Date:         Fri, 28 Jul 1995 11:55:00 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Maher, Steve (SD-MS)" <SMAHER@PO2.GI.COM>
Subject:      RE: oil leak stains



>What works to remove/lessen oil leak stains from asphalt/garages? I guess
>I need to carry a drip pan to put underneath the engine when I park in
>this squeaky-clean yupster neighborhood.


There are various driveway-cleaning concoctions available in auto parts
stores. But they all, in my experience, leave some of the black stain
behind-- nothing got them all off, not matter how mightily I wielded the
steel wire brush, except...

MURIATIC ACID.

Now, this stuff is dangerous, make no mistake. It will take the skin off
your bones as quickly as it will take oil out of concrete-- and it dissolves
the concrete, too. But nothing else eradicates the oils stains, that I
have been able to find.

My technique: I tried it diluted at first, but wasn't really satisfied.
So, I would pour on a small amount, directly onto the oil stain on the
concrete. It would turn green and fizz immediately. I let it do that for
about five seconds, ground at it hard for about 15 seconds with a stiff
plastic acid brush, then flooded it bigtime with the garden hose.

This tends to slightly erode the smooth, shiny finish that some concrete
driveways and garages have. If you seriously object, then perhaps you
will have to live with the stains...

Please don't tell the EPA about this-- they'd probably shoot me on sight.

Muriatic is available from most hardware stores, as is the acid brush.
But BE CAREFUL with it, and have a running garden hose ready at all times.
Maybe some baking soda, too.

 -Steve Maher     smaher@gi.com       '71 VW Transporter w/trans oil leak