool, didn't know about those. I may try the Tide first, see what happens. Cheap/easy.
kitty litter
Tide laundry powder. Let it on o'er night, then hose away.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Before you start using detergents or power washing, use some Speedy Dry (it's like cat litter). Give it a few days, it's surprising how much oil it will absorb and pull out of the concrete. It will make washing much easier, maybe just a bucket and scrub brush.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I've had good luck degreasing with any of the citrus/orange based cleaners. I would follow the advice to put some absorbent on it to pull out a lot of the oil and then try straight orange glow or whatever citrus cleaner you have around. Straight dish soap is also a pretty nifty degreaser-that's why it strips the wax and you shouldn't wash cars with it unless your intent is to strip the wax.
Had a few small spots on my driveway. Scrubbed some DAWN into the stain with a stiff brush and then used the pressure washer to inject the soap deeper into the stain. 3 weeks later, after a rainfall, I still had bubbles working their way to the top.
Stain's gone though....
Kitty litter first. Take a short scrap 2x4 and scrub it into the stain.
Then Dawn.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Leave em. What are you? A chick?
1969, Lake Stevens pee wee league champion Eagles co starting right fielder. 1970 Casse Camp field days, bicycle race leader for one lap. Third place three legged sack race. 1976 dodge ball 4th runner up for Mvp (shirts) and 1979 most improved runner in the egg race Shepherdsville junior high. 1980 Bullitt Central High School co 4th place winner short story contest in Mr.Whites english class!
REPRESENTING!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
Where you live, do people have home heating oil? The supply houses around here for that industry (they sell oil boilers, plumbing supplies, furnaces, etc) they sell a powder that has a very sweet smell. It smells almost like an air freshener. Anyway, that will kill the small of oil and it will wick it up out of concrete over a few days.
If you cannot find that, what is it they sell for use on granite counter top stains? Pulverized limestone or something? That would probably work in a few treatments.
I have mixed up a watery paste of clothes washing detergent and brushed it in well. Let sit for 1/2 hour, hose it off. Repeat as often as necessary. let sit overnight in later applications if necessary. Sooner you do it the better.
For these various absorbant treatments, do I need to do this when dry and keep it dry? This is outside, it's winter, it's not that far to Seattle, etc.
All the absorbants will absorb anything, so if there is water on the slab that is what will be absorbed instead of the oil.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
TPS & any powder,Talc,baking soda, Flour,... mix to a paste apply let dry a few days, the powder drys & pulls a lot of the stain out, worked great on my driveway that we recently poured
soak with straight Dawn dish detergent - longer is more gooder...
rise away...
broom on straight Portland to afflicted area...
helps to grind in the portland with yur foot...
let set...
sweep up the loose leftovers....
I have a ford also...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
This is a broom finish slab. Won't the portland stick?
brush it off... a stiff brush won't hurt in line with the broom finish...
BTW... apply the portland when the crete is damp and 99% of the oil has been removed by one or more applications of the Dawn..
yur not stuccoing... just coloring with the portland...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I use plain old mineral spirits (paint thinner) and sawdust. I guess kitty litter or anything absorbent would work too, but sawdust is free.
Pour a little mineral spirits on the spot, scrub with a stiff brush. Finally, scatter sawdust on and scrub that around with the brush to absorb the oil/mineral spirits mixture. Sweep up the sawdust and throw it into a container til the solvent evaporates then into the trash.
MY son and I work on cars quite a bit and I need to keep the garage floor clean to prevent oil from being tracked into the house. The best thing I have found to clean the floor is Gunk Engine cleaner. Just spray it on let it sit a bit and hose it off. If you are working inside try to find the orange type. It will smell better than the original version.